Mushroom coffee has seen an upswing recently. This should come as no surprise given their long use in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to support physical and mental wellbeing. Now they’re appearing in a variety of wellness products like powders, extracts, gummies and more. Mushroom coffee is made by mixing traditional coffee with medicinal mushrooms like Lion’s Mane or Chaga that may provide stress-relief properties. As a registered dietitian, I’ve become intrigued with mushroom coffee’s rising popularity and potential to promote relaxation. Although a balanced diet, sufficient rest, and exercise are effective strategies for stress management and overall mental wellbeing; is mushroom coffee another effective means of combatting stress?

While mushroom coffee’s purveyors make few scientifically backed health claims, it may offer stress-relieving properties. One potential advantage is its lower caffeine levels than traditional coffee drinks – this may help to decrease jitteriness and improve sleep quality; and some ingredients in mushroom coffee such as reishi and cordycepin may support improved adrenal function to aid with stress reduction.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that the effects of mushroom coffee will differ depending on who consumes it and when. Before making any drastic changes to your current routine or trying a new supplement or beverage such as mushroom coffee, consult your physician first as some individuals may be sensitive to high levels of oxalates found in some mushroom coffee brands that could result in digestive issues when consumed; furthermore, its high price point might make this unnecessary for individuals without an obvious dietary need for it.

An integrated lifestyle approach that includes eating healthily, sleeping well and regular physical activity is proven to reduce stress levels and achieve peace of mind. By including mushroom coffee into your morning ritual, it may provide extra energy and focus boost while supporting mental clarity and providing stress reduction benefits.

As well as eating healthily, other natural ways of relaxing include meditation, yoga, and including regular movement in your daily schedule. All of these activities can boost your mood while providing essential feel-good chemicals needed by your body to combat stress.

While mushroom coffee may provide some stress-relief properties, for optimal mental health it’s essential to combine its use with other positive lifestyle strategies such as regular physical activity, setting a consistent sleep schedule and optimizing the environment for sleep hygiene. Furthermore, eating foods rich in nutrients such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains may help manage and reduce stress while decreasing risk factors associated with heart disease, which has been linked with stress and anxiety.