So, will this type of coffee be the magic health drink we have been waiting for or just a myth? Learn about its alleged health benefits!
Generally, medicinal mushroom extracts are used more than culinary mushrooms like Shiitake and Portobello.
Common medicinal mushrooms used to make mushroom coffee are Chaga, Turkey’s tail, Lion’s mane, Reishi and Cordyceps.
Mushroom coffee is available in the form of instant coffee packets, ground coffee blends, and coffee pods. It can also be prepared in the form of delicious mochas, lattes, or black coffee drinks similar to regular coffee.
Mushroom Coffee versus Regular Coffee
Mushroom coffee is considered to have less caffeine content than regular coffee (2✔ ✔Trusted Source
Heal Your Body & Mind
Go to source
). Caffeine is a psychoactive substance naturally present in some foods like coffee beans, cocoa beans, and tea leaves.
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Though drinking up to 400 mg of caffeine regularly isn’t associated with side effects, this may be different for some people who experience anxiety, rapid heart rate, and upset stomach even with lower caffeine intake.
In the case of mushroom coffee, the amount of mushroom powder is usually combined with an equal amount of ground coffee beans. This cuts down the caffeine content of the final product in half, compared with regular coffee.
However, this may not be true for all brands of mushroom coffee. Please check the caffeine content listed on the product’s packages.
What are the Benefits of Mushroom Coffee?
Stress Buster
: Medicinal mushrooms contain substances called adaptogens, which may improve the body’s response to stress by leveling out cortisol hormone in your blood and saliva. So, drinking mushroom coffee could help you manage stress .
Improved Immunity
: Various beneficial compounds such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, vitamins , carotenoids, and minerals present in mushrooms provide the necessary antioxidant content to boost the immune system.
Cancer Prevention
: Studies have indicated some potential medicinal mushrooms as supportive therapies for cancer patients, such as helping fight chemotherapy side-effects (nausea and vomiting ) (3✔ ✔Trusted Source
Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi Mushroom) and cancer
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).
Antiulcer Agent
: Medicinal mushrooms may help fight ulcers through their anti-inflammatory and improved communication between normal bacterial flora present in the body (4✔ ✔Trusted Source
Anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of extracts and compounds from the mushroom Inonotus obliquus
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).
Heart-Healthy Food
: Medicinal mushrooms have the potential for reducing blood cholesterol levels and in turn reducing the risk of heart disease.
Though some promising evidence is available, more research including humans is needed to verify those health effects. Considering this drink safe more people are consuming but you should always discuss it with your healthcare provider before having it.
While this unusual coffee may provide some health value, it’s important to remember that it contains only mushroom extract and experts believe that enjoying the whole mushroom is the best way to get its maximum benefits. So, it is best to add the whole mushrooms to your diet instead!
References:
- Bioactive Mushroom Polysaccharides: A Review on Monosaccharide Composition, Biosynthesis and Regulation – (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28608797/)
- Heal Your Body & Mind – (https://ryzesuperfoods.com/)
- Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi Mushroom) and cancer – (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27685898/)
- Anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of extracts and compounds from the mushroom Inonotus obliquus – (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236125885_Anti-inflammatory_and_anticancer_activities_of_extracts_and_compounds_from_the_mushroom_Inonotus_obliquus)
Source: Medindia
