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America's new superfood drink? The truth behind the Mushroom Coffee craze

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With a rise in health problems comes a rise in health concerns and as America tackles a weakening healthcare system and a sceptical health secretary, the way forward seems to have been created in the form of natural foods popularised by their health benefits. From board-certified doctors to health influencers, a variety of social media gurus are funnelling healthcare ideas to the American public who are in need of help and have been jumping from one superfood to another.

The cup of morning juju empowers about 66% of the American adults, according to the National Coffee Association. However, the search for the "better" in terms of flavours and effects is always ongoing. This time the answer has arrived in the form of Mushroom coffee- a health drink that has become the new hot topic in the United States. Before you begin sipping some, here's what you must know about it.

What is Mushroom coffee?


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Well, to explain it easily mushroom coffee is instant coffee with powder of mushrooms. These include Lion's Mane, Chaga, Cordyceps, King Trumpet, Türkiye Tail, Reishi, Shiitake and more, which have been gaining traction as new superfoods in beauty and health. “These aren’t your standard button mushrooms—they’re adaptogenic fungi used in traditional medicine to support the brain and immune system and help the body adapt to stress response,” said Phoenix-based Samantha Peterson, registered dietitian to Forbes.


Add in buzzy ingredients such as probiotics, nootropics, cacao or turmeric and voila, a new drink is ready. This new regular coffee alternative is gaining attention as its varieties contain nearly half the caffeine of regular coffee.

Mushroom coffee: To brew or not to brew?
The idea behind mushroom coffee is to combine the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms with the taste and energy of coffee. Brands selling the new cup of joe promote using mushrooms that date back thousands of years to traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic practices.

Mushrooms in particular have numerous health benefits. They are packed with fibre, vitamins, prebiotics, antioxidants and more with proven health benefits of improved immune system, cognition, reduced anxiety and more.

Numerous brands in the market promote the benefits of the brew as improved mental and physical performance, immunity, better sleep and even boosted metabolism. However, there's no proper block of studies attesting to the claims.

While a 2023 review published in the journal Molecules mentions that medicinal mushrooms popular in many fungi-infused coffee blends can have immunity-boosting and metabolism-regulating properties, clinical trials on humans are lacking for substantiation.

Thus, according to Harvard Health, it would be better to stick to a side of mushrooms with your breakfast rather than paying more for a cup of joe that might be doing less.

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