Mushrooms have become an increasingly trendy ingredient, popping up everywhere from coffee to gummies. But is mushroom-infused coffee any healthier than your standard cup? Unfortunately not – while mushrooms contain many essential health-promoting nutrients, eating powdered extracts or drinking beverages made with them does not seem to confer any additional advantages beyond eating whole mushrooms directly. According to registered dietitian nutritionist Ella Davar, there has been no significant research proving the increased health benefits of mushroom coffee beverages over eating whole ones; rather, they could cause digestive upset from added ingredients in these beverages than eating whole ones would.

Mushroom coffee, which consists of ground medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, chaga, turkey tail and lion’s mane combined with ground coffee beans, is the latest trend sweeping social media. Mushroom coffee has been touted to increase energy levels, manage stress levels and promote sleep as well as reduce inflammation and promote restful nights’ rest. Many brands boast that mushroom coffee will give an additional caffeine boost although typically only half as much as what would normally be available from traditional cups of java.

Most mushroom coffee ingredients are dried before being added to a beverage, which depletes their nutritional value. Furthermore, high temperature brewing processes tend to degrade some antioxidants and phenolic compounds with anti-inflammatory benefits according to Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms; making the results unclear in terms of effectiveness while offering other potential wellness benefits.

Chaga mushrooms contain an abundant supply of antioxidants that may help defend against brain aging and inflammation, while cordyceps and reishi can support immunity while encouraging healthy blood sugar. Turmeric, cinnamon, and cacao may provide additional health benefits by serving as powerful antioxidants with antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities.

Simply stated, mushroom coffee shouldn’t be avoided unless you have allergies to mushrooms or have digestive or kidney issues; its cost being twice that of standard coffee. Czerwony advises trying it first on an empty stomach to minimize digestive upset and to start small so as to maintain optimal results.

Consider this when adding mushroom coffee to your daily routine: the high levels of oxalates present in many types of mushroom coffee may increase kidney stone risk for those with preexisting conditions due to its use of chaga mushrooms, making mushroom coffee potentially more harmful than ever for their health. If this poses any issues for you, switch brands or opt out altogether.

Though mushroom coffee may not be any healthier than traditional java, its popularity cannot be denied – and that’s perfectly fine, as mushrooms should be integrated into a balanced diet for optimal nutritional benefit.

This article originally appeared on MindBodyGreen and has been edited for clarity and length.