Recently, mushroom coffee has become increasingly popular on the internet. It is widely recognized as a more nutritious alternative to traditional coffee. But is it really as good and beneficial as everyone says it is, or is it a Superfood Savior?
Popularity of Mushroom Coffee
(Photo : Pixabay/Puckel)
Mushroom coffee is produced by delicately combining pulverized coffee beans and mushrooms for a dark, smooth, nutty flavor. According to several consumer evaluations, the flavor characteristics of mushroom coffee are remarkably similar to those of regular coffee. It reportedly has a commercial advantage due to its potential health benefits, such as improving immunity and reducing anxiety.
When coffee beans were unavailable in Finland during World War II, mushrooms were utilized as a substitute for coffee. There is also a long history of the culinary and medical usage of mushrooms in Asian countries, particularly for Chinese medicine, due to the nutritional and physiological benefits of mushrooms.
Mushroom coffee is produced by extracting and milling the reproductive bodies of the mushrooms into an organic powder devoid of fillers, carriers, and other fillers. The mushrooms are then dehydrated, powdered into a fine powder, and combined with ground coffee beans, accomplished by a dual extraction process typically carried out in a ratio of one to one.
Additionally, instead of using culinary mushrooms like shiitake and portobello, mushroom coffee uses extracts from medicinal mushrooms such as Chaga, Turkey's Tail, Lion's Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps. However, despite being a trendy coffee blend at the moment, this idea is not entirely novel.
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Negative Side of Mushroom Coffee
Even if mushroom coffee might be an adequate substitute for coffee for people trying to reduce the amount of caffeine they consume, it still has the potential to create adverse effects, particularly for those who consume a large quantity or are allergic to caffeine.
Individuals who suffer from a sensitivity to mushrooms should also avoid drinking this kind of coffee, although this is a rare occurrence. Some of the symptoms that may be experienced by someone who is allergic to mushrooms include rashes, stomachache, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. Accordingly, stop drinking mushroom coffee and see a doctor if you have side effects.
The extracts used in mushroom coffee have been shown to have the potential to cause digestive difficulties in those people who have been diagnosed with kidney disease or digestive problems. In addition, the Chaga kind of mushrooms, one of the most common varieties used in mushroom coffee, has been found to contain significant levels of oxalates, which have a high risk of developing kidney stones when consumed in excess.
On the other hand, one of the most significant drawbacks of drinking mushroom coffee could be the expense involved. In many cases, the cost of these beverages is at least twice as much as the cost of conventional coffee, even when they are made at home. Thus, simply incorporating mushrooms into your diet could be a more effective way to take advantage of its potential benefits.
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