Whole Foods predicts a number of foods will become major trends this year, such as veggie burgers with slathered-on topping and sparkling waters made with tree sap sourced from trees; one such food being mushroom coffee.

Functional mushrooms like chaga, lion’s mane and turkey tail in coffee have been proven to improve concentration, productivity and immunity while cordyceps has been associated with better athletic performance at high altitudes.

1. Chaga

Chaga mushroom, commonly referred to as tree branch mushroom, packs powerful health-promoting benefits inside. Chaga is packed with Beta-D-Glucans – water-soluble compounds known for strengthening immune health and decreasing inflammation – as well as lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin resistance.

Chaga boasts an ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) score that ranks it as one of the strongest antioxidants available, making it a possible weapon in protecting against free radical damage and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

Chaga can offer more than boosting immunity; it may provide anti-inflammatory benefits and assist the body’s natural detoxification processes. Furthermore, it contains antioxidants and minerals which support immune balance.

Many companies are creating mushroom coffee blends which combine reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps, and chaga mushrooms with ground coffee beans for maximum energy, focus and clarity. This helps counteract some of the side effects associated with regular coffee such as crashes, jitters and bellyaches while increasing energy and focus levels.

Mushroom coffee has quickly become a growing trend in the wellness community, featuring different mushroom extracts with various medicinal applications in traditional Chinese medicine – from supporting immunity and digestive health, such as Reishi or Lion’s Mane mushrooms, to energy boosting Chaga mushrooms.

Chaga provides a powerful immune-enhancing effect due to its beta-D glucans, which encourage white blood cells in our bodies to quickly identify potential infections and attack them quickly. Chaga has also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and balancing properties on our immune systems – both underperforming and overreacting immune responses can benefit.

2. Maitake

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is an extremely beneficial medicinal mushroom known for its immune-enhancing and immunopotentiating effects, supporting liver health, anti-aging effects, as well as its feather-like appearance which has earned it the name “dancing mushroom.” As one of the most commonly grown supplements cultivated for supplements.

Maitake mushroom adds a mild, woodsy taste that brings warmth to soups and stews as well as pasta dishes, ramen, casseroles, sauces and stews. When taken as a supplement it may help maintain normal blood pressure while supporting healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Om is the world’s leading producer of certified organic, whole food mushroom powder blends. Available both as single mushroom species and carefully-curated blends that can easily be added to smoothies, juice, coffee, tea, oatmeal and eggs for consumption, Om’s mushroom powder blends can support your overall wellness goals whether they be improving cognitive function, increasing energy, improving digestion or giving skin an all-over glow.

Mushrooms provide essential vitamins like Vitamin D that may be hard to come by through other food sources. According to studies, eating mushrooms like white button, portabella and cremini varieties can increase daily vitamin D consumption up to 20-fold! Mushrooms are also an excellent source of prebiotics that can benefit the microbiome in your digestive tract and enhance absorption of vitamins and minerals from other food sources, which will ultimately contribute to greater gut health and improved wellness. An essential step to building up your immune system, mushrooms can provide all the tools it needs for optimal health and vitality. They can be taken alone or combined with other functional mushrooms and probiotics for an all-encompassing beverage option. Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Ground Coffee with Probiotics, for instance, is composed of Fair Trade 100% Organic Arabica beans from Guatemala combined with gut-friendly Turkey Tail and Chaga functional mushrooms as well as 1 billion CFU heat-resistant probiotics from yacon.

3. Turkey Tail

Turkey Tail mushrooms are multi-colored polypore fungi prized in traditional medicine as a functional food that support the immune system. Their name derives from their various rings of colors resembling feathers found on wild turkeys; Turkey Tail mushrooms can also be found growing on logs, stumps and trees worldwide.

Scientific research has uncovered several proteins found in turkey tail that help the body’s immune response and clear out toxins more efficiently, including polysaccharide krestin (PSK), which is currently being evaluated as potential cancer treatment treatments.

Turkey tail can help combat stress and enhance cognitive performance, as well as provide protection from age-related decline.(1)(1)

Turkey tail provides essential prebiotics to nourish beneficial gut bacteria and help promote an healthy microbiome, thus strengthening immunity. Furthermore, its antibacterial qualities have proven useful against harmful organisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus – one of the primary causes of bacterial infections (2).

Although turkey tail may not blend as seamlessly with hot coffee as chaga or lion’s mane mushrooms, its distinct flavor makes it a wonderful choice for instant functional mushroom coffee blends. Its earthy yet slightly spicy flavors pair beautifully with organic medium roast coffee beans while its antiviral and antibacterial properties help boost natural immunity levels.

4. Reishi

Ganoderma Lucidum, more commonly known as Reishi mushrooms, are powerful immune boosters. Studies have demonstrated its ability to stimulate natural killer cells – white blood cells that help fight cancerous and abnormal cells and can even improve fatigue caused by chronic fatigue syndrome while simultaneously increasing overall energy levels.

Reishi is an incredible source of antioxidants and can protect against heart disease by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels, acting as a natural antidepressant and supporting immunity; relieving symptoms associated with bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory conditions as well as decreasing tumor growth while increasing survival rates among laboratory animals.

Studies suggest Reishi may help reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue, including headaches and insomnia by decreasing levels of inflammatory chemicals in the body. Reishi also promotes spiritual growth while aiding stress reduction; additionally it serves as an effective liver protector by helping prevent cirrhosis while decreasing collagen content of liver tissue.

Use of CBD can help treat multiple health conditions, including viral hepatitis and HIV, as well as boost your immune system and decrease inflammation in the digestive tract and bacterial infections like diarrhea.

Reishi mushrooms are frequently featured in mushroom coffee blends alongside Chaga and Turkey Tail mushrooms. Four Sigmatic has recently introduced Chill Decaf Coffee, which features both Reishi and Chaga functional mushrooms to promote calm mind and body wellness. Although it contains small amounts of caffeine (roughly 100 milligrams per eight-ounce cup), its acidity levels are much lower compared to regular coffee, making this blend more digestible for those sensitive to its high acidity levels.

5. L-Theanine

L-theanine is an amino acid commonly found in green tea and mushrooms, and available as a pill form to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality. When combined with caffeine it may increase focus and alertness.

One small study demonstrated how taking a combination of 97 mg L-theanine and 95 mg of caffeine helped subjects stay focused during an activity, with reduced anxiety and stress levels. Researchers believe this to be due to their synergistic properties which help improve attention without overstimulating the central nervous system.

Studies of L-theanine’s mechanism of action and interactions with other biological factors is still ongoing, however preliminary research indicates it antagonizes adenosine A1 and A2A receptors to increase neuronal firing and release of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters (Yokogoshi et al., 1998). Furthermore it increases GABA production while modulating serotonin levels (Kimura and Murata 1971; Kakuda et al. 2002).

Four Sigmatic, the industry pioneer that introduced functional mushrooms to the US, recently introduced two coffees featuring mushroom blends infused with L-theanine. Immune Support Ground Coffee features organic dark roast coffee from Pacayal in southwest Honduras combined with Chaga, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane extract and Reishi mushrooms for immune support, while Perform Ground Coffee was created for high performers seeking focus and productivity; its premium blend includes organic coffee combined with Lion’s Mane extract and L-theanine for energy without creating jitters in its flavourful coffee flavour.