Mushroom coffee combines traditional coffee with functional mushrooms or mushroom extracts for enhanced focus and immunity benefits. Lion’s mane, chaga, cordyceps, and turkey tail are some examples of medicinal mushrooms said to provide such benefits.

Though preliminary studies back some of these claims, more research needs to be conducted. Also, as most mushroom coffee products do not disclose how much each ingredient they contain contributes, assessing what exactly benefits your health is difficult.

1. Boosts metabolism

Mushroom coffee is a type of specialty beverage composed of regular coffee beans combined with dehydrated functional mushrooms, often consumed as an aid to improving metabolism while still reaping all of the benefits associated with traditional coffee consumption. Mushroom coffee has become an increasingly popular drink among health and fitness enthusiasts seeking an innovative way to drink their beverage of choice while reaping all of its benefits. Research regarding mushroom coffee and weight loss remains limited. As I tried to gain more clarity about whether mushroom coffee could aid weight loss, I consulted Wade Lightheart of BIOptimizers – a certified sports nutritionist advisor and president of BIOptimizers who specializes in researching medical mushrooms – specifically reishi mushroom coffee – to shed light on how it may aid your efforts by helping the body use sugar more efficiently while simultaneously activating AMPK protein and thus increasing metabolism.

3. Increases energy

Mushroom coffee combines traditional coffee with various functional mushrooms and herbs, such as lion’s mane, chaga, reishi, turkey tail cordyceps or Phellinus (Phellinus linteus). Mushrooms used in mushroom coffee are known for their adaptogenic properties that can aid stress relief while supporting immune function; moreover they contain less caffeine than traditional coffee and provide an energy boost without the associated jitters.

Mushroom coffee brands often boast about its potential health benefits, such as increased focus and immunity support. Unfortunately, however, evidence to back these claims remains limited, and most mushroom coffee products do not disclose how much of each ingredient per serving; consequently it’s impossible to know whether there is sufficient medicinal mushrooms and herbs present to produce desired effects.

Lion’s Mane mushroom coffee contains compounds called hericenones and erinacines which stimulate nerve growth factor, essential for brain health. Therefore, this mushroom is often included in supplements designed to enhance mental wellbeing; one small study published in 2023 showed it may help people think faster while feeling less stress.

Though mushroom supplements may have their own set of advantages, it is wise to consult your healthcare provider prior to beginning any dietary supplement regimen. Certain herbs and mushrooms could interact with medications prescribed to you or be dangerous for certain health conditions; as well as potential interactions between ingredients within them that could potentially have adverse side effects or interaction. Evidence-based approaches like caloric deficits or structured eating patterns remain the best ways for weight loss; medicinal mushrooms or herbal extracts such as mushroom coffee should only ever be part of a healthy diet plan.

4. Reduces stress

Mushroom coffee is a beverage made by combining traditional coffee with extracts of functional mushrooms such as lion’s mane, chaga, reishi and cordyceps for potential cognitive, immune and energy benefits. Few human studies have explored medicinal mushroom supplements; therefore it can be difficult to discern exactly how these will impact health in any one product containing multiple different kinds of fungi in undisclosed ratios.

Most medicinal mushrooms used in mushroom coffee contain adaptogenic properties that can help alleviate stress, improve sleep quality and encourage relaxation. Furthermore, polyphenols and beta-glucans present in them provide antioxidant support against oxidative stress; additionally Reishi and Chaga have both been demonstrated to promote production of nerve growth factor (NGF), an essential factor for brain health.

Ashwagandha, an ingredient commonly included in mushroom coffee products, has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and promote relaxation. Furthermore, many mushroom coffee products also contain less caffeine than regular coffee products, making these ideal solutions for those sensitive to caffeine who wish to improve sleep quality and increase relaxation.

Though mushroom coffee may be popular, little evidence supports its purported health benefits. As with any alternative medicine treatment plan involving mushrooms (including mushroom coffee) it’s wise to consult a physician first as many have shown to interact negatively with certain medications or even cause harm in certain individuals.