Ask the Om Mushroom Expert | Frequently Asked Questions (2024)

Functional mushrooms have been traditionally used for thousands of years. Numerous published research articles have established the health benefits of these unique and powerful mushrooms. Support for immune health is the primary benefit. Functional mushrooms contain beta glucans which are important for immune system functionality. Humans do not produce beta glucans and, therefore, functional mushrooms can play an important role in supporting daily health and wellness. In addition to immune health, each type, or species of mushroom provides its own special benefits including aiding cognitive and neurological health, gut health, cardiovascular health, bone health, healthy blood sugar, liver health, beauty (healthy hair, skin and nails), vitality, sports performance and recovery, and support for the management of occasional stress, both physical and mental.

Om Mushrooms provide a variety of nutritional benefits. Some of the primary ingredients include beta glucans and other polysaccharides, polyphenols, prebiotic non-soluble fiber, and digestive enzymes that support immune function. Functional mushrooms also contain vitamins, such as Vitamin D, minerals, and amino acids/proteins. In addition, there are many mushroom-specific compounds such as triterpenes (from Reishi and Turkey Tail), cordycepin (from cordyceps) and neurotrophic factors (from Lion’s Mane) all of which contribute to overall health and wellness.

We use the whole mushroom to provide a more complete nutrient profile rather than isolating only specific parts of the mushroom. Mycelial biomass is the root-like structure of the mushroom, the most bioactive stage of the mushroom life cycle. The mycelium is the primary life system of the mushroom and is full of polysaccharides, prebiotic fibers, neurotrophic and immune-supporting compounds.

Our expert mycology team has combined experience of more than 100 years of growing mushrooms. Our organic functional mushrooms are grown through their full life cycle including myceliated biomass, primordial and/or fruit bodies in an ultra-clean environment at our indoor farm in Carlsbad, California. At the completion of the culturing process under optimized growing environments, the block of mycelial biomass and fruit bodies are shredded and dehydrated with heated, filtered, and UVC-sanitized air. During the initial stage of the dehydration process, the mushroom material is exposed to a steam activation step that increases the bioavailability of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Temperatures during the moisture removal process are monitored to ensure that the finished powders are safe to consume as "ready-to-eat" superfoods. The result is a whole food mushroom with a full spectrum of naturally occurring nutrients, including beta glucans and other polysaccharides, polyphenols, prebiotic non-soluble fiber, and digestive enzymes that support immune function, plus vitamins, such as Vitamin D, minerals, and amino acids/proteins. In addition, there are many mushroom-specific compounds such as triterpenes (from Reishi and Turkey Tail), cordycepin (from cordyceps) and neurotrophic factors (from Lion’s Mane) all of which contribute to overall health and wellness. Our indoor farm is a cGMP (Certified Good Manufacturing Practices) facility that is Certified 100% Organic, Project Verified Non-GMO, Kosher and Gluten Free to ensure highest quality and efficacy.

Our mushrooms are grown and packaged in our indoor farm in Carlsbad, California.

Yes. All of our products are subject to in-house and 3rd party testing for heavy metals and other contaminants and meet and exceed industry standards, including Prop 65. Because we grow and process our own mushrooms in an ultra-clean cGMP (Certified Good Manufacturing Practices) facility, we can ensure the mushrooms are of the highest quality.

The mushrooms are grown at our indoor farm in Carlsbad, California. They are then harvested and dehydrated using carefully controlled, filtered air that is constantly monitored. Once dehydrated, the mushrooms are milled into a fine powder, which is then packaged and ready to ship.

We do not use an extraction process. Om mushrooms are whole food mushrooms with a full spectrum of naturally occurring nutrients produced by each species. In other words, we use the whole mushroom to ensure the important bioactive compounds and nutrients from the mycelium (the root-like system)andthe fruit (the fruiting body) are included.

Om Superfood Mushroom powders contain both mycelium and fruiting bodies to provide the complete nutrient profile. Some of the species produce fruit bodies (the spore-producing stage of the mushroom life cycle) more readily and abundantly than other species. The mycelium, or the root-like system of the mushroom, is an amazing network of active threadlike strands and the primary life system of the mushroom. Mycelium contains important bio-active compounds and is full of polysaccharides, prebiotic fibers, neurotrophic and immune-supporting compounds, many of which are only found or primarily in the mycelium.

We produce Om Mushroom Superfood powders by what is technically called Solid State Fermentation (SSF), whereby enzymes naturally produced by the mushroom mycelia (the root-like system of the mushroom) enzymatically “digests” or "ferments" the certified organic, gluten free, whole oats that we grow the mushrooms on. This natural fermentation process breaks down the nutrition contained in the oats so that the nutrients can be absorbed across the cell walls and into the mushroom mycelia for conversion into mushroom tissue and mushroom metabolites. There is no additional fermentation after this stage.

Mushrooms are adaptable and have the ability to produce a multitude of enzymes that allow them to access the nutrition contained in many types of substrate materials. We grow our mushrooms on Certified 100% Organic, Project Verified Non-GMO, gluten-free whole oats because they provide a uniquely nutritious and clean growing environment. Unlike a low-nutrition substrate such as wood, oats provide a naturally challenging growing environment that encourages enzymetic activity for mushrooms. Oats are a planet-friendly option, generally grown as an un-irrigated crop. Unlike other functional substrates used for growing functional mushrooms, such as rice, oats do not require large amounts of water. Finally, oats do not emit large amounts of methane, a common greenhouse gas.

If you have Candida or any other medical condition you should always consult with your health care provider before introducing mushrooms or other dietary supplements into your diet.