Emily Johnson
Mushroom coffee has gained popularity for its supposed health benefits, but is it too good to be true? Mushroom coffee is made by drying mushrooms, extracting their beneficial ingredients, and adding them to coffee beans, cacao, or tea blends. While it is likely safe to consume, there is little to no scientific evidence supporting the bold health claims made by manufacturers. The suggested benefits, including improved mental and physical performance, better immunity, and weight loss, are questionable, and some consumers have reported issues with scammy subscription services and aggressive advertising.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Safety | Probably safe for most people, but not for those with kidney problems, sensitivity to grains, or a high risk for kidney stones |
| Taste | Similar to regular coffee, nutty or earthy flavor |
| Health Benefits | Reduced inflammation, improved focus, better sleep, improved physical and mental performance, improved immunity, weight loss, lower stress |
| Scientific Evidence | No scientific evidence to support health claims, little research on medicinal mushrooms in humans |
| Cost | Twice as expensive as regular coffee |
| Scams | Some companies may engage in deceptive marketing and subscription practices |
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What You'll Learn
Lack of scientific evidence for health claims
Mushroom coffee is made by drying mushrooms, extracting their beneficial ingredients, and adding them to regular coffee. The mushrooms used are typically of medicinal varieties, such as chaga, lion's mane, reishi, cordyceps, king trumpet, and turkey tail, rather than culinary mushrooms. The drink has gained popularity due to its purported health benefits, including improved mental and physical performance, better immunity, and more restful sleep. Some brands even claim that mushroom coffee may aid weight loss by boosting metabolism and promoting fat burning.
However, there is a distinct lack of scientific evidence to support these health claims. While studies in test tubes and on animals have shown some potential health advantages of consuming medicinal mushrooms, these benefits may not translate to humans. There is very little human research on the topic, and the extract used in mushroom coffee may not offer the same advantages as consuming whole mushrooms. Experts suggest that including whole mushrooms in your diet may be a more effective way to obtain their health benefits.
Although mushroom coffee is likely safe for most people, it is important to note that there is limited research on its potential side effects. Some individuals with kidney problems, sensitivity to grains, or a high risk of kidney stones should avoid it.
In addition to the lack of scientific evidence, some companies selling mushroom coffee have been accused of scamming customers by enrolling them in unwanted subscription services and making it difficult to cancel orders. Therefore, it is essential to be cautious and thoroughly research companies before making purchases.
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Misleading subscription models
While mushroom coffee is not inherently a scam, some companies that sell mushroom coffee have been accused of employing misleading subscription models. One such company is RYZE Superfoods, which has been accused by multiple customers of making it extremely difficult to cancel subscriptions and unsubscribe from their services.
Customers have reported that the company offers a one-time purchase option and a monthly subscription option. However, even if customers opt for the one-time purchase option, RYZE Superfoods has been known to automatically enrol them in a monthly subscription without their consent. When customers contact support to cancel the subscription, the company allegedly lies and insists that the customer chose the subscription with auto-ship and that there is nothing they can do to stop the shipments.
The company's website also makes it challenging to cancel the subscription as customers are unable to log in and manage their subscriptions. Even when customers try to use a code provided by the company to access their subscriptions, they are taken to a page that denies the existence of any subscription, further hindering their ability to cancel.
This practice of automatically enrolling customers in subscriptions without their explicit consent and making it exceedingly difficult to cancel is a cause for concern and has led to accusations of scamming and theft against RYZE Superfoods.
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Whole mushrooms are more beneficial
While mushroom coffee is likely safe for most people, it is important to note that it only contains mushroom extract, and there is limited research on the health benefits of such extracts. In fact, experts recommend consuming whole mushrooms to obtain their full range of benefits.
Whole mushrooms are a rich source of potassium, which helps to reduce the negative impact of sodium on the body and lower blood pressure by lessening tension in blood vessels. They are also low in sodium themselves, further contributing to healthy blood pressure levels. Additionally, mushrooms contain high levels of selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B6, which work together to prevent cell damage, promote cell growth, and facilitate the formation of red blood cells, respectively. This combination of nutrients helps to maintain a robust immune system.
Mushrooms are also one of the few non-animal sources of vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and immune function. When exposed to ultraviolet light, either from sunlight or artificial sources, mushrooms increase their vitamin D content. For example, slicing and exposing mushrooms to sunlight for 15-120 minutes can result in levels of vitamin D2 as high as 10mcg per 100g of fresh weight.
Beyond their vitamin content, mushrooms are a source of powerful antioxidants, including ergothioneine, an amino acid that prevents or slows cellular damage. The polysaccharides in mushrooms, their most abundant carbohydrate, stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut, contributing to overall health.
While mushroom coffee may offer a convenient way to incorporate mushrooms into your diet, it is clear that consuming whole mushrooms provides a wider range of proven health benefits.
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Little research on human subjects
While mushroom coffee is having its time in the spotlight, with proponents of this fungi-infused brew touting its health benefits, there is little scientific evidence to back up these claims. Mushroom coffee is typically made from medicinal mushrooms, with varieties including chaga, lion's mane, reishi, cordyceps, king trumpet, and turkey tail. These mushrooms are chosen for their perceived health benefits, and their addition to coffee, cacao, or tea blends is said to result in improved sleep, energy, focus, immunity, and reduced inflammation. However, the lack of human studies on medicinal mushrooms makes it difficult to determine if these benefits truly apply to human consumption.
The idea behind mushroom coffee is to combine the health advantages of medicinal mushrooms with the convenience and taste of a regular coffee drink. While studies conducted in test tubes or on animals have shown promising health outcomes associated with consuming medicinal mushrooms, these results may not translate directly to humans. There is a dearth of research on the effects of medicinal mushrooms in human subjects, leaving consumers with uncertainty about the touted benefits of mushroom coffee.
Some consumers have expressed concerns about the legitimacy of mushroom coffee, with allegations of scams and misleading marketing. For instance, the company RYZE Superfoods has faced accusations of automatically enrolling customers in subscription services without their consent and making it exceedingly difficult to cancel these subscriptions. This has left a sour taste in the mouths of customers who initially enjoyed the product, leading to suspicions about the integrity of the company's business practices.
While mushroom coffee is likely safe for most people, it is important to recognize that there is limited research to support the bold claims made by some manufacturers. The absence of human studies on medicinal mushrooms means that the touted benefits, such as improved mental and physical performance, enhanced immunity, and weight loss, remain largely unsubstantiated. As a result, consumers should approach these products with a degree of skepticism and be cautious of companies that make exaggerated health promises without providing robust scientific evidence to back up their assertions.
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No noticeable difference in taste
Mushroom coffee is made from medicinal mushrooms, rather than the culinary mushrooms found in grocery stores. Common varieties include chaga, lion's mane, reishi, cordyceps, king trumpet, and turkey tail, chosen for their perceived health benefits. The mushrooms are harvested, dried, and processed before being blended with coffee beans, cacao, or tea blends.
While some people report a ""nutty" or "earthy" taste, others do not notice any flavour difference from regular coffee. Mushroom coffee is made by drying mushrooms and extracting their beneficial ingredients, which are then added to regular coffee. This means that there are no mushroom pieces floating in your cup, and the taste is similar to normal coffee, but perhaps slightly nuttier or earthier.
Some people believe that mushroom coffee can provide health benefits such as improved mental and physical performance, better immunity, and more restful sleep. However, there is limited research to support these claims. While studies on animals have shown compelling health benefits associated with consuming medicinal mushrooms, it is unclear if these benefits apply to humans. Experts believe that consuming whole mushrooms is the best way to obtain their nutritional benefits, rather than relying solely on mushroom extract in coffee.
In terms of taste, mushroom coffee is not vastly different from regular coffee. The addition of mushroom extract may impart a slightly nuttier or earthier flavour, but it is not a significant deviation from the taste of standard coffee. Therefore, in terms of taste, it cannot be deemed a scam, as the flavour is subjective and varies across individual palates.
While mushroom coffee may not be a scam in terms of taste, there are reports of scam-like practices by certain companies selling mushroom coffee. For example, RYZE Superfoods has been accused of trickingly signing customers up for unintended subscriptions and making it extremely difficult to cancel orders or subscriptions.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom coffee is not necessarily a scam, but there is little evidence to support the health claims made by some mushroom coffee companies. While mushroom coffee is likely safe for most people to drink, it is probably better to add whole mushrooms to your diet to get the full range of antioxidants and nutrients.
Mushroom coffee brands often claim that their products improve mental and physical performance, boost immunity, aid sleep, and help with weight loss. However, there is limited research to support these claims. Some studies suggest that the adaptogens in mushrooms may help to manage stress by levelling out cortisol, a stress hormone.
Mushroom coffee tastes similar to regular coffee but with a slightly nuttier or earthier flavour.
