What is Mushroom Coffee?
I must admit when I first heard of the term, I thought that it was some type of dried mushroom powder, a bit like dried soup, that you made up with water and drank.
I didn't for one minute think that it was
really coffee with a dried mixed mushroom powder added to it. Because
why would someone do that?
It just goes to show my ignorance
in understanding mushrooms, their varieties and more importantly how
they interact with the body, especially neurologically. Although the
term 'magic mushrooms' that was so prevalent in the days of my youth,
should have given me some clue to that fact that mushrooms are far more
than just a food to add to sauces. Click on the image below this paragraph to start 'shrooming'.
My introduction to mushroom coffee was through my husband passing on an article from The Daily Mail, several weeks ago now. It peaked my interest to learn more and experience what the hype was all about. Why were people calling this the next superfood/latest health trend?
When did Mushroom Coffee first appear?
Although the history of coffee dates back to 850 CE in Ethiopia and Yeman. Coffee didn't make it to Britain until the 17 century and Fairtrade coffee became available in 1992. Mushroom coffee is a new health superfood trend that was started in Finland by Tero funder of Foursigmatic
What types of mushrooms are used to blend with coffee to make it adaptogenic?
You won't find white button or chestnut mushrooms on the list that's added to coffee. Below are the most popular mushrooms and other herbs/plants you will find in adaptogen coffee:
Ashwagandha - boosts brain function
Bacopa – enhances cognitive function
Cordyceps – helps to fight aging
Chaga – boosts the immune system
Lion's Mane – helps with anxiety and depression
L Theanine – helps with insomnia
Maca – helps with menopausal symptoms
Matcha – is good for liver health
Reishi mushroom - reduces blood pressure
Shiitake mushroom – helps to reduce arterial plaque in blood arteries
Holy basil – Tulsi leaves – helps to reduce bad cholesterol levels (LDLs)
Turmeric – anti- inflammatory
What are the benefits of mushroom coffee?
Adaptogens are herbs and fungi that can help your body adapt and cope with stress, decrease inflammation and fight oxidation which protect against free radicals.
According to Dr Brenda Powell, co-medical director of the Center for Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute “Adaptogens do for your adrenal glands what exercise does for the muscles."
They have a unique ability to adapt their function according to the specific needs of the body, be it physical, chemical or biological.
Dr Powell explains this process is accomplished by interacting with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathoadrenal system, tweaking hormone production and physiological responses to ensure the body functions optimally.
So if you are a coffee lover and are looking for a way to enjoy healthier coffee with even more benefits than a normal cupa and with less caffeine then join the 'mushroom coffee train' The brands I've had have tasted full bodied and brilliant. My favourite brand is Foursigmatic.
Foursigmatic pride themselves on their quote below
"It’s statistics-speak for the best of the best foods. Four Sigmatic foods are the most nutrient dense, most studied foods on the planet. Only 100 foods fall into this category and those are the foods you’ll find in our products. Some you’ve probably seen at the grocery store: coffee, green tea, cacao, hemp, and coconut. And some you probably haven’t (unless you’re from Finland): Reishi, Cordyceps, Ashwagandha. If you want more specifics keep reading. The name Four Sigmatic means these 100 foods are four sigmas (or four standard deviations) above average food. It doesn’t get any better than that."
