By Romas Marcin, Founder of Fundamental Fungi
Flip over almost any mushroom supplement and you'll see something like "125mg (8:1)" or "equivalent to 1,000mg." Those numbers matter, but they're rarely explained. Here's what an extract ratio is, how to do the math, and what to look for when comparing products.
What an extract ratio means
An extract ratio tells you how much raw mushroom went into making the extract. In an 8:1 extract, about 8 parts of dried mushroom are used to make 1 part of finished extract.
Extraction usually means steeping the mushroom in hot water (and sometimes alcohol) to pull out the compounds, then drying that liquid into a concentrated powder. Much of the mushroom's bulk, like tough fiber, stays behind. What's left is smaller and more concentrated.
How to do the math
Multiply the amount of extract by the first number in the ratio:
- 125mg of 8:1 extract × 8 = 1,000mg of mushroom
- Two gummies a day = 250mg of extract, equal to 2,000mg of mushroom
That's why each Fundamental Fungi gummy is labeled as 125mg of extract, equal to 1,000mg of mushroom. The "equivalent" number describes the starting material, not the weight of the extract in the gummy.
Extract vs. plain mushroom powder
Some products use plain ground mushroom powder instead of an extract. Powder isn't concentrated, so 500mg of powder is just 500mg of mushroom. It also keeps the tough cell walls (chitin) that the body doesn't break down easily, which is one reason many brands choose extracts.
When you compare products, compare like with like:
- Extract: look for the ratio and the extract amount.
- Powder: the amount listed is the amount of mushroom.
- No ratio and no "extract": it's probably powder.
What a ratio doesn't tell you
A higher ratio isn't automatically better. The ratio describes concentration, but not:
- What part of the mushroom was used. Fruiting body and mycelium grown on grain are very different starting materials. A high ratio made from mycelium on grain can still contain a lot of grain starch. Learn more in Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium.
- How it was extracted. Hot water, alcohol or both pull out different compounds.
- Whether it was tested. Look for brands that test their extract for purity and potency.
Some brands also list a percentage of beta-glucans, a group of compounds found in mushroom cell walls. That's another useful number, but it should be measured with a beta-glucan-specific test, since some tests also count starch from grain.
Our label, decoded
Here's what each line on our Supplement Facts means:
- Organic Lion's Mane Extract (Hericium erinaceus) or Organic Cordyceps Extract (Cordyceps militaris): the species, by its scientific name
- (fruiting body): the part of the mushroom used, with no mycelium or grain filler
- (8:1): about 8 parts mushroom to 1 part extract
- 125mg: the amount of extract per gummy, equal to 1,000mg of mushroom
The extract is USDA Organic, and every batch is lab tested. (The gummies themselves aren't certified organic; the mushroom extract inside them is.)
FAQ
Is 8:1 a good extract ratio?
8:1 is a concentrated extract. What matters just as much is that it's made from fruiting body and tested.
Does "equivalent to 1,000mg" mean there's 1,000mg in the gummy?
No. There's 125mg of extract in each gummy. It took about 1,000mg of mushroom to make that much extract.
How much mushroom do I get per day?
At 2 gummies per day, you get 250mg of extract, equal to 2,000mg of mushroom.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice.