Beta-glucan: the mushroom fibre explained
Is beta-glucan a fibre, and do mushrooms contain it?
Beta-glucans are soluble dietary fibres found in the cell walls of mushrooms, oats, barley and yeast. They are a real part of what makes mushrooms 'functional': our FOCUS powder is tested at 30% beta-glucans, and it is the measure we publish in our batch certificates. One honest catch: the only authorised UK health claim for beta-glucans applies to oat and barley beta-glucans (3g a day, contributing to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol). Mushroom beta-glucans have no authorised claim. Treat them as a fibre you eat, not a promise.
Where beta-glucans come from
| Typical source | Authorised UK claim? | |
|---|---|---|
| Oats and barley | Porridge oats, barley, oat drinks | Yes — 3g a day contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol |
| Mushrooms | Cell walls of Lion's Mane, Maitake, Shiitake and others | No authorised claim |
| Yeast and fungi | Brewer's yeast, fermentation-grown fungi | No authorised claim |
Beta-glucans in our products
| What we publish | |
|---|---|
| FOCUS powder | Tested at 30% beta-glucans; figures in the batch certificates |
| FOCUS capsules | 600mg of 1:1 fruiting body extract from the same tested source |
| Batch certificates | Published for every batch, so you can see the numbers yourself |
The trade-offs
Mushroom beta-glucans
- A genuine soluble dietary fibre
- Measured and published in our batch certificates
- Come with the whole mushroom, not an isolated powder
- No authorised UK health claim
- Cholesterol claim applies only to oats and barley
Oat beta-glucan
- Carries the authorised cholesterol claim at 3g a day
- Costs pence a bowl
- Not the mushroom story
- Needs a regular 3g daily intake for the claim
Beta-glucans are a fibre, and mushrooms are full of them. If you want the fibre, eat your oats and your mushrooms. If you want a health claim, the law only recognises the oats.
If you specifically want beta-glucans for cholesterol, oat-based foods carry the authorised UK claim and cost pence — our products are not cholesterol products and do not claim to be.
Mentioned in this piece
Questions people ask
- Is beta-glucan a fibre?
- Yes. Beta-glucans are soluble dietary fibres found in the cell walls of mushrooms, oats, barley and yeast.
- Do mushrooms have more beta-glucan than oats?
- It varies by species and by test method, which is why we publish batch test results rather than loose comparisons. Our FOCUS powder is tested at 30% beta-glucans.
- What does beta-glucan do?
- The authorised UK claim is for oat and barley beta-glucans: 3g a day contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol. Mushroom beta-glucans are a dietary fibre with no authorised claim.
More comparisons
- The can aisleFunctional drinks compared: Grass & Co., TRIP, Neutonic and Water Junkie
- The label questionFruiting body vs mycelium
- The format questionCapsules vs powder vs drinks
Grass & Co. products are food supplements and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Do not exceed the stated dose. Most products are for adults; CBD is for adults only.