The Best Time To Take Lion's Mane To Maximize the Benefits
There are plenty of supplements you can take any time of day, but some supplements have effects that are better suited to a certain time. For instance, you certainly could take melatonin in the morning — but you’d probably regret it as soon as you got to work.
Because lion’s mane mushroom can help with focus and sleep, you may be wondering if there’s a certain time you should take it. Read on to learn more about lion’s mane, when to take it, and how to make sure you take it consistently.
What Is Lion’s Mane?
Lion’s mane mushroom, opens in a new tab is a mushroom that is both deliciously edible and functional. This might not seem all that special, but many edible mushrooms aren’t powerful enough to be considered truly functional. At the same time, many functional mushrooms are technically edible but are very bitter and not enjoyable.
This mushroom naturally grows on trees in cold climates throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. If you’re lucky, you may see lion’s mane growing on a tree while you’re out on a hike or walking in a park.
Trust us when we say if you see lion’s mane in the wild, you’ll probably know. This mushroom looks like a large white puffball or beard and even appears a little fuzzy in texture.
While some people prefer to slice up lion’s mane and cook it on the grill, others prefer to take it as a supplement. The latter group is generally more likely to experience benefits because the beneficial compounds in lion’s mane must be properly extracted before they can get to work in the body.
When Is the Best Time To Take Lion’s Mane?
If you take a lion’s mane supplement, there are a few things to keep in mind to help you decide when to take it. Ultimately the choice of when to take lion’s mane and how much to take is up to you because it doesn’t have strong stimulating or tranquilizing effects.
Some people take lion’s mane for its ability to support focus — if this is you, try taking lion’s mane an hour or so before you need some extra concentration. If you take lion’s mane to feel relaxed and support mental health, try taking it during seasons of stress.
Of course, many people could use these benefits all of the time. Some benefits of lion’s mane, such as supporting detoxification and gut health, are particularly important to have all of the time.
Because of this, we personally take lion’s mane every day. As its effects tend to compound over time, taking it consistently is key. Whatever time you decide to take it, just make sure it’s a time you can commit to every day.
How To Take Lion’s Mane Consistently
If you’re taking lion’s mane to help you focus, you might be laughing to yourself right now. If you need help focusing, how will you remember to take your lion’s mane every day?
Taking lion’s mane every day can actually support your memoryopens in a new tab, which can help with this. Until those effects kick in, here are a few tips to help you remember to take your lion’s mane.
Pick a Convenient Supplement
One of the best things you can do is make your supplement as easy as possible for you to take. Capsules and tinctures are generally very easy to take, but they are also hard to remember — especially if you tend to keep your supplements hidden away in a cabinet or drawer.
You can also try something like our Mushroom Coffee+. This supplement contains lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms, L-theanine, collagen protein, and coffee extract, and it tastes just like a delicious cup of coffee.
This supplement is also perfect for those with busy mornings. All you need to do is combine our powder blend with hot water, give it a stir or two, and your functional coffee is ready to enjoy.
Establish a Routine
If routines tend to work for you, consider making your supplement part of your daily routine. For instance, you could take it with your breakfast every morning or enjoy a cup of our mushroom coffee, opens in a new tab while reading the morning news.
This hack works even better if you pair your supplement with something you enjoy doing. You’re more likely to remember to take your supplement (or drink your functional coffee) if you pair it with a good book, a phone call with family, or a morning on the porch.
Notice the Benefits
Finally, make sure you take note of the benefits you experience as you continue taking your supplement. You may be more likely to take your supplement if you regularly see proof of the benefits.
Try keeping a log of your symptoms when you start taking your supplement. Chart things like digestive upset, trouble focusing, stress, poor mental health, and poor sleep, and see how and if these things get better with time. This will help you physically see the benefits, even when you might not feel them at the moment.
What Other Supplements Complement Lion’s Mane?
Lion’s mane mushroom is well-known for its potential health benefits. These include the following:
- Supporting mental health (opens in a new tab)
- Supporting brain health
- Encouraging natural detox processes
- Supporting a balanced gut microbiome, opens in a new tab
- Encouraging focus and memory-making
- Supporting feelings of relaxation
- Encouraging a good night’s sleep
When you look at these benefits, you may already be thinking of some supplements that will complement these benefits. For instance, L-theanine can further encourage feelings of relaxationopens in a new tab and high-quality sleep, collagen protein can also support gut health, and omega-3s can further encourage brain health.
The Bottom Line
Lion’s mane mushroom is a popular supplement that can support brain health, focus, sleep, gut health, and more. There’s no specific time that works best to take lion’s mane, so it ultimately comes down to what works best for you.
The benefits of lion’s mane are generally more noticeable when you take it consistently, so when you choose a time to take your supplement, make sure you can do it consistently. To learn more about functional coffee and other health tips, visit the Everyday Dose blog, opens in a new tab today.
Sources:
Lion's mane mushroom improves memory and nerve growth | Open Access Government, opens in a new tab
Start your day The Right Way
