mushrooms are beloved dietary staples, famed for adding umami flavor and filled with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. And now mushrooms have received some attention in the form of mushroom coffee: an increasingly trendy functional beverage made by mixing traditional coffee grounds with extracts from medicinal mushrooms like Lion’s mane and turkey tail mushrooms. Though proponents claim the beverage may aid cancer prevention and immune enhancement benefits; most claims have yet to be proven in human studies and other factors need to be considered such as how it interacts with certain medications.

Though mushroom coffee is generally considered safe for most individuals, allergic reactions and gastrointestinal discomfort have been reported among those sensitive to fungus in general or specific varieties such as Turkey Tail, Chaga or Reishi mushrooms. Furthermore, while mushroom coffee may seem like an ideal caffeine-free replacement to regular coffee beverages, most blends still contain between 0 to 80 mg per 8-ounce cup depending on its brand – enough caffeine for individuals sensitive to it to experience dizziness, heart palpitations, raised blood pressure jitteriness or muscle tension symptoms when drinking it regularly.

Concerns have also been raised by the fact that most mushroom-infused coffees use ground or powdered mushrooms instead of whole ones, providing only a fraction of the same nutrition found in food items like Ryze’s mushroom coffee with 48 mg of caffeine and Four Sigmatic listing 50 mg for their product; for those sensitive to caffeine or living with conditions such as kidney or liver disease this could prove too much caffeine intake.

As for health claims made about mushrooms, some of which have been supported by animal or test-tube studies, there is some evidence to support claims they offer anti-inflammatory benefits as well as antioxidants which may lower cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease risks. Furthermore, adaptogens found in mushroom coffee could possibly help decrease cortisol releases during stressful situations and also help improve sleep quality.

Even with all its promises of health benefits, it’s important to remember that whole mushrooms are an extremely nutrituous and delicious part of any diet, offering all of the same advantages as mushroom coffee–plus more! While mushroom coffee blends can help those seeking to reduce caffeine consumption or avoid its negative side effects a good alternative option for regular coffee drinkers; if digestive upset or other health concerns are an issue for you, whole mushrooms might be best consumed whole and in their natural state.