Is Mushroom Coffee Good for You? 9 Surprising Benefits

You’ve probably seen mushroom coffee all over social media. Or, maybe you’ve seen it featured on lists of health and wellness trends. And while you may be aware that eating mushrooms has perceived health benefits, you’re probably wondering about the hype surrounding mushroom coffee.

What’s all the fuss? 

Why are people drinking mushrooms? 

Is mushroom coffee good for you? 

The answers just might surprise you.

What Is Mushroom Coffee?

People have been consuming mushroom extracts and broths created from dried and powdered mushroom species for thousands of years. In the traditional medicine practices of many cultures, mushrooms were used as a medicinal food. Though they are not new, interest in the use of functional mushrooms, as they are often called, has grown as their benefits have become clear and their availability has increased.  

Mushroom coffee can be made in a variety of ways. Here are two of the most common: 

• Mushroom powder in coffee: The first way to make mushroom coffee is by adding mushroom powder to your favorite coffee—caffeinated, decaf, or half-caf. By preparing your coffee as you normally would and simply mixing in a teaspoon of a powdered single species or mushroom blend, you can capitalize on the benefits of this fungal superfood. A small, battery-operated milk frother, for example, can be used to quickly mix and help the powder dissolve in your drink.  
• Mushroom/coffee combination: One of the most convenient ways to drink mushroom coffee is in single-serving packets that combine mushroom powders with instant coffee. This option is very portable with pre-measured ingredients that may include sweetener and/or nondairy creamer. Some blends offer the benefits of multiple mushroom species and herbal additives to provide an energizing combination beyond the stimulating effect of caffeine alone.

If you are still wondering why people are adding mushroom powder to coffee, the answer is simple. Besides the mild taste that fits well with the complexity of coffee, mushrooms are loaded with bioactive ingredients. 

Is Mushroom Coffee Good for You? Explore 10 Health Benefits

Besides their long and storied history in Eastern medicine, there is a growing body of evidence in contemporary scientific research that functional mushrooms have health-promoting properties. Regardless of how you make your mushroom coffee, there are quite a few perceived benefits. Understanding these potential benefits may help you decide to make mushroom coffee a regular part of your routine. 

1. Adds Nutrients

Just a teaspoon of single-species mushroom powder (equivalent to the recommended dosage of 2,000 mg) added to your coffee can provide nutritional benefits. Powder made from dried, whole food mushrooms that include the mycelium and/or the fruiting body can give you a low-calorie source of protein, B vitamins, and minerals, as well as a wealth of bioactive compounds that support your body’s homeostatic balance.^‡ 

2. Supports Brain Function

Many of us start the day with coffee to wake ourselves up and prepare for the day. Lion’s mane coffee is a great way to supercharge your morning routine with bioactive compounds that support brain and nerve health. This nootropic mushroom supports healthy brain functioning, including memory, focus, and nerve health to help you start each day at your creative and productive best. Bioactive compounds from the mycelium and fruiting bodies promote neurotrophic factors that may support healthy mood regulation.^‡  

3. Supports Healthy Blood Sugar

Mushroom coffee provides an opportunity to support healthy blood sugar levels. Some research suggests that maitake mushrooms compete for digestive enzymes and may reduce the number of carbohydrates digested and absorbed in the intestines. Try adding maitake powder to your coffee when eating a high-carb meal to promote blood sugar balance.^‡ 

4. Helps You to De-stress

Adaptogenic mushroom species help to counter stressors and support your body’s equilibrium. Adding reishi powder into your coffee, especially later in the day, can help you to destress and prepare for a restful night’s sleep.^‡

5. Maintains Healthy Gut Flora

By virtue of their prebiotic fiber content, mushrooms support the growth of beneficial bacteria in your GI tract. Just a teaspoonful added to your coffee increases your daily fiber consumption.^‡

6. Provides Antioxidants

Functional mushrooms provide antioxidants that help to combat tissue damage from free radicals and oxidative stress. Chaga is high in antioxidants; adding it to your coffee may help to combat aging by neutralizing free radicals.^‡  

Ergosterol is a sterol compound found in the cell walls of mushrooms. Research with rats demonstrated that ergosterol suppressed the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine and increased the excretion of cholesterol from the GI tract. By adding mushroom powder to your coffee, you gain its potential to limit the absorption of dietary cholesterol. Maitake mushrooms are a significant source of ergosterol.^‡ 

8. Modulates Your Immune Response

Through the immunomodulating potential of beta-glucans, functional mushrooms support a healthy immune response. Adding a small serving of turkey tail powder to your coffee routine each day activates your immune system for appropriate immune responses.^‡

9. Supports Your Workout

What if your daily coffee routine also supported your workouts? With daily consumption and consistency cordyceps mushroom powder can support stamina, endurance, and oxygen capacity during your workout and promote muscle recovery afterward.^‡ 

Getting Superfood Benefits in Your Coffee

While coffee itself has antioxidant power, you can significantly amplify its potential with a simple addition. By stirring in a spoonful of high-quality, organic mushroom powder you can enhance your cup of coffee with a multitude of benefits. Mushroom powders support you from day to night. Depending on the species you select, you can promote your body’s healthy functioning and recovery from various stresses and challenges.^‡

So, to answer the question is mushroom coffee good for you, the answer is undeniable. With daily consumption, functional mushrooms offer a wealth of superfood benefits that can help your body maintain a healthy balance. If you’re new to functional mushroom consumption, it could take your body up to three weeks to experience health benefits. It’s recommended that new users double the recommended dosage of 2 grams per day for the first three weeks as many supplements are bioreactive and it takes time for your body to assimilate.^‡ 

Try a single-species powder or experiment with a multi-mushroom blend stirred into your cup. It will be a small action that has the power to bring big results.

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^‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Functional mushroom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.