If your social media feeds are filled with images of people sipping a warm, coffee-like drink that tastes like regular joe but has mushrooms in it, you’re not alone. It’s called mushroom coffee and it has been touted as a healthy caffeine replacement with added health benefits that may include boosted immune function, reduced stress levels and enhanced cognitive performance.
Medicinal mushrooms, including lion’s mane, chaga, turkey tail and cordyceps, are dried, ground and extracted for their purportedly healthy ingredients before being blended with regular coffee grounds. This elixir is then sold in the form of ground beans, instant packets and premade lattes. It’s a popular new addition to the wellness trend of incorporating mushrooms in your diet.
The Complete Guide to Mushroom Coffee
The mushrooms used in this blend are believed to be rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help maintain healthy blood pressure, manage stress levels, offer anti-inflammatory properties and improve heart health, according to some research. They are also considered adaptogens, which have been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.
However, the research on these mushrooms is not conclusive and well-designed clinical trials on humans are lacking, particularly when it comes to how medicinal mushroom extracts can be incorporated into coffee drinks. Further, these mushrooms may interact with certain medications.
As for whether the mushroom-infused brew actually delivers on its claimed health benefits, Czerwony points out that “there’s no evidence of the mushrooms in the coffee providing any benefit. Most of the health claims are made by companies that sell the product and are not based on any validated studies.”…
