Mushroom coffee benefits: What science says about this trending brew
'Mushroom coffee' refers to a blend of traditional coffee and medicinal mushroom extracts like lion's mane, chaga, reishi, and cordyceps. Potential health benefits include increased energy, mental focus, and stress reduction.
Several brands of mushroom coffee have gained popularity for their claimed health benefits. Mushroom coffee uses certain medicinal mushrooms known for their adaptogenic properties.
'Adaptogenic' refers to a natural substance—usually an herb, mushroom, or plant—that helps the body adapt to stress without overstimulating or disrupting normal function.
Adaptogens are believed to: increase resistance to physical, emotional, or environmental stress
support energy and stamina
help regulate cortisol and other stress hormones
promote overall well-being and resilience
Mushroom coffee often contains less caffeine than regular coffee, potentially reducing jitters and improving sleep quality.
This article discusses the claimed and potential benefits of mushroom coffee and whether there is evidence to support them. Valeriia Sviridova/500px/Stocksy
Mushroom coffee often contains a mushroom called lion's mane ( Hericium erinaceus ). Lion's mane contains compounds such as hericenones and erinacines that stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF), essential for brain health.
A small study from 2023 looked at whether lion's mane could help with thinking and mood in 41 healthy adults between 18 and 45 years of age.
After taking one dose, participants completed a cognitive task faster, which means lion's mane may have increased their thinking abilities.
After 28 days, participants also reported feeling less stressed, although the difference wasn't strong enough to be significant. The study was small, so more research is needed, but the results are promising.
A 2024 analysis also found that lion's mane helped boost cognition and energy in older adults.
Cordyceps mushrooms may enhance people's oxygen usage and increase cellular energy (ATP production), potentially improving energy levels and reducing fatigue. This may also aid endurance and recovery in exercise.
A 2021 study published in Frontiers found that cordyceps were effective in combating fatigue and weakness. However, the researchers stated that they need to study cordyceps more to identify the most effective components, understand how they work together, and confirm their safety.
Chaga mushrooms ( Inonotus obliquus ) are rich in beta-glucans, compounds known to support the immune system. These compounds activate immune cells, enhancing the body's defense mechanisms.
A 2023 review found that chaga has multiple benefits for the immune system and systemic health, including potential antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant effects.
Although studies have shown potential benefits of chaga, and it is considered safe, researchers need to perform more studies to fully understand how it works.
Reishi mushrooms are known for their adaptogenic properties, helping the body manage stress. Adaptogens may regulate cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone, promoting relaxation and emotional balance.
Reishi mushrooms are generally considered safe, but researchers need to study their use more to understand potential side effects.
Many of the mushrooms included in mushroom coffee contain antioxidants like polyphenols and beta-glucans, which combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation. These include chaga, reishi, cordyceps, and lion's mane.
Manufacturers of mushroom coffee often include another adaptogenic herb, ashwagandha, which has potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ashwagandha contains compounds called withanolides, which have been associated with these effects.
Mushroom coffee typically contains less caffeine than regular coffee, which may benefit individuals sensitive to caffeine and improve sleep quality.
Additionally, the adaptogenic properties of certain mushrooms may promote relaxation. In particular, reishi may help reduce stress and prepare the body for better sleep.
Research has also shown that ashwagandha may be effective for insomnia.
There are a few things to consider before trying mushroom coffee for its potential health benefits.
Limited studies have been conducted into the long-term effects of the adaptogenic mushrooms and herbs present in mushroom coffee, and researchers do not know how they interact with each other.
More research is also needed to understand how they may react with other medications and in people with different health conditions.
It is advisable to consult a doctor before trying mushroom coffee, as some of its ingredients and properties may interfere with pre-existing health conditions or medications.
For example, chaga mushrooms contain high levels of oxalates, which can be problematic for individuals with kidney conditions.
Mushroom coffee offers a unique blend of traditional coffee and medicinal mushrooms, potentially providing cognitive, immune, and energy benefits.
While preliminary studies are promising, more human research is needed to fully understand its effects. As with any supplement, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating mushroom coffee into a routine.
Nutrition / Diet
Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Adaptogens (2024).
https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTHLIBRARY/tools/adaptogens.asp
Ashwagandha. (2023).
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ashwagandha
Cha S, et al. (2024). A review of the effects of mushrooms on mood and neurocognitive health across the lifespan.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763424000162
Das G, et al. (2021). Cordyceps spp.: A review on its immune-stimulatory and other biological potentials.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.602364/full
Docherty S, et al. (2023). The acute and chronic effects of lion's mane mushroom supplementation on cognitive function, stress and mood in young adults: A double-blind, parallel groups, pilot study.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10675414/
Fordjour E, et al. (2023). Chaga mushroom: a super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10728660/
Lee S, et al. (2020). Development of endstage renal disease after long-term ingestion of chaga mushroom: Case report and review of literature.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7234858/
Li K, et al. (2024). The anti-fatigue and sleep-aiding effects vary significantly among different recipes containing Ganoderma lucidum extracts.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11103526/
Tóth-Mészáros A, et al. (2023). The effect of adaptogenic plants on stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464623002955
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Meghan to speak as guest of honour at LA museum's Night of Wonder
The Duchess of Sussex will speak as the guest of honour at a museum's Night of Wonder in the US, as part of her work championing community wellbeing. Meghan will be joined by other high-profile guests at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, as the space is transformed into an enchanted nocturnal garden on June 14. The event will feature live music and installations representing local ecosystems and the LA landscape, and guests will be treated to a farm-to-table dinner that uses ingredients from the museum's nature gardens. The duchess's mission to advance community wellbeing and uplift young women 'dovetails with the museums' approach to connecting community and science by fostering meaningful educational experiences that empower young minds', the Office of Prince Harry and Meghan said. Among the programmes shared on the website of their charity, the Archewell Foundation, is The Welcome Project, where Meghan focuses on addressing 'the social isolation recently resettled women experience around the world and building more inclusive and connected communities'. The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) hold one of the biggest and most valuable collections of natural and cultural history in the world, with more than 35 million objects. Their collections are used for ground-breaking scientific and historical research and in a range of community science programmes, including creating indoor-outdoor visitor experiences. NHMLAC's president and director Lori Bettison-Varga said: 'We are proud to honour Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, a native Angeleno, whose work to advance community wellbeing and expand opportunity, especially for underserved communities, aligns with our equity-focused approach to developing science literacy for the next generation, including through our Stem and Steam Pathways programmes.' Meghan and Harry, who celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary last month, live in the US with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after stepping away from the working monarchy.
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Los Angeles County will pay $2.7M to teen boy attacked in ‘gladiator fights' at detention facility
Los Angeles County on Monday agreed to pay $2.7 million to a teenager who was attacked by at least six other young people at a juvenile detention center in so-called 'gladiator fights' that were allegedly facilitated by probation officers. The boy's beating in 2023 at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall was captured on surveillance video that also showed several officials standing idly by and some of them shaking hands with the participants in the beating. A state grand jury in March charged 30 correctional officers for their role in allowing and sometimes encouraging nearly 70 fights to take place between July and December 2023. The officers face charges including child endangerment and abuse, conspiracy, and battery. More than 140 victims between the ages of 12 and 18 were involved, according to authorities. Attorney General Rob Bonta said after the charges were announced that it seemed the attacks were planned. 'They often wanted them to happen at the beginning of the day, in a certain time, in a certain place. A space and a time was created for the fights, and the plan was for the fights to happen,' he said. The investigation began after the Los Angeles Times first obtained and published video footage that shows a then-16-year-old being attacked by at least six other young people, who came at him one by one as officers stand by watching. The video was first made public during a court hearing during which a public defender for the boy, now 17, argued to a judge that he was not safe at Los Padrinos and should be released ahead of his trial. His attorney, Jamal Tooson, said the settlement was a 'first step' in recognizing the 'egregious' conduct of the LA County Probation Department. 'Our priority needs to be not just protecting my client but all children in similar circumstances under the care and watch of the probation department,' Tooson said. 'There were lawsuits prior to this. I personally represent several individuals who've been harmed at the same facility after this.' According to a correction action plan written by the department, staff failed to review CCTV footage of the facility, delayed taking the teen to the hospital, and waited too long to notify his parents. To address these issues, the department will ensure CCTV monitors are 'staffed routinely' and conduct random footage audits, and develop a protocol for making sure young people in custody are given medical care and their parents are informed appropriately. A judge ruled in April that the LA County Probation Department could not continue housing juveniles at Los Padrinos and approved a plan in May to move more than 100 youths out of the facility. California 's state board overseeing local correctional facilities has previously ordered Los Padrinos to be shut down. Tooson believes there is a pervasive 'culture problem' extending throughout the probation department's facilities that cannot be addressed by the correction action plan. He has filed at least 19 lawsuits in federal court alleging issues from physical violence allowed by officials to sexual assault by staff members in LA County's youth detention centers, he said. 'Until we actively start changing the mindset and behavior of those who are put into a caretaking responsibility of these youth, I think we're going to find ourselves in the same situation,' he said.
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Judge OVERRULES Trump and tells prisons to keep giving trans inmates their meds in blockbuster decision
A judge has ruled the federal Bureau of Prisons must provide hormone therapy to transgender inmates after Donald Trump signed an executive order halting all treatments. Trump issued the order within hours of his inauguration in January forcing the federal government to only recognize two genders - male and female - as well as, house transgender women in men's prisons and not fund gender-affirming care. Several transgender prisoners sued the administration to have their treatments resumed. US District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled on Tuesday that federal law prohibits prison officials from arbitrarily depriving inmates of medications and other lifestyle accommodations that the bureau's medical staff has deemed appropriate. The judge said the transgender inmates who sued to block Trump's executive order are trying to lessen the personal anguish caused by their gender dysphoria, the distress that a person feels because their assigned gender and gender identity don´t match. 'In light of the plaintiffs' largely personal motives for undergoing gender-affirming care, neither the BOP nor the Executive Order provides any serious explanation as to why the treatment modalities covered by the Executive Order or implementing memoranda should be handled differently than any other mental health intervention,' Lamberth said. Trump's order required the bureau to revise its medical care policies so that federal funds aren't spent 'for the purpose of conforming an inmate's appearance to that of the opposite sex.' There are approximately 1,500 federal prisoners who are transgender women and 750 transgender men, The New York Times reported. One of the plaintiffs, Alishea Kingdom, is a transgender woman who was prescribed hormone therapy injections and approved to receive social accommodations, including women's undergarments and cosmetics. Kingdom was denied her hormone shot three times after Trump signed his order, but she had it restored roughly a week after she sued. Her access to feminine undergarments hasn't been restored, according to the judge's ruling. 'In Ms. Kingdom's case, there is no indication at all that the BOP means to leave her hormone therapy in place long-term; indeed, as noted above, she was informed by BOP personnel that the decision to resume her treatment was a consequence of this litigation itself, raising the specter that her treatments might be discontinued as soon as the litigation has concluded,' Lamberth said. Trump's order also directed the Bureau of Prisons to ensure that 'males are not detained in women's prisons,' but Lamberth blocked prison officials from transferring three incarcerated transgender women to men's facilities in February. The judge said there's no evidence Trump or prison officials considered the harm the new policies could do to transgender inmates. 'The defendants argue that the plaintiffs have not alleged irreparable harm because they are all currently receiving hormone medications. But it suffices to say that all three plaintiffs' access to hormone therapy is, as best the Court can tell, tenuous,' Lamberth said. Trump signed several orders rolling back protections for transgender people, ruling that the two 'immutable sexes' are 'not changeable.' The orders directed federal prisons along with shelters for migrants and rape victims to be segregated by sex. He also directed federal money to be no longer be used to fund 'transition services.' Transgender inmates were federally protected under the Barack Obama Administration, before Trump appealed the policy during his first term. Obama's policy was later reenacted under the Joe Biden Administration and Trump once again appealing it. The president also demanded officials use the term 'sex' rather than 'gender.' Federal agencies were urged to end funding to promote 'gender ideology' and protect against 'gender extremism.' contacted the Justice Department for comment. The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment.
