Medicinal mushrooms have long been used as traditional forms of medicine and more recently they’ve experienced a surge in their use as healthful supplements and teas. Mushroom coffee has recently become the latest trend with celebrity endorsements touting its purported health benefits of immune support, stress relief, gut health benefits and energy boost. But is mushroom coffee worth trying? We enlisted expert opinions to get their insight.

Mushroom coffee is typically a combination of regular coffee with extracts of medicinal mushrooms like Chaga, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane and Turkey Tail that contain adaptogens – compounds thought to help people cope with stress more effectively while increasing resilience – as well as antioxidants which fight free radicals and inflammation, according to Butcher. Unfortunately there hasn’t been much scientific research done on these mushrooms, making the impact of adding them into coffee unclear.

As with any supplement, mushroom coffee should only be taken as part of a healthy diet, not as an alternative. Aziz advises consuming whole foods consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and plant proteins for maximum nutrition. Before trying mushroom coffee yourself it is essential that you read labels carefully in order to identify products with added sugar or artificial ingredients and consult your physician prior to adding mushroom coffee into your daily regimen.

While mushrooms can certainly be beneficial, it’s important to keep in mind that this coffee brew only contains extracts of mushrooms rather than entire mushrooms, according to Volpe. Eating whole mushrooms is the best way to gain their benefits and minimize any possible digestive discomfort caused by overeating powdered forms of mushrooms; similarly some mushrooms (like Chaga ) contain high concentrations of oxalates which may contribute to kidney stones so be wary if you suffer from kidney problems or have sensitivities to certain food groups.

Mushroom-laced coffee can be expensive and is sometimes touted as immune booster, yet its exact health effects remain uncertain. No scientific studies have proven any benefits related to these brews; also unknown is whether the drying, extraction and brewing processes reduce antioxidant benefits found within mushrooms.

Coffee may also be what’s making you more alert and energetic, not the mushrooms themselves, and caffeine alone could be responsible for any associated jitters, racing heartbeat or any other negative side effects of caffeine consumption. To decrease caffeine consumption and experience less side effects try switching to green tea or black coffee alternatives instead of coffee itself.