If you’re craving something warm and caffeinated, chances are your social media timeline has been filled with mushroom coffee posts and videos. Made by mixing together chaga, lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps or turkey tail mushrooms with coffee beans and either cacao or black tea for flavor and health benefits; mushroom coffee has quickly become one of the hottest trends of recent times – but what does research say? Is mushroom coffee safe for kidneys?

Mushroom coffee typically features medicinal species, like chaga, lion’s mane and turkey tail – usually selected for their real or perceived health benefits – chosen specifically. Unfortunately medicinal mushroom extracts aren’t subject to FDA regulation so it can be difficult to know exactly which dosage of each ingredient has been included in each product.

Well-studied health effects of this drink suggest it could boost your immune system and possibly fight disease due to its antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids content. Cordyceps and lion’s mane have been shown to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels, helping protect against heart disease while other ingredients like turmeric and cinnamon have been associated with decreased risks of diabetes.

Mushroom coffee could help ease stress and inflammation by acting as an adaptogen – mushrooms are known to assist the body in adapting to various challenges and stressors by helping regulate cortisol levels, which may increase in people suffering from depression, hypoglycemia, cancer or any number of conditions that produce high cortisol levels like depression.

On the other hand, some medicinal mushrooms contain high levels of oxalates that can increase your risk of kidney stones. And though mushroom coffees tend to contain lower caffeine than traditional coffee does, some may contain enough to cause digestive discomfort or cause other negative side effects in certain individuals.

General recommendations advise avoiding mushroom coffee altogether if you suffer from any digestive or kidney conditions, or take medication which inhibits their function. While drinking moderate quantities is generally safe for healthy adults, too much mushroom coffee could result in bloating and gas.

If your potassium levels are of concern, mushroom coffee should be taken sparingly or avoided altogether as an 8 oz cup of regular black coffee contains 116 mg, which may already be too much for some individuals. Furthermore, adding milk or creamers will further raise potassium intake; for this reason it would be prudent to consult a dietician or nutritionist prior to trying this beverage.