Forest SuperFoods Australian Grown Lions Mane Mushroom [Review]

Product tester and written by Anita Yau   Scientifically reviewed & edited by Isabella Truong

Forest Super Foods was founded in 2012 by Justin Synder along with a close friend, starting out of his garage driven by their passion for superfoods. At first glance, the website and branding reflect a strong commitment to using Australian-grown ingredients, particularly from local growers and suppliers in Victoria. 

This dedication aligns with their ethos of providing high-quality, locally sourced superfoods to Australian customers free of heavy metals. After trying their products for a few weeks, we can confirm the Forest Super Foods team did not disappoint.

Before we dive into this review, if you are a newbie, and you are looking for general information on Lion's mane and its benefits, check out our other blog posts: Lion's Mane: What Is It Good For?

Now let's dive into the review!

What is Forest Super Foods (FSF) Lion's Mane?

Forest Super Foods Lion's Mane is uniquely positioned as being 100% Australian grown, freeze dried and packaged. At 2000mg of Lions Mane per serving (or 4 capsules), it's packed full of nutrients where Forest Super Foods proudly boasts its Lions Mane product contains the full spectrum of nutrients in the Lions Mane.

And rightly so, as the FSF uses whole Lion's Mane mushrooms, including the mycelium (the root system of the mushroom which also contains bioactive components). This is a unique feature they can be proud of, as it’s rare to find Lion's Mane products that utilise the entire mushroom. Our in-house pharmacist, Isabella Truong, notes the difference in production methods:

"Alot of the benefits comes not only from the fruiting body of the mushroom, a lot of the nutrients and bioactive compounds come from the mycelium also. This utilises the mushroom in its entirety which is really great to see.  I also respect that this product is lab tested by a third party to ensure its quality and safety, they even provide you with the results on their webpage. That type of transparency is great for consumers to access and make their own informed choice." — Isabella Truong, scientific officer at The Bircher Bar.

The company proudly works with farmers in the Yarra Valley, Victoria to organically grow, and freeze-dry the products to deliver freshness every time. They have been doing so for 5+ years.

Paul Stamets’ Method vs DI Dao Method, Which One Is Better?

Forest Super Foods uses Paul Stamets' Method (Whole Mushroom Method)

• Emphasises using the whole Lion's Mane mushroom on organic brown rice as the substrate, including both the fruiting body and mycelium.
• The pasteurised brown rice is then inoculated with Lion's Mane mushroom spawn (containing the mycelium).
• The inoculated rice is incubated in a controlled environment, allowing the Lion's Mane mycelium to fully colonise and consume the brown rice substrate.
• Once fully colonised, fruiting conditions like Australia's fresh air, humidity, and temperature are introduced to trigger the growth of the edible Lion's Mane mushroom fruiting bodies from the colonized substrate.
• Focuses on the benefits of various active compounds found in different parts of the mushroom.
• Promotes sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation practices.

Di Dao Method (Original Method) 

• The Di Dao method is a traditional approach emphasising the importance of growing medicinal herbs in their native environments, where specific geographical and climatic conditions are ideal for their development. 
• This method ensures the highest quality and potency of the herbs, as it leverages the natural terroir that contributes to their unique therapeutic properties. The idea is to tamper with nature as little as possible.
• By adhering to these traditional cultivation practices, the Di Dao method aims to preserve the authenticity and efficacy of the medicinal herbs.

Both methods aim to maximise the health benefits of mushrooms but differ in their approach to cultivation and the parts of the mushroom they prioritise. There are no studies to suggest that one method is better than another. 

What I Like About It:

1.) Package design and instructions were clear and simple

The labels are easy to read, with a clear description: "Feed your brain." It's immediately evident that Lion's Mane is for brain health. The back of the bottle further explains its benefits, stating it's "beneficial for productivity and brain fog."

For newcomers, the message is clear and precise: "Take 4 capsules after your first meal" to reduce brain fog. It's straightforward for anyone to understand.

2.) Quality product

Upon opening the lid, a strong, fragrant mushroom aroma was immediately evident, indicating the product's whole food nature. The scent was amazing and had a fruity undertone.

Although the product is in capsule form and generally tasteless, the fact that it was freeze-dried, whole-food mushrooms was unmistakable.

3.) Incredible benefits: It says what it says it would do!

They claim that their lion's mane supplement may help boost productivity and reduce brain fog.

Well, after finishing a bottle of 40 capsules (a smaller version of the retail version — normally 120 capsules), I noticed a difference in my productivity and clarity. My brain fog lifted, and my mood remained stable. I felt the difference within a week.

Despite having some poor sleep, I relied on Forest Super Foods' Lion's Mane to boost my productivity and clear my brain fog. 

Overall, I experienced improvements in clarity and focus throughout the trial.

A Word of Caution With Lions Mane Mushroom

Efficacy

While taking lions mane, consistent use of natural medicines is often necessary to see results. Lion's mane is no exception, as its benefits on cognitive function, immune support, and inflammation may take several weeks to become noticeable. For those who are experiencing more chronic symptoms, I would say to try the product for at least 4 to 6 weeks to really feel the positive effects.

For more information, read our article on "How Long Does It Take for Lions Mane To Work?"

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Limited research on lion's mane mushrooms specifically for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Most studies have been conducted on animals or non-pregnant individuals, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions​

Bleeding Conditions and Surgery

Lion's mane has blood-thinning properties that can interfere with clotting, posing risks during surgery or for individuals with bleeding disorders; Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking blood thinning medication.

Auto-immune Diseases

Lion's mane is rich in physiologically important components that may boost the immune response. Therefore, people with auto-immune diseases taking immunosuppressant medication should discuss taking Lion's mane with their healthcare professional before commencing. 

So, What Do I Think?

In Summary

Pros

• Certified Organic and Australian Grown: The product is certified organic and grown in Australia, ensuring no pesticides, fertilisers, or harmful chemicals are used at any stage of farming, processing, or handling. The company also supports local farms and reduces environmental impact due to fewer km travelled. I proudly support local growers, farmers and producers. I believe that Justin and his team have produced a quality product.
• Whole foods, including mycelium: The company aims to bring the full spectrum of nutrients and bioactive compounds inherent in the mushroom to customers, which is commendable, as it is not cheap to produce.
• Environmental impact: I love that the company is passionate about the environment and therefore $1 from every order is donated to rainforest rescue to protect the endangered rainforests in Australia.

Cons 

• Affordability: Forest Super Foods takes pride in producing high-quality Lion's Mane mushrooms using sustainable and organic farming practices in Australia. There is no surprise that with higher Australian Standards in producing a bottle of Lion's Mane, it comes with a price tag. Depending on your circumstances, affordability may be something that you may need to consider. However, if part of your values is to support brands or products that are home-grown (Australian-made), then you may prefer FSF's ethos and pay that bit extra. 

How To Take FSF Australian Grown Lions Mane?

The recommendation on the bottle was to take 4 capsules after your first meal. I followed this as directed each day. FSF Lion's Mane also comes in a powder form if you prefer that over capsules. The recommendation for the powder is 1 flat teaspoon daily with water, in a smoothie or however you prefer which is great for those who can't swallow capsules or tablets!

Where to Purchase Forest Super Foods Lion’s Mane?

Head to the top of this page and click the big button (or click any of the banners in this review) to go directly to the Forest Super Foods website to place an order!

Before you do though - as a Bircher Bar reader you can get 10% off your entire order! All you need to do is join our email list and you'll receive a code to input upon checkout. 

Customer Reviews

Forest Super Foods is widely regarded as one of the most reputable medicinal mushroom brands for Australian grown Lion's mane products. At the time of writing, they have over thousands of customer reviews on their website, all reporting highly positive results in their video and written customer reviews: 

• " Knowing mushrooms absorb the pollution around where its grown, and knowing that it was grown in a good organic place, makes it more comforting" — Aaron, Forest Superfoods customer 
• "I love that they use the Paul Stamets' method — production, harvesting and freeze drying. I use Lion's mane for coffee, smoothies, and juices and even in my cooking! I would highly recommend it — it helps me focus and think clearly!" — Sarah Corte, Forest Superfoods customer
• "I find that when Im typing on the keyboard Im more efficient and when Im speaking in conversations, I'm more equipped and don't have the usual lag. And my moods are not so much ups and downs...more levelled, and not having so much anxiety. " — 43 year old, male, Forest Superfoods customer 

The common themes from most customers' feedback were: 

• Felt that it helped reduce brain fog
• Improved mental clarity and productivity
• Improved mood and focus
• Some reported that they felt a difference within an hour while some took weeks or months before they felt the effect on the body (this is normal as most people metabolisms foods differently)

Favourite Alternatives:

The products below are as much alternatives as they are complimentary and are definitely worth checking out to amplify the health benefits or substitute if you can't take lion's mane for some reason.

Teelixir Lion's Mane

Another brand we absolutely love is Teelixir's Lion's Mane. Renowned for its Di Dao sourcing practices and rigorous "gold standard" testing, Teelixir fast becoming one of Australia's most respected and well-reviewed products. Their products feature very cool designs, and exceptional branding, along with product formulations makes for a good alternative.

Read our full review of Teelixir's Lion's Mane

Life Cykel Lion's Mane

Unlike SuperFeast and Teelixir, Life Cykel is one of the very few companies producing a Lion's Mane liquid extract. If you don't have the time in the morning to mix your lions mane powder into a drink, Life Cykel's liquid extract could be just what you need, simply drop some under your tongue and you're good to go! 

Read our full review of Life Cykel Lion's Mane

SuperFeast Lions Mane 

Popular amongst naturopaths, this premium supplement is Di Dao sourced and rigorously tested for purity. SuperFeast has a high 10:1 potency extract and uses 100% fruiting body with no added fillers or binders. Experience the benefits of one of Australia's top-rated brain boosters and another one of our favourite brands. 

Read our full review of SuperFeast Lions Mane

SuperFeast Reishi

Known as the "mushroom of immortality", Reishi is another powerful tonic herb for alleviating stress and anxiety. It works beautifully independently, or alongside Lion's Mane, to help improve concentration and keep you on task, whilst boosting immunity and giving you a good night's sleep. 

Read our full review of SuperFeast Reishi Mushroom.

FAQs

What happens if you take Lion's mane every day? 

A 2023 study found that daily doses of 1.8 grams of Lion’s Mane improved cognitive performance and reduced stress in healthy young adults over a 28-day period.

Participants showed quicker reaction times and a trend towards lower subjective stress levels. These findings suggest that Lion’s Mane may have beneficial effects on cognitive function and mood.

Plus, it may even boost productivity. Though, further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these results. 

Who should not take Lion's mane? 

Lion's mane mushrooms are generally safe but certain individuals should avoid them (as set out above and below):

• Mushroom Allergies: Those allergic to mushrooms should stay away to prevent allergic reactions. 
• Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: Limited research on safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding suggests avoiding them unless advised by a healthcare professional.
• Blood Clotting Disorders or Blood Thinners: Lion's mane may affect blood clotting, so individuals with these conditions or on anticoagulants should consult a healthcare provider before use.
• Autoimmune Diseases: There seems to be conflicting data on this part. Some sources state Lion's mane can boost the immune system, potentially worsening autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis or lupus. Whilst others suggest Lion's mane can help in regulating the immunological response and help with autoimmune conditions. However further studies are needed to determine this, and get deeper understanding.
• Upcoming Surgery: Stop using lion's mane at least two weeks before surgery due to potential effects on blood clotting (increase risk of bleeding).

What does lion's mane do for the body? 

Lion's mane has many benefits recognisable by the human body. There is a tonne of research and scientific commentary done on the benefits of lion's mane (not limited to the following):

• May help with Alzheimer's: A study examined whether a special extract of Lion’s Mane mushroom could help people with early-stage Alzheimer’s. Participants took the extract for nearly a year, and those who did showed better memory, daily functioning, and vision compared to those who took a placebo. The supplement was safe and well-tolerated, suggesting it could be a helpful addition to early Alzheimer's treatment. 
• Immune modulation: A study conducted, used macrophage cells (a type of white blood cell) obtained from freshly collected human blood was incubated with a concentrated water extract of a Lion's mane fruiting body. It was found to elicit an immunomodulatory response by stimulating a wide range of cytokines from the isolated macrophages. There was a high expression of interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha documented, these cytokines play a role in a positive immune response to fight against infection.  
• May help with diabetes management:  A 2020 study found that Lion’s Mane mushroom contains compounds that can help control blood sugar by blocking an enzyme called α-glucosidase, which breaks down carbohydrates. This means it might be useful for managing diabetes. Researchers identified ten compounds in the mushroom, including four new ones, that showed this effect. This supports traditional uses of Lion’s Mane for metabolic health, but more studies are needed to see if these benefits work in real-life scenarios.
• May have anti-cancer properties: Lion's Mane mushroom, commonly known for its benefits on brain health, also contains special compounds called erinacines and hericenones. These compounds have shown potential in fighting cancer by stopping the growth of cancer cells and encouraging them to die off. This makes Lion's Mane a possible addition to traditional cancer treatments, helping to support the body's fight against the disease.

Side Effects to look out for: Lion's mane is well tolerated and not many known side effects have been noted or found whilst doing my research. I didn't experience any side effects taking this product, but individual responses may vary. As a precaution, you can always start "low and go slow" as advised by our in-house Pharmacist Isabella Truong, when starting a new product to test how your body responds to it and work your way up to the full dosage over a few days. 

Is Lion's mane safe for the liver?

According to this study, Lion’s mane is generally considered safe and has not been associated with increased serum enzyme levels during therapy or with instances of clinically significant liver injury.

Final Thoughts

I find Forest Super Foods' commitment to producing Australian-grown and organic products is something to be admired and I really enjoyed taking it. Those who prioritise quality, environmental care, and Australian-made goods will appreciate these products. Personally, I experienced noticeable benefits when I used them.

 However, for those looking for more affordable options or who value the Di Dao method, which honours ancient traditions of cultivation, other varieties of lion's mane may be more appealing. The debate over whether these products are grown in superior regions warrants further investigation.

The Di Dao method typically involves growing mushrooms high in the mountains, away from cities, where they naturally thrive. While Australia undoubtedly offers superior environments compared to many other regions, the effects of climate change and soil degradation, frequently discussed in media, make it challenging to definitively determine which region is optimal for cultivation.