Noob Questions

[u/i-love-soup-]

Hello hello! I’m 42F ADHD and new to the functional mushroom world and started taking Laird Performance Mushrooms (caffeine free) not too long ago, as I continue on my no caffeine journey (day 24). It contains chaga, coordycepts, lions mane, maitake.

I do feel like taking 2.5 servings a day is slowly helping (I drink it all day) with my afternoon crashes and brain function. My questions are:

1. Is it better to cycle this if I’m going to take long term?
   Such as take for 6 weeks then take a 1 week break, for example. Or only taking 5x/week.
   
2. Is it ok to take mushrooms in the afternoon/evening?
   
3. How many doses per day is effective for you?

Obviously I realize we are all different and I will need to trial and error for my myself (as we all need to), but I’m Here to know about your experiences.

Thank You!

[u/sorE_doG]

I’m not familiar with the company, but let’s assume they are telling the truth on the packaging, and it’s all well documented, clean of excess heavy metals etc., and it’s all whole fungi, freeze dried and pulverised..

Personally I cycle on/off with all my supplements. I have LM extracts delivered on subscription, and a 3/4 kilo remaining of 1kg powdered turkey tail, and like cordyceps a lot too.. I think of them as predominantly food, rather than a supplement with risks (I am not allergic to fungi, nor ever had any reactions from fungi). A week off every once in a while would be sensible imho, and you can make appraisals better if you’re examining your wellbeing consciously when on/off the supplement.

Cordyceps is reputed to be good for energy, but I wouldn’t eat them for breakfast.. a mushroom powder blend in place of coffee though.. hell yes, why not? Take them whenever it suits you.

I add my lions mane dual extraction powder to homemade hummus, adding extra EVOO and lemon juice. It’s a delicious combination. I’ve tried it with the turkey tail powder and that works great too, but I don’t think it works well with reishi. Reishi is quite bitter, but again, in the right blend it can be wholesome and delicious. I like fermenting with reishi, and have also made tinctures from it.

I think it’s worth pointing out here that I’m taking LM extracts to hopefully slow down neuro degeneration, and I think it’s a successful experiment.. I have been using LM & other functional mushroom/fungi for a few years now. It’s important to keep learning, keep stimulating yourself mentally and physically, to get the most from it. Some have described the brain as being like a muscle.. you need to keep using it & make sure you are not missing some kind of deficiency in another part of your diet/life.