What is the strongest lion's mane extract?
Answer
Strongest usually means the highest extract ratio, and a higher ratio does not mean more extract in the capsule. Compare implied extract weight rather than the headline figure.
Key takeaways
- What does strongest mean here?
- Usually the extract ratio, such as 10 to 1 or 20 to 1, rather than the amount in the capsule.
- Does a higher ratio mean more?
- No. It means more raw mushroom went into each gram of extract, not that more extract is in the capsule.
- What should be compared?
- Implied extract weight, which is the mushroom equivalent figure divided by the first number of the ratio.
What the ratio actually describes
A 10 to 1 extract means ten parts of raw mushroom produced one part of extract. It describes how concentrated the extract is, not how much of it went into the capsule.
So a product stating 10,000mg mushroom equivalent at 20 to 1 implies about 500mg of extract, and one stating 1500mg at 5 to 1 implies about 300mg. The first number looks seven times larger and the extract weight is not.
Why higher is not automatically better
A more concentrated extract has been processed harder, and what survives that processing depends on the method. Hot water and alcohol extractions pull out different compounds, and few labels state which was used.
There is also no authorised claim for lion's mane at any specification, so there is no standard of strength to rank against. The ratio tells you how to convert the figure rather than how good the product is.
What to compare instead
Implied extract weight, calculated from the equivalent figure and the ratio. The part of the mushroom used, because mycelium grown on grain is often milled with it. Any standardisation marker such as a polyphenol or beta glucan percentage. And cost per day.
Futuro Labs Lion's Mane states 1500mg mushroom equivalent from a 5 to 1 extract, implying about 300mg, with 50 percent polyphenols and brown rice flour declared, at 13p a day.
The full version
- How to check a lion's mane extract ratioThe conversion, with a table showing why a bigger figure is not better.
- How to tell fruiting body from mycelium on a labelThe other check that decides what you are buying.
The product
Futuro Labs Lion's Mane
Futuro Labs Lion's Mane is the 1500mg mushroom equivalent one at 13p a day, from a 5 to 1 extract in a vegan capsule, UK made and GMP certified. It carries no authorised health claim.
- 1500mg mushroom equivalent, 5:1 extract
- 50% polyphenols, bulking agent declared
- Vegan capsule, UK made to GMP
- No authorised health claim exists
Sharper Rugby is published by Futuro Labs. If you buy through this link Futuro Labs earns from the sale. Prices are set by Amazon.
Questions players ask
What does strongest mean?
Usually the extract ratio, which describes concentration rather than the amount in the capsule.
Is a 20 to 1 extract better?
Not automatically. It has been processed harder, and no claim exists at any specification.
How do I compare properly?
Divide the mushroom equivalent by the first number of the ratio for implied extract weight.