Mushroom coffee is a fusion of traditional coffee and medicinal mushroom extracts which creates a unique drink that combines the familiar taste of coffee with the powerful health benefits of mushrooms. It has sky-rocketed in popularity in the Western world due to its many benefits, from brain health to immunity, and adaptogenic properties.
Mushroom drinks are gaining in popularity but they are nothing new, they have been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine for their potential anti-ageing, stress-reducing, and energy supporting properties.
Mushroom “coffee” was also used as an alternative in World War II when coffee was one of the first goods to be in short supply.
Read on to discover more about the benefits of this powerful combination, and why you should add it to your daily routine…
If you're interested in diving deeper into how specific mushrooms can enhance brain health, explore our detailed guide on the Top 5 Mushrooms for Brain Health.
Mushroom coffee combines instant coffee with medicinal mushrooms in a synergistic blend, which tastes great but also offers all the health benefits of regular coffee without any of the usual downsides.
It is a great alternative to regular coffee as mushrooms naturally have antioxidant properties, are adaptogenic, non-irritating on the digestive tract, and are also immune supporting, making them a fantastic addition to your daily cup of coffee.
While the caffeine levels of mushroom coffee tend to be lower than instant coffee, the synergy of medicinal mushrooms and coffee means it can offer more health benefits and less downsides than your average cup of coffee.
Common mushrooms found in mushroom coffee blends include reishi, cordyceps and lion’s mane. While offering benefits for the immune system, each mushroom has its own unique compounds and properties, meaning you can use different blends for different health benefits.
Many mushrooms are also adaptogenic in nature and have beneficial effects for the adrenal glands thereby helping to mitigate caffeine’s jittery side effects and helping the body to fight daily stressors.
To make mushroom coffee, the fruiting bodies of the mushrooms are extracted, the mushrooms are dried, ground into a fine powder, and mixed into ground coffee beans. Mushroom coffee can be prepared using the same methods as regular coffee to make delicious mochas, lattes, or iced drinks.
Mushrooms compliment the flavour of coffee, and this delicious drink is an easy way to get your daily dose of medicinal mushrooms.
For some people caffeine can cause issues like indigestion, heartburn, insomnia, anxiety, and more which is why adding mushrooms to your cup of coffee can be a great alternative and help to offset these potential downsides.
Mushroom coffee provides a longer and more sustained boost than regular coffee which can lead to energy crashes later. Mushrooms have many complimentary benefits from focus, to supporting energy levels, and antioxidant properties. Mushrooms work perfectly in combination with coffee, buffering against its negative effects, leaving you to enjoy all the flavour and health benefits it has to offer.
Mushrooms and coffee have many synergistic benefits from brain health to energy support, let’s look at some of the health benefits of this combination:
Mushrooms and coffee have both been shown to have benefits for cognitive function. Lion’s mane is a powerhouse of nutrients and the most revered mushroom for cognitive health with numerous studies supporting the claims made by traditional medicine.
Studies have found it can support learning and memory, as well as optimising neurogenesis; the creation and growth of new brain cells, making it an ideal nootropic for focus and productivity (1).
Adding lion’s mane to coffee offers synergistic support for focus and clarity.
Mushrooms have long been used for their immune supporting benefits. Mushrooms like reishi are rich in polysaccharides including beta glucans which help to activate white blood cells, making them stronger and more efficient fighters against diseases (2).
Other mushrooms including chaga have been shown to have benefits for the immune system, increasing cytokines, which are signalling proteins that help control inflammation, communicate with white blood cells, and help regulate immune response (3).
Adding these mushrooms to your daily cup of coffee can help to strengthen the body’s resistance.
Several mushrooms are also known as adaptogens and help to regulate and balance the body and its systems during periods of high stress. Reishi is an adaptogen, it is rich in triterpenes and promotes a sense of calm. Reishi pairs well with coffee as it is a fantastic source of a neurotransmitter called adenosine, which helps to balance some of the stimulatory effects caused by coffee.
Cordyceps is another adaptogen which helps to bring balance to the body. Studies have shown participants were better able to withstand stress when they took cordyceps compared to when they didn’t (4). Cordyceps is rich in unique bioactive compounds like cordycepin and has been shown to support the adrenal glands during busy and stressful times.
Adding adaptogens to your coffee can help the body to stay balanced during busy periods.
For those intrigued by how mushrooms can further influence hormonal health, our post on Medicinal Mushrooms for Hormonal Imbalance provides additional insights.
Mushroom coffee provides a longer and more sustained boost and stable energy levels throughout the day than regular coffee which can lead to energy crashes later. The balancing properties of mushrooms like cordyceps and reishi work in harmony with coffee for smooth, clean energy to wake the body and mind and keep you focused and productive all day long.
Mushroom coffee is an easy way to pack extra nutrients into your diet including powerful antioxidants that help to protect the body from free radical damage which may cause premature ageing.
Chaga has the strongest antioxidant activity among fungi examined (5). Adding this powerful protector can help to boost your defences from the free radical damage we face on a daily basis.
Consuming a diet rich in antioxidants may offer protection from chronic inflammation and reduce the risk of many diseases, leading to improved health and lifespan.
Mushroom coffee is easier on the stomach than instant coffee as the acidity of coffee is naturally counterbalanced. Mushrooms are also great for gut health as they are rich in prebiotics which support digestive health.
Chaga is rich in polysaccharides which possess prebiotic properties that improve the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut (6). Turkey tail contains a compound called PSP, which acts as a prebiotic to modulate the microbiome composition. Studies have shown beneficial changes in gut bacteria and suppression of pathogenic bacteria (7).
Gut health is generally seen as the key to overall health, and a rich and diverse microbiome is essential for wellbeing.
Many mushrooms have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Reishi is rich in triterpenes which have strong anti-inflammatory properties (8). Tremella also has notable anti-inflammatory properties (9).
Inflammation is essential for overall health, but issues arise when it becomes chronic. As mentioned above chronic inflammation is strongly linked to ageing and age-related diseases, so adding in anti-inflammatory foods like medicinal mushrooms can help to combat its effects.
Mushrooms like cordyceps and reishi are fantastic sources of adenosine, which helps block some of the stimulatory effects caused by regular coffee like anxiety and jitters.
Reishi is rich in triterpenes, which have a natural sedative action, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, calming the mind and body, and promoting an overall sense of zen.
Studies suggest lion’s mane can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by modulating the levels of specific neurotransmitters (10), making it the perfect addition to coffee for mental wellbeing.
If you are looking for a good mushroom coffee, there are a few things to look out for:
Mushrooms For Life mushroom coffees are organically certified, third party tested, and free from excipients. Just packed full of the good stuff, with organic coffee and a therapeutic dose of pure-grade medicinal mushrooms per serving, alongside naturally sweet vanilla and aromatic cardamom to counteract coffee’s acidic notes.
Mushrooms have a wide range of active compounds and varied benefits that make them a wonderful addition to your daily routine.
If you are looking for something to boost your brainpower, lift your spirits, support your defences and more, then try mushroom coffee; the natural way to support your wellbeing.
Our mushroom coffees are the perfect for when you need a natural lift without all the downsides. Find the range here and discover the benefits of mushroom coffee for yourself…
References:
1: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24266378/
2: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684115/
3: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23510282/
4: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5236007/
5: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17666849/
6: https://amb-express.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13568-017-0341-1
7: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25006989/
8: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34411377/
9: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5561887/
10: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biomedres/31/4/31_4_231/_pdf
