Have you seen photos of people sipping what looks like coffee but is actually made with mushrooms? Known as mushroom coffee, this trending drink combines earthy mushroom flavor with comforting warmth of coffee to produce something called mushroom coffee – often touted for potential health and wellness benefits, including stress relief and increased energy. However, most information available regarding mushroom coffee comes from anecdotal reports or lab testing, not real human studies; more research must be completed in order to support any claims about mushroom coffee’s effects.

Mushroom coffee typically uses extracts from medicinal mushrooms like chaga, turkey tail, reishi and cordyceps as its ingredients. Studies have revealed their multiple health benefits such as strengthening immunity, lowering blood pressure and relieving anxiety; additionally reishi and turkey tail mushrooms possess anti-inflammatory properties while chaga mushroom extracts have shown to decrease cholesterol levels significantly and help protect against heart disease.

As natural adaptogenics, mushrooms have long been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for their therapeutic benefits. Western researchers only recently discovered more about these mushrooms’ health advantages – leading to them enjoying an unprecedented surge in popularity in wellness circles – where you can now find mushroom powders, teas, tonics and even gummies!

As this new dietary supplement becomes popular, many are questioning its ability to assist in weight loss. Though there’s little proof of mushrooms themselves aiding weight loss, many of these products claim to contain caffeine which has been found to increase metabolism and promote fat burning.

Consuming any type of mushroom coffee should be done responsibly and as part of a balanced diet. Furthermore, before making changes to your routine involving mushroom coffee consumption it’s wise to consult your physician as mushroom coffee could potentially have side effects or interact with certain medications that you may already be taking.

If you suffer from digestive issues, mushroom coffee should be avoided at all costs. Not only may it wreak havoc on your system but the drink often contains high concentrations of oxalates that may lead to kidney stones.

As a general guideline, most adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine daily – roughly equivalent to two cups of mushroom coffee – without adverse side effects or medical advice from their healthcare providers. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, those sensitive to caffeine, as well as those allergic to mushrooms should all refrain from drinking mushroom coffee altogether. This article was initially published November 2018 but has been revised since for freshness and accuracy.