Our nutrition expert and PT James Dixon examines this popular supplement used for its nootropic, immune system and energy boosting benefits – find out how he got on in our Genius Mushrooms review.
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Written by James Dixon – fact checked by Jason M & the editorial team
James Dixon is one of the key players in the SOMA Analytics’ team. He is a personal trainer and is educated to Masters level in Philosophy. He is a published author and is a keen advocate of high quality nootropic supplements.
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We all need a little brain boost from time to time. Modern life is packed to the gills with things for us to do – to think about, to worry about.
It can drain us quickly.
Nootropic and other cognitive and energy enhancing supplements are therefore very welcome on today’s market.
There’s a bit of an interesting newcomer to the nootropic party. Genius Mushrooms are an all-new food supplement that rely on ancient wisdom and lore. Founded by husband-and-wife Alan and Sabrina Siebert, the company, Genius Mushroom, Inc. and their product seek to aid memory and improve overall brain health and functioning.
But the nootropic market is becoming increasingly crowded. There are some fantastic products out there. You need to be good if you’re going to go up against the likes of our top rated product NooCube – one of the best supplements going.
Are Genius Mushrooms good enough to hold their own? Let’s find out in this Genius Mushrooms review…
Genius Mushrooms – Quick Verdict
Genius Mushroom is a viable supplement. It has three ingredients that have been used in natural medicine for hundreds of years. But are they as effective as the compeition?
We prefer NooCube – a more potent, all natural nootropic that is cost effective and highly impactful in the areas that Genius Mushrooms promise.
Genius Mushrooms Explained
The Sieberts envisioned Genius Mushrooms as a bit of a coffee alternative. They claim that the mushroom extracts included can bring you a great energy boost whilst giving you greater focus and concentration. In short, put together they can give you everything a cup of coffee can. However, they can do so without giving you the risky, unpleasant highs and lows associated with caffeine, and without the jitters and anxiety that come hand in hand with it.
The recipe revolves around Lion’s Mane mushroom extract, a common ingredient included in plenty of nootropic supplements. Lion’s Mane mushroom has been used as part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It is completely safe and, the Sieberts claim, will give you plenty of cognitive benefits whilst boosting your energy levels.
This actually makes a lot of sense. Mushrooms have been used for hundreds of years as natural sources of energy.
Lion’s Mane extract has been shown to improve memory and protect long term cognitive health. In fact, it can be so effective that it is often used to treat degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as age-related mental decline.
There are, of course, many, many different types of mushrooms. Many different types have their own uses. Genius Mushroom Inc. haven’t stopped at Lion’s Mane mushroom. Genius Mushrooms is in fact a blend of three different mushrooms all designed to give you the benefits you are looking for.
The Benefits of Genius Mushroom
There are lots of potential benefits to be gained from taking Genius Mushrooms. I say potential, as it still isn’t quite clear how or why they work, at least in their entirety. The science is still catching up with tradition here.
However, Genius Mushrooms do seem to be promising. They have been shown to improve cognitive function in animals. They are thought to improve blood flow, especially to the brain. This means more oxygen and nutrients running through the brain. This alone will help with cognitive health, function, and energy levels.
In fact, tentative research suggests that increased blood flow to the brain can aid memory and learning abilities. It should also help to ringfence long term health.
If nothing else, improving this blood flow to the brain may have quite drastic effects.
Genius Mushrooms may also protect against free radical damage, further adding credence to their claim to protect long term brain health. Free radicals are molecules within the body that, among other things, can accelerate the aging process, contribute to the development of cancer, and damage the brain’s cells – so anything that can protect against this could be a welcome addition to your supplement arsenal.
The compound cyclosporin A (CsA) has been shown to prevent new neuron growth and development. It has been shown to elicit memory problems when given to animals. However, these issues were mitigated or even reversed by mushroom use. This suggests a possible use for Genius Mushrooms in improving memory.
Genius Mushrooms may also work as effective antidepressants, in large part by leading to improved mood, energy levels, and cognitive health and mental clarity. They can lead to reduced levels of stress and anxiety, and may improve quality of sleep.
Signaling between the brain’s nerve cells and the spinal cord is also thought to benefit from taking Genius Mushrooms.
And these are just the benefits you gain to your cognitive health and energy levels. Genius Mushrooms are also thought to boost your immunity, lower cholesterol levels, and aid liver health.
Cordyceps mushroom, one of the three main ingredients (see below) and has been shown to improve athletic endurance and stamina, in large part by bringing more blood and oxygen to the muscles. They are a great source of antioxidants that will inspire healthy nervous system function.
However, in the absence of high-quality human trials into Genius Mushrooms themselves, rather than just some of their constituent parts, these all remain claims. Significant, often strong claims, but claims, nonetheless. Rigorous clinical trials are needed before we can speak in certainties.
There are few side effects associated with Genius Mushrooms. Those that have been found are often minor and generally are not severe. Nevertheless, no studies have as yet proven their safety for long term human consumption.
This might not be too much of a problem. We can see where the science is taking us, there is more than enough anecdotal evidence, and the individual parts have been investigated, albeit sometimes a little lightly. However, as above, Genius Mushrooms straddle two very well served marketplaces.
Firstly, they go up against coffee. There is no shortage of high-quality coffee in the world, so they need to go hard to make a mark.
Secondly, they are facing off against other nootropics. As we’ve already seen, there are some genuinely fantastic, very highly researched, well-proven products available in the nootropic sphere. You can’t afford any chinks in your armor if you want to go up against the likes of NooCube, for instance.
NooCube is amongst the stronger nootropics out there. It uses completely natural ingredients like Ginkgo Biloba and L-theanine to elicit similar effects to those claimed by Genius Mushrooms. In full, it should improve cognitive function, including improved focus, concentration and memory, boost energy levels, mitigate symptoms of stress and anxiety, and enable a more positive mindset and outlook.
These claims are backed by solid scientific data and come free from any side effects. NooCube has been shown to be safe and effective, whilst being one of the highest-quality supplements going. It is what Genius Mushrooms should realistically aspire to.
Genius Mushrooms Ingredients
Genius Mushrooms relies on three main ingredients: Lion’s Mane mushroom, which we have already seen, organic cordyceps, also mentioned above, and reishi mushrooms. Combined, they give a very good effect.
We’ve already explored Lion’s Mane a little. It is one of the more thoroughly researched of Genius Mushroom’s ingredients.
Numerous strong studies have backed up its claim to support cognitive function and memory function and overcome mild cognitive impairment. This bolsters centuries of traditional use in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicine, explaining in large part the reams of anecdotal evidence attached to it.
Lion’s Mane mushroom has been shown to aid brain tissue development and health. It can stimulate the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in your brain. NGF helps to stimulate and regulate neural regeneration, including the replication of brain cells and brain cell growth, and enables synthesis of myelin nerve sheaths.
Lion’s Mane mushroom can also boost immune function. It may help with reducing inflammation, which brings about a host of benefits, not least of which is mitigating the symptoms and effects of depression, stress, and anxiety.
Cordyceps mushrooms also have a long and illustrious history – in fact, there is evidence dating its use as far back as at least the Ming Dynasty in China. It is known in traditional Chinese medicine to improve energy levels, including boosting athletic performance and endurance, and enhancing memory processes. It is also used for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.
Cordyceps mushrooms have shown promise in protecting against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and even mitigating apoptosis (cellular death) in cancer patients.
The reishi mushrooms used in Genius Mushrooms are laboratory grown and are significantly more potent than those found in the wild. This is no bad thing – the benefits, if verifiable, can be quite astounding.
Once more, we are looking at an ingredient with a great pedigree in traditional Chinese medicine. Reishi mushrooms have been used for centuries to the immune benefits they offer. They are also well-known for their ability to boost brain health and cognition, memory, and mood, whilst offering neuro-protection.
Again, more research is needed into them, though the results thus far seem promising.
Genius Mushrooms is a good overall formula, too. Though hardly tested in its entirety, if it is anything near the sum of its parts, it should give some great cognitive and health-boosting benefits. It is certified organic, is free from pesticides, heavy metals, and gluten, and is completely non-GMO.
Pros and Cons
Genius Mushroom Pros
- Traditional ingredients with a proven track record over centuries
- Proven cognitive, mood, memory, and energy enhancing properties
- Anti-inflammatory and immune boosting
- Certified organic
- Free from pesticides, heavy metals, and gluten
- Completely non-GMO
- Gives many benefits of caffeine with none of the negatives
- Few side effects
Genius Mushroom Cons
- Exists in a crowded marketplace without being the most competitive
- Overall formula is poorly scientifically backed
- Cannot guarantee a lack of side effects
- A little overpriced for what you get
How to Take Genius Mushroom
Don’t worry – you don’t have to eat a full plate of mushrooms every single day. Genius Mushrooms is very much a condensed form of all their goodness – it comes in capsule form, with 45 capsules to a pack.
You should take 2-3 capsules per day, never more than 6 in a 24-hour period.
The manufacturer likes to claim that Genius Mushrooms are completely free from side effects. This is untrue, though side effects are generally mild. Even when you take Genius Mushrooms in line with the manufacturer’s guidance, you should still expect to experience nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and headaches. Some users have also suffered with allergic reactions when taking Genius Mushrooms.
Of course, not all users will experience these symptoms, but there is a good chance of it, especially in the early days.
You should avoid taking Genius Mushrooms if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. If you suffer with any pre-existing medical conditions, you should speak to your doctor before taking them. It is always a good idea to get your healthcare provider’s advice on any new supplement regime, especially if you are on any medication.
FAQs
Can you take mushroom supplements every day?
Yes, you can take mushroom supplements every day. You can eat mushrooms every day. They are abundant in natural, plant-based ingredients such as sterols, terpenoids, and beta-glucans, which will all bring numerous health benefits. Specific mushrooms, like those in this list, bring a great many more benefits.
You can generally source mushroom supplements as powders, tinctures, or capsules. Genius Mushrooms come in capsule form and are recommended for daily use.
Are Genius Mushrooms safe?
Genius Mushrooms are largely safe. The manufacturer claims erroneously that they are completely safe and free from side effects. This is untrue. They bring several potential side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and headaches. However, these are often mild and will generally diminish after the first few weeks of taking them.
Genius Mushrooms are recognized as safe by the FDA.
How long can you take mushroom supplements?
It depends on the supplement in question. Always follow the manufacturer’s dosing instructions. When in doubt, speak to your healthcare provider.
However, most mushroom supplements can be used in perpetuity.
Verdict
Genius Mushrooms represent a bit of a mixed bag, to me. On the face of it, they are a very good idea. The individual inclusions are great. All three of the main ingredients – Lion’s Mane, cordyceps, and rishi mushrooms – are well-known, proven ingredients known for boosting brain health and immune function, among other things.
They should do this. You should benefit from them.
However, I do have some qualms.
Firstly, the manufacturer makes some claims that have been shown to be untrue.
For example, they claim that there are no side effects associated with Genius Mushrooms. As we’ve seen, this isn’t the case. It is very much an erroneous claim. There are some admittedly mild, yet also quite widespread side effects associated with them, especially to new users. These include side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and headaches. Genius mushrooms are not safe for everyone and you should always check with your doctor before taking them.
They also claim a host of unproven benefits. This is a gray area. When I say unproven, this is a little disingenuous of me. The effects are relatively well- documented and proven for the individual ingredients. All three mushrooms have been studied in-depth and used for centuries.
However, the formula as a whole lacks rigorous clinical testing. There is a dearth of data testifying to the whole product’s efficacy.
Secondly, I question the validity of the product as a whole on today’s market. Simply, whilst it is undoubtedly a good product, there are a lot of much better ones out there. There are plenty of nootropics that do everything that Genius Mushrooms do and more, including many of the same ingredients plus added extras. There are plenty of nootropics that are much higher quality, that are underpinned by far more high-quality data.
Genius Mushrooms are decent. NooCube is better. I don’t know why you wouldn’t skip over the mushrooms and go straight for the good stuff.
NooCube – Our No.1 Rated Nootropic
Whilst Genius Mushrooms have three mushrooms that have been shown to give a cognitive boost, there is little evidence to support the supplement itself.
We prefer NooCube – a more potent, all natural nootropic that is cost effective and highly impactful in the areas that Genius Mushrooms promise.
This article was written by: James Dixon – SOMA Analytics PT, Nutritionalist & Published Author
James Dixon is one of the key players in the SOMA Analytics’ team. He is a personal trainer and is educated to Masters level. He is a published author and is a keen advocate of high quality nootropic supplements. James enjoys helping others to reach their peak both physically and mentally and believes that expressing his knowledge through his writing is an effective way to positively impact the wellbeing of others on a larger scale.