If you follow any health gurus on social media, chances are they’ve touted the health benefits of mushroom coffee. This trendy beverage combines ground or powdered mushrooms with regular coffee, with supporters touting its claims to increase energy, reduce stress, improve sleep, strengthen immunity, increase cognitive function and more. These claims are supported by medicinal mushrooms’ abundant phytonutrients and vitamins; an approach utilized for thousands of years as food and traditional Chinese medicine; however their inclusion into coffee has become popular more recently.

Although mushroom coffee makers market their beverages as healthier than standard coffee, it does come with its own set of drawbacks. First and foremost, mushroom blends tend to be expensive – some costing up to twice the cost of standard cups of joe. Furthermore, no research supports any health claims they make.

Mushroom coffee typically features dried and powdered mushrooms selected for their medicinal benefits such as chaga, lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps or turkey tail varieties. After being extracted and roasted the mushrooms are either added directly into coffee grounds or substituted as regular beans in your cup for brewing; often leaving behind an earthy or nutty aroma in its wake.

No doubt about it – mushrooms are chock-full of essential nutrients and anti-inflammatory compounds, making them an excellent addition to a well-rounded diet.

Other than the mushroom ingredients, there’s no compelling evidence that mushroom coffee offers significant health advantages over regular coffee. There’s no indication it is less acidic or provides more energy, or that it lowers blood pressure, improves insulin resistance or decreases risk for heart disease.

One key benefit of mushroom coffee is that it’s typically lower in caffeine than traditional coffee drinks – something many may find beneficial given that caffeine can cause jitteriness, interfere with sleep at night, trigger high blood pressure in some people and some types of mushrooms such as those used for mushroom coffee contain high concentrations of oxalates that can put undue strain on kidneys.

If you decide to give mushroom coffee a try, be sure to consult a physician first and keep an eye on how your symptoms develop. Though mushroom coffee might help boost energy, for optimal results it’s better off with a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Avoid unproven supplements or herbs which could interact with medications you are already taking and could result in side effects; when selecting whole fresh mushrooms rather than processed extracts used as coffee or tea additives.