Many health-minded individuals are taking to mushroom coffee, a drink that blends traditional coffee with extracts from medicinal mushrooms to form a delicious drink that looks and tastes similar to regular coffee but boasts additional health benefits like cognitive enhancement, immune support, lowered caffeine consumption, etc. Unfortunately, not all claims related to mushroom coffee can be trusted completely; here we explore its science to help you decide if mushroom coffee could be beneficial to your wellbeing.

Mushroom Coffee for Gut Health

Contrary to what its name may imply, mushroom coffee contains very few actual mushrooms; rather it consists of ground coffee beans mixed with extract from functional mushrooms such as lion’s mane, chaga, reishi or cordyceps. These medicinal mushrooms, also called adaptogens, may increase stress resilience and boost energy levels while improving resilience against stress.

Mushroom coffee is made by drying and grinding mushrooms into a powder, which is then combined with coffee grounds. As such, mushroom coffee often has less caffeine than traditional coffee, with some blends only having trace amounts. Furthermore, depending on its ingredients this type of beverage could also contain amino acids or polyphenols with various health-giving benefits.

Some types of mushrooms used in mushroom coffee could provide significant benefits for gut health, including lion’s mane, chaga, and reishi species. Prebiotics contained within these species help support healthy gut microbiota and aid digestion and nutrient absorption, while their antioxidant content protects against oxidative stress as well as free radical damage that could otherwise result in discomfort in your gut lining – offering relief to prevent gastrointestinal distress.

As far as other benefits go, research indicates that mushroom supplements could have potential anti-inflammatory and sleep quality benefits; though more studies need to be conducted before definitive conclusions can be drawn from such limited research. Unfortunately, dosage of mushroom supplements tends to be much higher than what would typically be found in mushroom coffee beverages; also some chaga varieties (high in oxalates) may cause problems for those suffering with kidney stones.

As a general guideline, those with digestive issues should avoid mushroom coffee as much as possible. Because most mushroom extracts used in this product have not been tested on humans, some could possibly interfere with certain medications prescribed to those suffering from IBS or inflammatory bowel disease. Before beginning a mushroom coffee program, we advise speaking to your physician first. They can assist in selecting appropriate mushroom products suited for your unique health goals and remember it’s always better to source nutrients from whole food rather than synthetic supplements; the latter industry remains highly unregulated, potentially exposing you to harmful substances.