It’s the latest trendy take your regular cup of joe. Mushroom coffee is everywhere. It is usually sold in powder form, and when mixed with water, it creates a down -to -earth and umami rich coffee -like drink.
Loved by Wellness -influences and filled on the shelves of health food stores, fungal coffee has quickly gone from a niche’s curiosity to a mainstream staple. In fact, consumer interest in fungus drinks has increased by 52% years over years (3). Mushroom coffee tags claim that their product provides improved mental and physical performance, higher immunity and better sleep (4).
But are these health claims grounded in science or just smart marketing? Let’s take a closer look at what is really in your mug.
What’s in fungus coffee?
Mushroom coffee typically contains a powdered blend of mushrooms and coffee. Instead of culinary mushrooms, it uses Functional mushrooms (also called medical fungi) such as:
- Lions Manke
- Chaga
- Reishi
- Cordyceps
- Turkey’s tail
MyFitnessPal Dietist Lauren Cuda says different mushrooms offer different benefits – for example, Lion’s mane may be good at focus (6), Reishi to increase the immune system (8) and cordyceps to increase endurance (9). “No type is definitely better,” she says.
Be aware that most scientific evidence of these supposed benefits comes from research on pure fungal extracts (sometimes taken as supplements), not mushroom coffee blends. To date, there have been no large strict clinical trials to assess the health effects of fungal coffee in humans.
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 hot brewing without the caffeine.
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Culinary vs. Functional mushrooms
While everyday culinary fungi (such as portobello, button and shiitake) are eaten for their taste and texture, functional fungi are consumed (like those in fungal coffee) to their potential health benefits.
Mushrooms are naturally low in calories but rich in nutrients such as:
- B vitamins
- Antioxidants
- Fiber
- Selenium
- Copper
- Potassium (5, 6)
According to CUDA, functional fungi tend to be hard, woody or bitter – which is why they are usually treated for extract forms such as supplements or fungal coffee.
“Eating culinary mushrooms is a great way to support the overall nutrition, but if your goal is to incorporate functional mushrooms, a supplement or fungus 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 served her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Missouri State University and her master’s degree in nutrition diagnostics from Cox College. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in pediatric nutrition, malnutrition and nutrition support.
The advantages and disadvantages of fungal coffee
Mushroom Coffee Benefits
The lower caffeine content of mushroom coffee can cause fewer side effects than normal coffee if you are sensitive to caffeine.
Possible benefits of fungi may include (7) (8):
- Immune support
- Impaired inflammation
- Improved focus
- Improved endurance
Mushroom coffee disadvantages
However, most benefits of functional fungi are based on animal studies or isolated fungal extracts – not on brewed fungal coffee. It is unknown whether these benefits apply to humans or not.
According to CUDA, fungal coffee can interact with medications such as immunosuppressants, blood pressure medicine, blood thinners and medicine for diabetes (7, 8, 9). “Always check with your healthcare provider,” she says.
Frequently asked questions (frequently asked questions)
Does fungal coffee taste different from regular coffee?
Mushroom coffee tastes similar to regular coffee, often with a mild down -to -earth or nutty undertone. Quality and taste generally depends on the brand.
Does mushroom coffee have a lower nutrient content than whole functional mushrooms?
Although it is difficult to quantify, Cuda says fungal coffee probably has less nutrition value due to treatment and less used quantities.
How is mushroom coffee compared to other coffee alternatives, such as Matcha and Yerba Mate?
Mushroom coffee typically contains less caffeine than matcha or yerba mate, which can make it a good option if you want to reduce your caffeine intake.
The lower line
If you are interested in consuming functional mushrooms, mushrooms can be a good opportunity to potentially harvest the possible benefits of functional mushrooms while getting an energy increase.
Remember, there is very little research that backs up the benefits of fungal coffee. If you want to consume caffeine of coffee and nutrients in mushrooms, regular old coffee and culinary mushrooms can be a cheaper and more examined choice.
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