By
Medical Care Review | Thursday,
June 20,
2024
Despite its current popularity, the idea of using mushrooms in coffee is not a recent development. Historical records indicate that mushrooms were used as a substitute for coffee in Finland during the scarcity of coffee beans in World War II.
Fremont, CA: Mushroom coffee is acknowledged as a more beneficial option compared to traditional coffee, given its inclusion of medicinal mushroom extracts and various health benefits. Despite its current popularity, the idea of using mushrooms in coffee is not a recent development. Historical records indicate that mushrooms were used as a substitute for coffee in Finland during the scarcity of coffee beans in World War II. Moreover, mushrooms have been a staple in Asian culinary and medicinal practices for centuries, notably in Chinese medicine, owing to their nutritional value and health-enhancing qualities. It is essential to examine the scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of mushroom coffee and provide an expert evaluation on the matter.
What is it?
If one imagines a cup of coffee with mushrooms floating on top, breathe a sigh of relief. It's different from what this is.
Mushroom coffee is a subtle blend of ground mushrooms and coffee beans that produces a dark, silky, nutty coffee.
Mushroom coffee typically contains medical mushroom extracts rather than gourmet mushrooms like shiitake and portobello. Several consumer reports show that the flavor description of mushroom coffee is similar to that of ordinary coffee.
However, the supposed health benefits of mushroom coffee, such as reduced anxiety and increased immunity, give it a marketing advantage.
Potential health benefits
Medicinal mushrooms have been widely employed in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.
Medicinal mushrooms include chemicals known as adaptogens, which could enhance the body's response to stress.
Researchers have explored the possible health advantages of adaptogens in medicinal mushrooms since the 1970s.
However, it is crucial to highlight that most studies on medicinal mushrooms are conducted on animals or in laboratories, with only a few well-designed clinical trials on humans. This means we must do more than adapt the findings from such research to humans or human disorders.
Furthermore, these studies are not specific to mushroom coffee, and whether the combination of mushrooms and coffee beans has favorable or detrimental health consequences is unknown.
Although medicinal mushrooms and coffee each have some known benefits, several unconfirmed health claims regarding mushroom coffee's benefits exist.
Mushroom coffee is a trendy beverage made from blends of regular coffee and extracts of medicinal mushrooms, such as chaga, cordyceps, reishi, lion's mane, and turkey tail.
More human research is required, even though there are many health claims regarding the use of mushrooms and mushroom coffee for various health conditions. At this time, the majority of these claims are unverified.
It might be safe for most people to try, but if you take medication or already have a medical condition, you should always talk to your doctor about it.
