Mushroom Coffee is an increasingly popular functional beverage made by combining traditional coffee with extracts of medicinal mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Chaga and Cordyceps. Many praise its benefits in improving cognitive function, supporting immune health and reducing caffeine intake; although preclinical research may support such claims. Unfortunately, its true effects remain unknown.

Medicinal mushrooms have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine as adaptogens to help the body better respond to stress. When combined with coffee drinks, medicinal mushrooms may help lower cortisol levels and balance blood sugar. Diabetics may find this particularly helpful since diabetes often causes sudden spikes in their blood sugar that lead to energy crashes and jitters.

As it stands now, most of the available evidence on mushroom coffee’s purported benefits has come from animal and test tube studies; therefore, human research needs to take place to back these claims up; otherwise it remains impossible to know exactly who can benefit and whether any negative side effects exist.

One potential downside of mushroom coffee is its effect on digestion, particularly among those who already suffer from kidney or stomach conditions. Fungi extracts found in these drinks contain high concentrations of oxalates – known to contribute and increase kidney stone risk – while mushroom coffee often costs double what regular coffee would cost, making it unsuitable for anyone on a tight budget.

While mushroom coffee’s potential health benefits are certainly impressive, it is wise to be wary when taking any supplement that boasts grandiose health claims. More research must be conducted into both its efficacy and safety before anyone makes definitive statements about it. If interested, those wanting more information should speak with either their healthcare provider or dietitian first.

Mushroom coffee is a combination of traditional coffee and various fungi that has been dried, ground and processed to concentrate their bioactive compounds. Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) and Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) mushrooms are widely appreciated for their anti-ageing benefits and ability to enhance brain function and memory, while Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) are thought to possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.

At its core, the best way to maximize the health benefits of mushroom coffee lies in adding whole mushrooms into your diet and forgoing specialty brews. While mushroom coffee may seem appealing on an initial cost basis, caffeine’s diuretic effects may prove counterproductive – particularly among older adults already struggling with dehydration issues. If you still prefer having coffee as part of your daily ritual though, Grateful Earth offers delicious mushroom coffee blends without caffeine such as our Chaga Reishi Lion’s Mane blend which offers all three of their rich benefits together in one delicious blend – get yours today!