{"id":605813539122,"title":"Genius Mushrooms Review: Are Mushrooms Nootropic?","created_at":"2023-07-04T22:22:21-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Genius Mushrooms Review: Are Mushrooms Nootropic?\",\n \"keywords\": \"genius mushrooms, genius mushrooms review, genius mushrooms reviews, genius mushrooms side effects, genius mushrooms benefits\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team analyzes the ingredients in Genius Mushrooms based on medical studies to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to improve focus and concentration or if it's a waste of money. We discuss side effects and feature real user reviews.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/genius-mushrooms-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Auren Weinberg\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/auren-weinberg\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/aurenweinberg\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"pharmaceutical medication, medicine, OTC drugs, medical research, clinical trials, generic drugs, branded drugs, dietary supplements, chemistry, health, wellness, healthcare\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"Haverford College\",\n \"University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry\",\n \"Fox School of Business at Temple University\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Genius_Mushrooms_Thumbnail.png?v=1688524016\",\n\"width\": \"4160\",\n\"height\": \"4160\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5874985\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/calmigo-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5233449\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31413233\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9762243\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17597499\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7898063\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10890330\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11026748\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/ginkgo-biloba-extract\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3575939\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/panax-ginseng-extract\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8919247\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"cordyceps\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"reishi\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"lion's mane\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Walmart\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"CVS\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Facebook\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-07-04\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Genius_Mushrooms_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1688523684\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eG\u003c\/span\u003eenius Mushrooms is a dietary supplement used to enhance brain function. The brand claims that the mushrooms in their supplement can “enhance mental clarity, immune function, natural energy, and more.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut is there medical research backing these claims, or are they just marketing claims? Does Genius Mushrooms contain any questionable additive ingredients? How do real users rate and review the effects of the supplement? And what retailer sells Genius Mushrooms for the best price?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Genius Mushrooms based on medical studies to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to be effective for improving or supporting cognition, or if it’s a waste of money.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll feature real customer reviews, and provide a cost breakdown to show what retailer sells Genius Mushrooms for the best price.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIngredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"Genius Mushrooms active ingredients\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Genius_Mushrooms_Active_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1688523868\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGenius Mushrooms contains three active ingredients, as shown above: cordyceps mushroom, reishi mushroom and lion’s mane mushroom.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCordyceps\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was shown in a 2018 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5874985\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to improve learning and memory, but this is an animal study and we can’t find any trials showing the same in humans (nor does the brand cite any on their product page).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe dose used in this study was also vastly higher than included in Genius Mushrooms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReishi\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is clinically shown to reduce stress as we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/calmigo-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCalmiGo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e review article, which may have indirect benefits to cognition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5233449\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eStem Cell Reports\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal suggests that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ereishi may protect the brain from cognitive decline caused by neurodegenerative disease\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, but again this is based on animal studies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe can’t find any medical studies in humans suggesting that reishi mushroom optimizes cognition in humans, nor does the brand cite any on their product page.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLion’s mane\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was shown in a 2019 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31413233\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to significantly improve cognitive function, but the dose used in the study was 800 milligrams (mg), while the dose in Genius Mushrooms is only 500 mg.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9762243\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eInternational Journal of Exercise Science\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cb\u003efound that lion’s mane had no impact on cognition in college-aged adults.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe good news about Genius Mushrooms is that its inactive ingredients are likely safe and non-toxic, as shown below:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"Genius Mushrooms inactive ingredients\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Genius_Mushrooms_Inactive_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1688523890\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall, we consider Genius Mushrooms potentially effective for improving or optimizing cognition given the early research on these compounds in animals. However, we’re unable to find any clinical trials in humans showing these ingredients improve cognition at the dose in this supplement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGenius Mushrooms doesn’t appear to be clinically tested, nor does the brand cite any medical research on their product page suggesting their product is likely to work.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how do real users rate and describe the effects of Genius Mushrooms? We’ll feature some unsponsored user reviews in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGenius Mushroom User Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA TikTok creator named Vanessa claims to have experienced side effects from Genius Mushrooms: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote style=\"max-width: 325px; min-width: 325px;\" data-video-id=\"7171837570450607406\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ms.vanessarose\/video\/7171837570450607406\" class=\"tiktok-embed\"\u003e\n\u003csection\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ms.vanessarose?refer=embed\" title=\"@ms.vanessarose\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e@ms.vanessarose\u003c\/a\u003e Replying to @rocklopster MUSHROOM UPDATE \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/geniusmushrooms?refer=embed\" title=\"geniusmushrooms\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#geniusmushrooms\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/sensitivetummygang?refer=embed\" title=\"sensitivetummygang\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#sensitivetummygang\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/tmi?refer=embed\" title=\"tmi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#tmi\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7171837587416451882?refer=embed\" title=\"♬ original sound - Vanessa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e♬ original sound - Vanessa\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cscript async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA TikTok creator named Nicole Papageorge who claims to have ADD reviewed this supplement:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote style=\"max-width: 325px; min-width: 325px;\" data-video-id=\"7156221839033896238\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@vibingwithgaia\/video\/7156221839033896238\" class=\"tiktok-embed\"\u003e\n\u003csection\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@vibingwithgaia?refer=embed\" title=\"@vibingwithgaia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e@vibingwithgaia\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/geniusmushrooms?refer=embed\" title=\"geniusmushrooms\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#geniusmushrooms\u003c\/a\u003e @thegeniusbrand \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/productreview?refer=embed\" title=\"productreview\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#productreview\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/mushroomtiktoks%F0%9F%8D%84?refer=embed\" title=\"mushroomtiktoks🍄\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#mushroomtiktoks🍄\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/mushytok?refer=embed\" title=\"mushytok\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#mushytok\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/holistichealth?refer=embed\" title=\"holistichealth\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#holistichealth\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/healthyalternatives?refer=embed\" title=\"healthyalternatives\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#healthyalternatives\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7156221800379190058?refer=embed\" title=\"♬ original sound - Nicole Papageorge\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e♬ original sound - Nicole Papageorge\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cscript async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWill Genius Mushrooms Cause Side Effects?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs referenced in the ingredient analysis section, Genius Mushrooms doesn’t appear to be clinically tested. This makes it more challenging to determine whether or not the supplement is likely to cause side effects, but we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWe do not believe that Genius Mushrooms is likely to cause side effects in healthy adults.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAll three mushrooms used by the brand are well-studied, and are not included at particularly high doses.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eReishi caused no more side effects than placebo in a 2007 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17597499\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7898063\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on cordyceps published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFrontiers in Pharmacology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal found that in most of the clinical trials analyzed, “no adverse effects were reported.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis supplement contains whole food ingredients that do not appear to be extracted for increased potency, which may reduce the risk of side effects compared to mushroom extract supplements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy Genius Mushrooms for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGenius Mushrooms is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown for a one-time purchase at the time of publishing this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCVS: $24.99 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cvs.com\/shop\/genius-mushroom-capsules-90-ct-prodid-179855\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: $21.99 (plus shipping, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegeniusbrand.com\/products\/genius-mushrooms\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalmart: $21.95 (plus\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eshipping,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Mushroom-Brain-Supplement-Nootropic-with-Lions-Mane-Reishi-Codyceps-for-Energy-Focus-Genius-Mushrooms-by-the-Genius-Brand\/574790636\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Mushroom-Brain-Supplement-Nootropic-with-Lions-Mane-Reishi-Codyceps-for-Energy-Focus-Genius-Mushrooms-by-the-Genius-Brand\/574790636\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$21.95 (free shipping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rgp9Nn\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGenius Mushrooms currently costs at least 20% less on Amazon compared to other retail sites when factoring in shipping fees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Customers Review Genius Mushrooms\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGenius Mushrooms has been reviewed over 33,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “jasmine” who gives the supplement a 5\/5 star rating and claims it helped to improve focus:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“So, I haven’t been taking these for long but even \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ethe first 2 days I could feel a 100% difference in my focus. I started a new job this week and these have been a game-changer. They’ve allowed me to absorb and retain more information than normal. I’ve been able to recall information when needed and come across with insights in meetings I’ve attended.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Alex” who gives the supplement a 1\/5 star rating and claims it caused side effects:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“My body did not agree with these. I threw up and felt sick the first few days after taking these\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e…Then I noticed I was fatigued all the time, irritable, and got really depressed. I didn’t know what was going on…These made me feel really bad. I felt like a robot, and like I was having an out of body experience. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eMy arms and legs were tingling all the time too. It literally hurt to take a shower. I did not like them. My body may be allergic to them. I literally was miserable for 6 months\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and this was the only thing different.” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGenius Mushrooms has an average review rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Facebook.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur Clean Nootropic Picks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Nootropic_Supplement_Image_Optimized_98ecd2a4-24b2-47f6-ad1c-2ea95c379c74.png?v=1685832074\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are herbs which have been shown in medical studies to be effective for short-term cognitive enhancement and memory support.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGinkgo biloba extract\u003c\/strong\u003e is arguably the most well-studied nootropic supplement apart from caffeine, and was shown in a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10890330\/\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto enhance neurocognitive functions in older adults.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11026748\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePsychopharmacology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e journal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003efound ginkgo biloba supplementation to also improve attention and cognitive performance in healthy, young adults.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eIlluminate Labs manufactures a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/ginkgo-biloba-extract\"\u003eGinkgo Biloba Extract Supplement\u003c\/a\u003e that's potent (standardized to minimum 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones) and third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Ginkgo Biloba Extract \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/ginkgo-biloba-extract\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e to the secure product page on our website, \u003c\/span\u003ewhere it retails for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eonly $15\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat a subscription price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePanax ginseng extract\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is another well-studied nootropic supplement. A 2013 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3575939\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e found that \u003cstrong\u003eginseng extract caused \"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eoverwhelmingly positive effects on neurocognitive function across different cognitive domains.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIlluminate Labs manufactures a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/panax-ginseng-extract\"\u003ePanax Ginseng Extract Supplement\u003c\/a\u003e that's potent (standardized to minimum 8% ginsenosides) and third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/panax-ginseng-extract\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the secure product page on our website, where it retails for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eonly $15\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat a subscription price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMCT oil\u003c\/strong\u003e is a food supplement derived from coconut oil that was shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2022 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8919247\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eto stabilize or improve cognitive function in 80% of Alzheimer's patients after nine months of continual use.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/4eNQ4M\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eBulletproof MCT Oil\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our top MCT oil pick, because its only ingredient is MCT oil derived from coconuts and it has zero additives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Bulletproof MCT Oil\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/4eNQ4M\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on the official brand's website, where it currently retails for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eonly $15.50.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros and Cons of Genius Mushrooms\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere are the pros and cons of Genius Mushrooms in our opinion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNaturally-derived ingredients\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMay support brain health\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMay improve focus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAffordable\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMostly positive customer reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eInactive ingredients are likely safe and non-toxic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCons:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDoesn’t appear clinically tested\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe can’t find evidence these ingredient doses are effective in humans\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand doesn’t provide evidence these ingredient doses are effective in humans nor does the brand provide any\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMushrooms have an impressive list of potential health benefits. However, we can’t find any convincing evidence that the mushrooms used in Genius Mushrooms, at their stated doses, have a nootropic (cognitive-enhancing) effect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are some animal studies suggesting that these mushrooms improve brain function and focus, but we can’t find any human trials showing such.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe inactive ingredients in this supplement are likely safe and non-toxic, and we do not believe that Genius Mushrooms is likely to cause side effects in healthy adults.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is one of the more affordable nootropic supplements on the market, retailing for slightly over $20 at the time of publishing this article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost of the customer reviews we came across while researching this article were positive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-07-04T22:30:07-04:00","updated_at":"2023-09-20T16:50:40-04:00","summary_html":"We analyze the ingredients in Genius Mushrooms based on medical studies to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to improve focus and concentration or if it's a waste of money. We discuss side effects and feature real user reviews.","template_suffix":"","handle":"genius-mushrooms-review","tags":"_related:nootropics"}

Genius Mushrooms Review: Are Mushrooms Nootropic?

Genius Mushrooms Review: Are Mushrooms Nootropic?


| |
| |


Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

Genius Mushrooms is a dietary supplement used to enhance brain function. The brand claims that the mushrooms in their supplement can “enhance mental clarity, immune function, natural energy, and more.”

But is there medical research backing these claims, or are they just marketing claims? Does Genius Mushrooms contain any questionable additive ingredients? How do real users rate and review the effects of the supplement? And what retailer sells Genius Mushrooms for the best price?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Genius Mushrooms based on medical studies to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to be effective for improving or supporting cognition, or if it’s a waste of money.

We’ll feature real customer reviews, and provide a cost breakdown to show what retailer sells Genius Mushrooms for the best price.

Ingredient Analysis

Genius Mushrooms active ingredients

Genius Mushrooms contains three active ingredients, as shown above: cordyceps mushroom, reishi mushroom and lion’s mane mushroom.

Cordyceps was shown in a 2018 clinical trial to improve learning and memory, but this is an animal study and we can’t find any trials showing the same in humans (nor does the brand cite any on their product page).

The dose used in this study was also vastly higher than included in Genius Mushrooms.

Reishi is clinically shown to reduce stress as we documented in our CalmiGo review article, which may have indirect benefits to cognition.

A clinical trial published in the Stem Cell Reports journal suggests that reishi may protect the brain from cognitive decline caused by neurodegenerative disease, but again this is based on animal studies.

We can’t find any medical studies in humans suggesting that reishi mushroom optimizes cognition in humans, nor does the brand cite any on their product page.

Lion’s mane was shown in a 2019 clinical trial to significantly improve cognitive function, but the dose used in the study was 800 milligrams (mg), while the dose in Genius Mushrooms is only 500 mg.

A clinical trial published in the International Journal of Exercise Science found that lion’s mane had no impact on cognition in college-aged adults.

The good news about Genius Mushrooms is that its inactive ingredients are likely safe and non-toxic, as shown below:

Genius Mushrooms inactive ingredients

Overall, we consider Genius Mushrooms potentially effective for improving or optimizing cognition given the early research on these compounds in animals. However, we’re unable to find any clinical trials in humans showing these ingredients improve cognition at the dose in this supplement.

Genius Mushrooms doesn’t appear to be clinically tested, nor does the brand cite any medical research on their product page suggesting their product is likely to work.

But how do real users rate and describe the effects of Genius Mushrooms? We’ll feature some unsponsored user reviews in the next section.

Genius Mushroom User Reviews

A TikTok creator named Vanessa claims to have experienced side effects from Genius Mushrooms: 

@ms.vanessarose Replying to @rocklopster MUSHROOM UPDATE #geniusmushrooms #sensitivetummygang #tmi ♬ original sound - Vanessa

A TikTok creator named Nicole Papageorge who claims to have ADD reviewed this supplement:

@vibingwithgaia #geniusmushrooms @thegeniusbrand #productreview #mushroomtiktoks🍄 #mushytok #holistichealth #healthyalternatives ♬ original sound - Nicole Papageorge

Will Genius Mushrooms Cause Side Effects?

As referenced in the ingredient analysis section, Genius Mushrooms doesn’t appear to be clinically tested. This makes it more challenging to determine whether or not the supplement is likely to cause side effects, but we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.

We do not believe that Genius Mushrooms is likely to cause side effects in healthy adults.

All three mushrooms used by the brand are well-studied, and are not included at particularly high doses.

Reishi caused no more side effects than placebo in a 2007 clinical trial.

A medical review on cordyceps published in the Frontiers in Pharmacology journal found that in most of the clinical trials analyzed, “no adverse effects were reported.”

This supplement contains whole food ingredients that do not appear to be extracted for increased potency, which may reduce the risk of side effects compared to mushroom extract supplements.

Where to Buy Genius Mushrooms for the Best Price

Genius Mushrooms is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown for a one-time purchase at the time of publishing this article:

CVS: $24.99 (link)

Brand website: $21.99 (plus shipping, link)

Walmart: $21.95 (plus shipping, link)

Amazon: $21.95 (free shippinglink to official Amazon listing)

Genius Mushrooms currently costs at least 20% less on Amazon compared to other retail sites when factoring in shipping fees.

Real Customers Review Genius Mushrooms

Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.

Genius Mushrooms has been reviewed over 33,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “jasmine” who gives the supplement a 5/5 star rating and claims it helped to improve focus:

“So, I haven’t been taking these for long but even the first 2 days I could feel a 100% difference in my focus. I started a new job this week and these have been a game-changer. They’ve allowed me to absorb and retain more information than normal. I’ve been able to recall information when needed and come across with insights in meetings I’ve attended.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Alex” who gives the supplement a 1/5 star rating and claims it caused side effects:

“My body did not agree with these. I threw up and felt sick the first few days after taking these…Then I noticed I was fatigued all the time, irritable, and got really depressed. I didn’t know what was going on…These made me feel really bad. I felt like a robot, and like I was having an out of body experience. My arms and legs were tingling all the time too. It literally hurt to take a shower. I did not like them. My body may be allergic to them. I literally was miserable for 6 months and this was the only thing different.” 

Genius Mushrooms has an average review rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Facebook.

Our Clean Nootropic Picks

There are herbs which have been shown in medical studies to be effective for short-term cognitive enhancement and memory support.

Ginkgo biloba extract is arguably the most well-studied nootropic supplement apart from caffeine, and was shown in a clinical trial to enhance neurocognitive functions in older adults.

medical review published in the Psychopharmacology journal found ginkgo biloba supplementation to also improve attention and cognitive performance in healthy, young adults.

Illuminate Labs manufactures a Ginkgo Biloba Extract Supplement that's potent (standardized to minimum 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones) and third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy.

Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Ginkgo Biloba Extract at this link to the secure product page on our website, where it retails for only $15 at a subscription price.

Panax ginseng extract is another well-studied nootropic supplement. A 2013 clinical trial found that ginseng extract caused "overwhelmingly positive effects on neurocognitive function across different cognitive domains."

Illuminate Labs manufactures a Panax Ginseng Extract Supplement that's potent (standardized to minimum 8% ginsenosides) and third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy.

Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract at this link to the secure product page on our website, where it retails for only $15 at a subscription price.

MCT oil is a food supplement derived from coconut oil that was shown in a 2022 clinical trial to stabilize or improve cognitive function in 80% of Alzheimer's patients after nine months of continual use.

Bulletproof MCT Oil is our top MCT oil pick, because its only ingredient is MCT oil derived from coconuts and it has zero additives.

Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof MCT Oil at this link to the product page on the official brand's website, where it currently retails for only $15.50.

Pros and Cons of Genius Mushrooms

Here are the pros and cons of Genius Mushrooms in our opinion:

Pros:

  • Naturally-derived ingredients
  • May support brain health
  • May improve focus
  • Affordable
  • Mostly positive customer reviews
  • Inactive ingredients are likely safe and non-toxic

Cons:

  • Doesn’t appear clinically tested
  • We can’t find evidence these ingredient doses are effective in humans
  • Brand doesn’t provide evidence these ingredient doses are effective in humans nor does the brand provide any
Get our most popular articles straight to your inbox
Stay up-to-date on our research reviews

Conclusion

Mushrooms have an impressive list of potential health benefits. However, we can’t find any convincing evidence that the mushrooms used in Genius Mushrooms, at their stated doses, have a nootropic (cognitive-enhancing) effect.

There are some animal studies suggesting that these mushrooms improve brain function and focus, but we can’t find any human trials showing such.

The inactive ingredients in this supplement are likely safe and non-toxic, and we do not believe that Genius Mushrooms is likely to cause side effects in healthy adults.

This is one of the more affordable nootropic supplements on the market, retailing for slightly over $20 at the time of publishing this article.

Most of the customer reviews we came across while researching this article were positive.




Illuminate Labs is a proud member of

Liquid error (layout/theme line 238): Could not find asset snippets/search-bar.liquid