Mushrooms have taken off as wellness trends of late. You can find mushroom powder, extract, tonics and even gummies all over social media, being touted for their ability to strengthen immune systems, improve gut health and other benefits. But can mushroom coffee providers answer consumers’ inquiries regarding adding the mushroom treat into your cup of joe?

Mushroom coffee consists of regular coffee mixed with ground extracts of various kinds of mushrooms such as lion’s mane, reishi and cordyceps – each known for offering potential health benefits like improved heart health and mental clarity. Some companies add flavor enhancers like cacao, cinnamon, turmeric or sea salt for additional taste enhancement and to enhance its effects.

However, not all claims made about mushrooms have been supported by scientific studies. For instance, it remains unknown if the process of drying and extracting these mushrooms impacts their effectiveness; additionally, certain components within these mushrooms could interact with medications or cause side effects for some individuals.

Before beginning mushroom coffee consumption, it’s essential to consult a medical provider. Some individuals may be allergic to mushrooms; it can be hard to know whether any adverse reaction stems from caffeine in coffee or the mushrooms themselves. Furthermore, those taking blood-thinning medications should avoid mushroom coffee since it increases the risk of bleeding in the digestive tract.

As for drug testing, standard 5-panel and 8-panel tests won’t detect mushroom coffee due to its lack of psilocybin-containing mushrooms which alter reality and create hallucinogen effects. However, there are more specialized tests which look for specific chemicals; these may be used during employment screening processes but tend to be more costly than standard urinalysis analyses.

Overall, there is little scientific support to back the health claims made by mushroom coffee sellers and it tends to be more expensive than traditional java. Furthermore, many types of mushrooms used in mushroom coffee blends – particularly chaga – contain high concentrations of oxalates which may aggravate existing kidney issues and increase risk for kidney stones formation.

But if you want to give mushroom coffee a try, keep in mind that it contains only half the caffeine of any traditional morning beverage – and thus may be suitable for those with caffeine sensitivities and allergies or simply looking to reduce overall caffeine intake. But beware relying solely on mushroom coffee as an energy boost – healthy eating habits and exercise should still provide energy boosts; those suffering from digestive or kidney problems should steer clear from it altogether.