RYZE Vs MUD/WTR

So I started this journey because of some harebrained idea that jumped into my mind and convinced me it was a good one. I mean, it sounds logical right? I have MS and am low on vitamin D. Mushrooms have an abundance of vitamin D. Therefore, this should at least benefit me a bit.

To be honest, I do believe it did. In a way.

Plus, not to be an asshole or anything, but I did understimate the reviews. I seriously thought because I love mushrooms so much, that everyone was just exaggerating about the horrible taste.

So my plan was to finish one bag of each to fully feel it and any effects it might give me. I figured I would be able to do a month for each brand since they're thirty servings each but that did not exactly workout as planned.

I first started with RYZE for no particular reason. I ordered both brands on the same day and it just happened to get here first than MUD/WTR. That was literally the only reason I tried it first.

With that in mind, here is the kit I got.

It's the kit that came with a magnet, mixing spoon, measuring spoon, bracelet, cocoa and I opted for the second bag of coffee just in case I liked it. I immediately put the subscription on hold by skipping a month, just in case I don't decide to cancel. But the delay in the next bag gives me time to truly give this a fair shot.

I did the same thing with MUD/WTR because that's how confident I am that shrooms will only help me. Whether they actually will or whether I experience a placebo effect or nothing at all depends, I suppose.

The ingredients are listed as organic mushroom blend (cordyceps, reishi, king trumpet, shiitake, turkey tail, lion's mane), organic instant arabica coffee, organic MCT oil, organic coconut milk.

Now not to be a big, whiny baby, because I was very excited to do this trial! However, I really can't emphasize enough how much I did underestimate the taste. Oh man, did I underestimate the taste. As I've stated before, I love mushrooms. I eat them raw or I love them roasted or sautéed with garlic. So I appreciate mushrooms. But I was not ready for this taste. The first evening they came in, I tried a serving of their cocoa.

The taste of the cocoa was not too bad. My only complaint of the cocoa is that it has melatonin. So yes, it did help me fall asleep. Sid it help me stay asleep? Sadly, no. My issue with it is that melatonin makes me feel weird the next day. Almost like I'm sleepwalking because I feel so weightless and almost as if there's a cloud of haziness over my eyes that I can't shake or rub away. So melatonin cocoa was somewhat effective, but I will not continue taking it solely because of the melatonin.

Now on to the mushroom coffee. Just a little note, since I give myself an eight hour window for food and this would break my fast, I couldn't have it until eleven. This left me exhausted while I waited!

But I started the first day with one serving. The instructions are very simple. Directions say to mix one tablespoon with eight to ten ounces of hot or cold water. You can also choose to add sweetener or creamer. I didn't add anything, just the RYZE mixture and hot water. I was able to mix it completely with a spoon. I just felt a bit perplexed since the other brand comes with a frother. I have to say, while not horrible, I did not appreciate the taste.

It almost has a dirt smell when you open the bag. It's already mixed but I gave the bag a few vigorous shakes, anyway. It just made me feel better to shake it. No other reason for the shaking.

I did not experience any boost in energy or felt any improvements to my cluttered brain. There was a noticeable sludge left after drinking it.

But an eight ounce serving was not cutting it for me. So I struggled my way through the day. The next day, I doubled the amount and I did notice despite the taste, I was very anxiously awaiting my "fix".

I did feel slightly more normal with the two servings. But much less energetic than with coffee. I continued on the days with two servings and after a few days, I was beginning to feel somewhat normal, again. Not energetic, but not completely drained.

I finished the fifteen days and noticed no improvement of brain function or energy.

The sixteenth day, I tried the MUD/WTR. This is what the kit looks like:

It comes in a tin and I have to say that unlike RYZE, this does not contain coffee. I also bought the creamer and sweetener and boost of shrooms. It came with a frother and recipe idea booklet. The ingredients are listed as masala chai (black tea, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper), cacao, lion's mane, cordyceps, chaga, reishi, cinnamon, turmeric and himalayan salt.

I'd be lying if I said this list didn't excite me!

While I normally drink my coffee black, every few months, I go on a spiced coffee kick. I don't know why, but I just crave it. I use a french press to infuse the flavors of cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise into my delicious, black fluid.

I know, I'm a weirdo 🤪

Well, the one ingredient I wasn't too excited about was the turmeric. I eat a scoop of it daily and truly dislike it on its own. I've enjoyed mixing it with lentils, onions and garlic. But this honestly did not go over well for my taste buds. Sadly, that was the most prominent taste for me. Day one was very uneventful. Other than taste/smell, there was no difference in anything else for me.

However, on day three, I started to add a serving of the mushroom boost. I will say that I noticed a difference in energy with the MUD/WTR combined with the boost. I purchased the creamer and sweetener for the husband, so I am not using them but I am using the mushroom boost.

Other than a little more energy despite no coffee, the taste is not great.

I've found what works for me is to mix one tablespoon of RYZE with one tablespoon of MUD/WTR and one teaspoon of the boost and one teaspoon of cacao (Nutiva from Costco) makes it less turmeric-y.

Did the energy exceed what I get from simple coffee? Not for me. Does it taste good? NOPE! Not even a good. I've gotten it to where to my palate, it's just not so bad.

Keep in mind that I don't get jittery from coffee, nor does it make me poo. My husband teases me because he is in awe of my body. Regardless, neither of these two products helped with cutting down a non-existent jitteriness or evacuating some rotting food. I hope that the increased mushroom intake is somehow helping me.

My husband only tried each one once before calling it quits. I've decided I will try this daily for a couple more months and if I don't see any improvements that I believe can be attributed to the consumption of these shrooms, I will likely call it quits. But what happens has yet to be seen.