Mushroom coffee, an increasingly popular coffee beverage, combines regular coffee with extracts from medicinal mushrooms such as Chaga, Cordyceps, Reishi and Lion’s mane. Although mushroom coffee should be safe for most individuals to consume, if you have specific health needs it’s advisable to speak to a healthcare provider to determine whether supplements and dosage recommendations are right for you. More research into medicinal mushrooms needs to take place before clear recommendations can be given out.

While some health claims associated with mushroom coffee appear plausible, most have yet to be scientifically investigated. Furthermore, we don’t yet understand how drying, extraction and brewing processes alter its beneficial properties; additionally, there’s no proof that mushroom coffee is more effective than single-ingredient mushroom supplements which have already been clinically studied and found beneficial in treating certain health conditions.

One area in which mushroom coffee may prove helpful is in relieving stress and improving sleep quality. The adaptogens contained within these mushrooms can help decrease cortisol release from your body during stressful situations, increasing concentration while simultaneously relieving tension throughout the day. This may help improve concentration as well as make you feel less overwhelmed during each day’s activities.

Mushrooms contain antioxidants and other compounds that can reduce inflammation in the body, strengthening both immunity against illness and diseases and increasing energy levels. This can improve immune defense systems while simultaneously increasing energy.

Chaga mushrooms found in mushroom coffee may provide anti-inflammatory benefits that may aid the immune system. Studies have revealed that chaga contains polyphenols known to have anti-inflammatory properties; as well as polysaccharides which have the ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body.

Lion’s mane, another popular mushroom used in mushroom coffee blends, can promote new neuron formation in the brain to improve cognitive performance and to prevent ulcers by inhibiting production of inflammatory substances that irritate and damage mucosa linings. Studies also indicate lion’s mane as being protective against stomach lining ulcers due to inhibiting production of such substances that irritate and damage them.

A 35-year-old male with a history of substance abuse presented to the emergency department with symptoms including hepatomegaly, jaundice, dark urine and fatigue. Two weeks prior to admission he began taking mushroom coffee blend purchased online. Workup revealed elevated Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase levels along with total Bilirubin of 16.6 mg/dL levels that indicated liver damage.

Medicinal mushrooms should not be confused with magical mushrooms, which contain psilocybin – a hallucinogen illegal to possess in the US that causes psychoactive effects – when used for health purposes. Instead, medicinal mushrooms do not produce any psychological or neurological side effects and do not cause psychotropic experiences.