Supplements can be a powerful tool to support health and wellness, but when you take them can significantly impact their effectiveness. Timing affects how well your body absorbs nutrients and how those nutrients interact with your natural rhythms, such as your circadian clock. Additionally, taking strategic breaks from your supplement regimen can help your body maintain its natural sensitivity to these compounds, avoiding desensitisation and enhancing their long-term benefits.
Here’s why timing and occasional breaks matter, particularly when incorporating mushroom tinctures into your wellness routine.
The Importance Of Timing For Supplement Intake
Enhancing Absorption
Many supplements and herbal compounds are best absorbed when your body is in a specific state:
- Some supplements benefit from pairing with food to improve bioavailability.
- Others are absorbed better on an empty stomach when gastric acid levels are higher.
- Mushroom tinctures are best taken sublingually, which makes their bioavailability far superior to any powder, capsule or gummy. This also means it does not need to pass your metabolic system increasing the convenience of taking these supplements. Of course our mushroom tinctures can also be taken with a glass of water, coffee, tea or juice.
Aligning With Biological Rhythms
Your body operates on a circadian rhythm, a 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep, energy levels and digestion. Certain supplements, like mushroom tinctures, align better with specific times of the day based on their intended effects:
- Morning supplements (e.g. Lion’s Mane) can enhance focus and energy to kickstart the day.
- Evening supplements (e.g. Reishi) promotes relaxation and recovery, supporting restful sleep.
Avoiding Conflicting Effects
Some supplements have opposing benefits, such as those that stimulate the nervous system versus those that calm it. Taking those together at the same rime can dilute their effects or create an unbalanced response. A well-planned schedule allows you to benefit fully from each supplement’s properties.
Why Take A 2-3 Day Break Every 28 Days?
Taking periodic breaks from supplements has several advantages:
Preventing tolerance: When you use the same supplements daily, your body may become accustomed to them, reducing their effectiveness over time. A short break resets your system, ensuring that when you resume, the benefits remain potent.
Supporting natural regulation: Supplements should complement your body’s natural systems, not replace them. By cycling off for a few days, you allow your body to regulate its processes without external support, maintaining its resilience.
Avoiding overload: Continuous use of supplements can sometimes lead to accumulation, especially for fat-soluble compounds stored in the body. A break reduces the risk of overloading your system.
Correct Timing For Mushroom Tinctures
Mushrooms offer a range of health benefits from cognitive enhancements to immune support and stress reduction. However, their effects vary depending on the species, making timing crucial. Here’s a guide:
Your Morning Tinctures
Lion’s Mane: Can boost cognitive function, focus and nerve health. Its energising effects make it perfect for starting your day.
5 Mushroom Blend: This blend contains mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, Chaga and Birch Polypore offering an overall vitality boost.
Your Evening Tincture
Reishi: This mushroom promotes relaxation and supports the parasympathetic nervous system, aiding sleep and recovery. Best taken at night to unwind.
Your Before Gym Or Physically Active Days Tincture
Cordyceps: This mushroom enhances energy and stamina by increasing oxygen uptake and improving cellular energy production. It’s ideal for physical activity or as a pre-workout supplement.
Your Any Time Of Day Tinctures
Chaga, Turkey Tail, Birch Polypore, Shiitake: These mushrooms provide immunity support, antioxidant benefits, and general wellness without specific timing requirements.
Why It’s Not Beneficial To Take Lions Mane Or Cordyceps And Reishi Together
Although both Lion’s Mane and Reishi offer incredible health benefits, their effects can conflict if taken simultaneously. Many supplement companies offer blends where both of these mushrooms are mixed together. Here’s how to take them together - just not at the same time.
Lion’s Mane can stimulate the nervous system, enhancing focus, alertness, and energy. Whereas Reishi calms the nervous system, promoting relaxation and recovery. Taking them together (e.g. both in the morning) can create competing effects, potentially reducing the efficacy of both. Timing when taking Reishi and Lion’s Mane is very important. You can take both mushrooms on the same day, just make sure to take Lion’s Mane in the morning and Reishi in the evening. This thoughtful separation ensures you get the full benefits of each mushroom without interference.
The Bottom Line
Taking supplements at the right time and incorporating regular breaks can profoundly affect their efficacy and your overall wellbeing. Mushroom tinctures, with their unique properties, are an excellent example of how timing and thoughtful planning maximise results. Remember:
- Align supplements with your body’s natural rhythms
- Avoid taking conflicting supplements simultaneously
- Take a short break every 28 days to reset and maintain effectiveness.
By following these principles, you can optimise your supplement regimen and harness the full potential of these natural compounds.
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