It is the latest trendy version of your regular cup from Joe. Mushroom coffee is everywhere. It is usually sold in powder form, and when it is mixed with water, it creates an earthly and umami rich coffee-like drink.
Loved by wellness influencers and filled in the shelves of health food stores, mushroom coffee has quickly gone from a niche newsheartiness to a mainstream staple. In fact, the interest of the consumer in mushroom drinks has increased by 52% year after year (3). Mushroom coffee brands claim that their product offers improved mental and physical performance, higher immunity and better sleep (4).
But are these health claims based on science or just smart marketing? Let’s take a closer look at what is really in your mug.
What’s in Mushroom -coffee?
Mushroom -coffee usually contains a powdered mix of mushrooms and coffee. Instead of culinary mushrooms, it uses Functional Mushrooms (also known as medicinal mushrooms) such as:
- Lion’s Mane
- Chaga
- Reishi
- Cordyceps
- Turkey tail
MyfitnessPal Dietitian Lauren Cuda says that different mushrooms offer different benefits – for example, Lion’s Manen can be good for focus (6), Reishi for stimulating the immune system (8) and Cordyceps to stimulate endurance (9). “No type is definitively better,” she says.
Keep in mind that most scientific evidence for these supposed benefits comes from research into pure mushroom extracts (sometimes considered supplements), not a mushroom coffee mixtures. To date, there have been no large rigorous clinical tests to assess the health effects of mushroom coffee in people.
Mushroom -coffee can have less caffeine than regular coffee, depending on the brand (10” 11), So if you like the taste, it can be a great way to enjoy a warm brew without the caffeine jitters.
Culinary versus functional mushrooms
While daily culinary mushrooms (such as Portobello, Button and Shiitake) are eaten for their taste and texture, functional mushrooms (such as those in mushroom coffee) are consumed for their potential health benefits.
Mushrooms are naturally few calories, but rich in nutrients such as:
According to Cuda, functional mushrooms are usually tough, woody or bitter – that is why they are usually processed in extract shapes such as supplements or mushroom coffee.
“Eating culinary mushrooms is a great way to support the overall food, but if your goal is to record functional mushrooms, a supplement or mushroom coffee can be a more practical option,” says Cuda. It all depends on your health preferences.
About the expert
Lauren Cuda, RD is a food data curator at MyfitnessPal. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in dietetics at Missouri State University and her master’s degree in nutrition diagnostics at Cox College. With more than 10 years of experience, she specializes in pediatric food, malnutrition and nutritional support.
Pros and cons of mushroom coffee
Mushroom coffee -benefits
The lower caffeine content in Mushroom -coffee can cause fewer side effects than normal coffee if you are sensitive to caffeine.
Possible benefits of mushrooms can be (7) (8):
- Immune tun
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved focus
- Improved endurance
Mushroom coffee disadvantages
However, most of the benefits of functional mushrooms are based on animal studies or isolated mushroom extracts – not on brewed mushroom coffee. It is unknown whether or not these benefits apply to people.
According to CUDA, mushroom coffee can interact with medicines such as immunosuppressants, blood pressure medicines, blood drugs and drugs for diabetes (7” 8” 9). “Always contact your care provider,” she says.
Frequently asked questions (frequently asked questions)
Does mushroom coffee taste different from regular coffee?
Mushroom -coffee tastes similar to regular coffee, often with a mild earthy or nutty undertone. Quality and taste are usually dependent on the brand.
Does mushroom coffee have a lower content of nutrients than whole functional mushrooms?
Although it is difficult to quantify, Cudah says that mushroom coffee probably has less nutritional value due to processing and smaller quantities that are used.
How does Mushroom Coffee relate to other coffee alternatives, such as Matcha and Yerba Mate?
Mushroom -coffee usually contains less caffeine than Matcha or Yerba Mate, which can make it a good option if you want to reduce your caffeine intake.
The Bottom Line
If you are interested in consuming functional mushrooms, mushroom coffee can be a good option to possibly pick the possible benefits of functional mushrooms while you get an energy boost.
Keep in mind that there is very little research to support the benefits of Mushroom coffee. If you want to consume the caffeine of coffee and the food seats of mushrooms, ordinary old coffee and culinary mushrooms can be a cheaper and more investigated choice.
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