Nutritionist's Guide to Lion's Mane Mushroom

Apr 30, 2025

By Justin Snyder

Nutritionist's Guide to Lion's Mane Mushroom

Angela Gioffre

Angela Gioffre became pregnant at 20 years of age and wanted to ensure she gave her Children the healthiest start in life possible. She studied nutrition at the Australasian College of Natural Therapies and then soon after opened her own organic store ORGANIC EMPIRE in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. These days she loves teaching others how to live their healthiest lives.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Australia

Demand for Lion’s Mane mushroom in Australia has sky rocketed in recent years.

It’s fast becoming a staple supplement and our best-selling super foods, helping to clear brain fog, improve productivity, spark creativity and provide a natural energy burst.

But rather than being touted as ‘just another wellness craze’, the health benefits of taking Lion’s Mane span hundreds of years, with recent research discovering increasingly more about this powerful mushroom.

History of Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane mushroom, scientifically known as ‘Hericium erinaceus’, has been used for centuries across various cultures for both its unique appearance and potential health benefits. This fascinating fungus, also called ‘bearded tooth’ or ‘satyr’s beard’ due to its shaggy appearance, has a rich history and is making waves today as a powerful nootropic.

Lion’s Mane has deep roots in traditional medicine and has been used for centuries to support overall health. Ancient herbalists recognised its potential to promote brain power and believed it could contribute to a clear and focused mind.

The benefits of taking Lion’s Mane have become more widely researched and talked about in recent years, particularly as consumers seek more natural and sustainable ways to enhance cognitive function and productivity (without the side effects often associated with caffeine).

In our present day, fast-paced society where demands are ever-increasing, Lion’s Mane can help lift the fog and provide the natural support you need to get things done.

How is Lion’s Mane grown?

Lion’s Mane mushroom Australia typically requires a substrate like dead wood to grow, although we grow ours using Certified Organic brown rice.

In this method, the mushroom consumes the brown rice as its food source.

Once the mushroom is ready to harvest, it has consumed virtually all of the brown rice and what’s left is the mycelium and fruiting body.

Mushrooms are nature’s sponges and will absorb any heavy metals and pollutants in the air or water, so it’s incredibly important that they’re grown in a clean environment. We grow our Lion’s Mane right here in Australia, to the highest certified organic standards, to ensure it’s the best quality on the planet.

You can learn more about how our Lion’s Mane is grown to the highest quality right here in Australia in this article.

What are the benefits of taking Lion’s Mane?

Today, Lion’s Mane has become renowned for helping to increase productivity and reduce brain fog, making it a go-to super food for when you need to get stuff done.

The ‘brain boosting’ mushroom contains two powerful compounds that can help support the growth and maintenance of nerve cells in the brain; hericenones which are predominantly found in the fruiting body, and erinacines which are mostly found in its mycelium ‘roots’.

Lion’s Mane also contains a wide range of nutrients and bioactive compounds, which can support overall health and wellbeing.

How should I take Lion’s Mane?

To experience the optimal benefits of taking Lion’s Mane, it’s best to incorporate it into your daily routine.

As it is an energising mushrooms, it is best taken in the morning after your first meal of the day.

You can take it in capsule form, or stir it into your coffee, smoothies, or simply water.

If you are new to mushrooms, we recommend starting with half of the recommended dosage, and working your way up.

What's better an extract or a whole food?

An extract is generally made by soaking Lions Mane in alcohol or water. Other chemicals are often added and any non-soluble parts of the mushroom are discarded.

Whole foods on the other hand, use the entire mushroom so you get the full spectrum of health benefits.

It take 10kg of fresh Lions Mane to produce 1kg of Freeze Dried Whole Lions Mane mushroom.

In contrast, extracts involve diluting a small amount of mushroom in alcohol so they are far cheaper to produce, cost less and contain less of the unique active compounds found in Lions Mane mushroom.

What is mycelium and is it important?

The mycelium is the "roots" of the mushroom. It's the interconnect fungal network that covers much of the planet!

Scientist believe that Lion’s Mane mushroom’s main benefits are derived from two unique active compounds.

"Erinacines" are found predominantly in the mycelium (“the roots” of the mushroom) and the "Hericenones" are found predominantly in the fruiting body.

So if you want to experience all the benefits you need to buy a supplement that contains both the fruiting body and the mycelium.

Many people used to think the Beta-glucans were the most important part of the mushroom's active properties but Beta-glucans can be found in many common foods (ie: oats) and more than 2g of Beta-glucans is required per day for it to be beneficial (4 capsules per day would contain approximately 400mg of beta-glucans).

Why does the drying method matter?

When you dry any food there is some nutrient loss. Freeze drying has been demonstrated to be (almost) nutritionally equivalent to consuming the mushroom fresh.

This is why it is important to purchase a freeze dried Lion's Mane product.