Medicinal mushrooms are becoming very popular today for supporting overall health and wellness, including as an alternative to drugs and prescription medications. One of the most intriguing mushrooms among this group is turkey tail, which offers significant immune support and several other key benefits.
In this article, we’ll go over all the benefits of turkey tail mushrooms, from immune health to gut function, and more. Plus, we’ll go over some of the best turkey tail supplements out there and how to easily implement a turkey tail mushroom supplement into your daily routine.
What is Turkey Tail?
Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) is an edible mushroom found in various parts of Europe, North America, and Asia, where it mainly grows in temperate regions. It is often referred to as a “medicinal” or “functional” mushroom, due to its ability to promote optimal health in various ways.
Turkey tail was used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for a variety of uses, including gut support, respiratory health, and overall energy and vitality. It was often consumed as tea or a decoction.
Bioactive Components
Turkey tail has several bioactive components, which are thought to result in its many benefits. The primary bioactive compounds in turkey tail mushrooms are polysaccharides, which are specific types of carbohydrates. But turkey tail has other beneficial compounds too, such as:
- Lipids
- Antioxidants
- Phenolic acids
- Fatty acids
- Phytosterols
Turkey Tail Benefits
One of the major benefits of turkey tail is improved immunity. The benefits on immune function are due to several factors, such as:
- High level of antioxidants: These help combat oxidative stress and inflammation. They also stimulate certain protective compounds that promote immune system health.
- Polysaccharopeptides: These increase the activity of various white blood cells, which bolster immune function and help combat infections
- Prebiotics: These help feed good bacteria, which supports better gut health. In turn, a healthier gut supports a healthier immune system, given the gut-immune connection
Turkey tail has several other research-backed benefits too, such as:
- Cardiovascular support
- Supports metabolic health
- Including for cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar
- Promotes a healthy brain
- May help decrease brain inflammation
- Supports recovery from brain injury
- Promotes healthy cognitive function
- Gut health support
The Best Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplements
The search for a high-quality turkey tail mushroom supplement can seem daunting, especially with so many products out there. Below, we’ve listed four of the best turkey tail mushroom supplements to help streamline this search! These are all great choices with high-quality formulas:
- Host Defense Turkey Tail Immune Support: Host Defense offers a wide variety of well-formulated mushroom supplements for diverse health goals. Turkey Tail Immune Support contains U.S.-grown organic turkey tail mushrooms in a convenient capsule form, making it an easy way to support gut health, immunity, and total wellness.
- Host Defense Turkey Tail Mycelium Mushroom Powder: Another high-quality formula from Host Defense is their Turkey Tail Mycelium Mushroom Powder. With 1.5g of turkey tail per serving (just a half teaspoon), you get a potent dose for gut microbiome support and immune restoration.
- Mary Ruth’s Organics Organic Mushroom Complex: You can always count on Mary Ruth’s Organics for top-tier, effective, organic supplements. Their Organic Mushroom Complex offers a 1,200 mg dose of functional mushrooms, including turkey tail, shiitake, lion’s mane, and more. Together, they promote gut health, immunity, energy, and all-around vitality.
- BIOptimizers Mushroom Breakthrough Powder: BIOptimizers has been making premier health supplements for over 20 years. Mushroom Breakthrough Powder combines medicinal mushrooms (including chaga and lion’s mane) with marine and bovine collagen. Together, these support gut health, skin, joints, and overall wellness.
If you’re looking for a wider variety of mushroom supplements to fit your individual goals, check out this detailed line-up of effective mushrooms in supplement form, all available from Simply Nutrients.
Implementing Turkey Tail Supplements into Your Routine
In order to get the most out of a turkey tail supplement, you should ideally use it daily for at least several weeks. This ensures enough time for all of the bioactive properties of turkey tail to take effect, which in turn provides you with the greatest health benefits.
The time of day doesn’t matter too much, although many individuals find it beneficial to take turkey tail right away in the morning or with your first meal. This makes it easier to form a habit and promotes consistent use, while also acting as a great way to start the day.
FAQs
Listed below are frequently asked questions about turkey tail and its uses.
What does turkey tail mushroom do?
Turkey tail mushroom has the potential to do many things in the body. It activates the immune system, promotes a healthy gut microbiome, and helps decrease inflammation and oxidative stress, among other effects. These are responsible for many of turkey tail’s benefits.
What is turkey tail mushroom powder good for?
Turkey tail mushroom powder is good for supporting immunity, gut health, brain function, and overall vitality. It may also help your heart health and metabolism.
What is the best turkey tail mushroom supplement?
There isn’t one turkey tail mushroom supplement that qualifies as the best, although certain formulas stand out from others due to their optimal dosing and high-quality formulations. The two products listed from Host Defense above are great options for pure turkey tail supplements.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
