Best Turkey Tail Capsules At A Glance
Best Overall Turkey Tail Capsules
Turkey Tail Extract Capsules By Real Mushrooms
Real Mushrooms only uses fruiting bodies and this product is hot water extracted. Each serving contains a concentration of >30% beta-glucans.
Best Overall Turkey Tail Powder
Turkey Tail Extract Powder By Real Mushrooms
In case you decide you want to try turkey tail powder at some point, Real Mushrooms sells the same exact product found in its capsules in powder form.
Best Turkey Tail Mycelium Capsules
Host Defense Turkey Tail Mushroom Capsules
Unlike other brands, Host Defense argues that mycelium contains unique compounds which are more potent than those found in fruiting bodies.
Best Whole Mushroom Supplement
Double Wood Supplements Turkey Tail Mushroom
Double Wood turkey tail extract capsules contain both the mycelium and the fruiting body, reflecting how turkey tail mushrooms were traditionally eaten.
Most Potent Turkey Tail Supplement
Toniiq Turkey Tail Ultra Concentrated
This product is hot water extracted from only the fruiting body with an impressive extract ratio of 10:1 (10 part mushroom, 1 part powder). Toniq also achieves a beta-glucan concentration of 30% per capsule.
Most Sustainable Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplement
Gaia Herbs Turkey Tail Mushroom
This product is organic and sustainably sourced. Only the fruiting body is used which undergoes hot water extraction.
Turkey tails aren’t referring to the bird, but rather to a strikingly colorful mushroom called Trametes versicolor. This mushroom is a type of bracket fungi that grows on hardwoods worldwide and has become one of the most extensively researched medicinal mushrooms to date.
Turkey tail mushrooms are rich in bioactive compounds which have beneficial effects including immune-boosting properties, anti-cancer activity, and gut bacteria protection. In fact, turkey tail mushrooms are a pharmaceutical-grade medicine for adjuvant therapy alongside cancer therapy in Japan, and they have been administered for over 30 years.
Here, we’ll provide further insight into how to use turkey tail and review the 5 best turkey tail supplements available.
What Is A Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplement?
Turkey tail mushrooms are taken in a variety of forms. Traditionally, mushrooms were harvested and eaten raw or boiled to make tea. Their texture is quite chewy, however, so many prefer more modern methods of supplementation.
Manufacturers grow mushrooms, harvest them, and use hot-water extraction methods to produce a bioactive extract. Turkey tail mushroom supplements are available in a powder that is either encapsulated or provided in bulk.
What Are The Benefits Of Turkey Tail?
Turkey tail mushrooms regulate the immune system and they contain polysaccharopeptides (protein-bound sugars), namely krestin and polysaccharide peptide, which boost immune cell production and immune-activating cytokines. Activating these polysaccharopeptides also stimulates macrophages which synthesize reactive oxygen species and nitrous oxide – macrophages need these compounds to destroy pathogens.
Turkey tail is a rich source of bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols and flavonoids. Extensive analysis of the mushroom’s chemical profile has revealed that beta-glucans and carbohydrates are other controllers of this antioxidant activity and scavenge free radicals. If you suffer from insulin resistance, such as seen in type 2 diabetes, turkey tail mushrooms may also limit the impact of oxidative stress induced by high blood sugar levels.
In the last decade, in vitro and clinical studies have shown that these compounds effectively stop tumor growth in several cancers and patients have also started taking the approved drug, polysaccharide krestin, as an adjuvant to cancer treatment. One study found that immune system recovery following radiotherapy was faster with turkey tail capsules and subsequent clinical trials observed extended 5- and 10-year survival rates post-treatment with krestin in colorectal and stomach cancers.
Aside from polysaccharopeptides, turkey tails mushrooms hold host to a vast array of beneficial compounds. For example, one study isolated betulin which has antiviral, antimalarial, and antiseptic benefits. Betulin also protects the liver and lowers cholesterol.
Turkey tail mushrooms are also believed to protect the gut. When taking antibiotics, these can harm gut bacteria and reduce bacterial species diversity. A clinical trial on healthy individuals who took amoxicillin showed improvements in gut diversity after supplementing with turkey tail mushrooms and this effect may be due to the mushroom’s prebiotic activity.
What Are Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplement Side Effects?
Turkey tail mushroom is generally regarded as safe and non-toxic in recommended amounts. But there are certainly possible side effects, especially as the dosage increases.
For example, some participants in clinical studies with turkey tail mushroom supplementation had heartburn, constipation, heart palpitations, chest pain, fever, and cold/flu symptoms. All side effects were rated as mild or moderate.
Also, some people who received turkey tail supplementation alongside chemotherapy reported nausea, vomiting, low white blood cell counts, and liver problems. But this could very well be attributed to the chemotherapy rather than turkey tail.
Turkey Tail Supplement For Cancer: What We Know
Turkey tail has a decent amount of evidence for its anti-cancer effects, which seem largely due to the polysaccharides in it, especially polysaccharide krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP).
Research has been conducted since the 1980s, with initial in vitro and in vivo research showing promising anti-cancer effects. And there are now a few clinical trials that have been conducted as well.
For example, a systematic review and meta-analysis looked at 13 clinical studies on cancer patients with different types of cancer. They found that turkey tail administration significantly improved survival rates compared to standard treatment alone.
This may be in part due to improvements in immunity, such as natural killer cell count, and lymphocyte count, as was shown in one clinical study in women with breast cancer. And in another clinical trial, turkey tail supplementation also seemed to slow disease severity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer as compared to the control group.
Many trials have also been done using PSK specifically, and this also seems effective for improving survival rates and decreasing cancer severity in some cancers.
What’s the best way to take turkey tail mushrooms?
It is best to take turkey tail mushrooms in supplemental forms, such as a capsule, tablet, soft gel, liquid, or powdered form. These supplemental forms are higher in PSK, PSP, and other compounds in turkey tail compared to the whole mushroom. But the whole mushroom still has benefits, of course. And it can be used fresh or dried, and chopped up to make tea or mixed in with various dishes.
Turkey tail can likely be supplemented daily, as there is little evidence of toxicity concerns when taken in appropriate dosages (up to 9g/day).
However, one should always consult a doctor before starting any supplement regimen. And it is recommended to have periodic bloodwork done to ensure that toxicity doesn’t develop.
What effects can you expect from taking turkey tail mushrooms?
There are no guaranteed benefits of taking turkey tail mushroom. However, turkey tail mushroom supplementation is associated with various health benefits, including the anti-cancer ones mentioned earlier.
For example, turkey tail may improve gut health due to the prebiotics in it. These prebiotics help feed the probiotics in the gut, which in turn supports gut health and digestion.
There is also a solid amount of evidence that turkey tail can improve immune system function, such as by increasing white blood cell counts and antibodies. And it may even protect against and reduce the severity of various viral infections.
Plus, turkey tail mushrooms may help manage blood sugar and reduce oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes. So, you may experience better blood sugar and other aspects of metabolism. Not to mention turkey tail and its polysaccharides seem to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which may promote overall wellness.
How long does it take for turkey tail mushrooms to work?
Based on the studies that have been done, it is best to take turkey tail mushroom daily for several weeks to experience the most benefits.
However, the bioactive compounds in turkey tail mushrooms likely start working within a few hours after ingestion, especially in regard to the effects on gut health and digestion.
Many of the studies on turkey tail mushrooms have gone up to around 12 weeks, but some of the studies on cancer patients have lasted several years. So, it seems that turkey tail can generally be taken long-term.
Where To Buy Turkey Tail Mushroom: Our Review Of The 5 Best Turkey Tail Capsules
Best Overall Turkey Tail Supplement
Turkey Tail Extract Capsules By Real Mushrooms
Turkey tail extract capsules by Real Mushrooms are a prime example of a high-quality mushroom supplement. Only the fruiting bodies are used as mycelium can contain the substrate that the mushroom is grown on, which reduces potency.
This mushroom extract is hot water extracted, and third-party testing guarantees a concentration of >30% beta-glucans per serving.
Each capsule contains 500 mg of Turkey Tail mushroom and it’s recommended to take between 2-6 capsules a day.
Best Turkey Tail Mycelium Capsules
Host Defense Turkey Tail Mushroom Capsules
Turkey Tail capsules by Host Defense are developed by a pioneer in harvesting mycelium and extracting its compounds. It’s important to note that mycelium is grown on grain substrates which becomes incorporated in the final product.
Host Defense argues that mycelium contains unique compounds which are more potent than those found in the fruiting bodies, however, this remains a controversial argument.
Each serving provides 1 g of turkey tail mushroom extract, with has a guaranteed concentration of 550mg of polysaccharides. Depending on your tolerance, you can take this serving three times a day to achieve 3 g of mushroom extract.
Best Whole Mushroom Supplement
Double Wood Supplements Turkey Tail Mushroom
Turkey Tail extract capsules by Double Wood Supplement contain both the mycelium and the fruiting body, reflecting how Turkey Tail mushrooms were traditionally eaten. It’s unclear how the mushrooms were extracted, but many users have noticed its effects.
However, Double Wood is transparent about their polysaccharide and beta-glucan content, which at 444 mg and 32 mg per capsule respectively, is relatively high for immune support.
Each serving provides 1g of mushroom extract, so take up to three servings a day if necessary.
Most Potent Turkey Tail Supplement
Toniiq Turkey Tail Ultra Concentrated
Toniiq’s turkey tail supplement is an ultra-concentrated, highly potent extract. 2 capsules provide 1,200 mg of turkey tail, so 4-5 capsules a day should suffice.
This product is hot water extracted from only the fruiting body with an impressive extract ratio of 10:1 (10 part mushroom, 1 part powder). Toniiq also achieves a beta-glucan concentration of 30% per capsule.
If you’re looking for a high-impact, potent dose of turkey tail mushroom every day, this is the supplement for you. The only downside is using magnesium stearate as a capsule filler which can have a laxative effect over time.
Most Sustainable Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplement
Gaia Herbs Turkey Tail Mushroom
Gaia Herbs offers an eco-friendly mushroom supplement that’s organic and sustainably sourced. Only the fruiting body is used which undergoes hot water extraction and has 6x the strength of regular mushroom capsules.
Each capsule contains 400 mg of turkey tail and 135 mg of beta-glucans, so aim for a maximum of 6 capsules a day.
This product is free of grain and rice fillers and Gaia Herbs is transparent about the entire manufacturing process, reflecting a high-quality product.
Looking For More Mushroom Supplements? Read Our Article About The Best Lion’s Mane Supplement.
Editor’s note: we are regularly updating this review. If you see any problems, weird interpretations of the data, or just want to say hi, please reach out to hello@the-unwinder.com.
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