Forgetfulness, brain fog or caffeine jitters is a pretty common complaint among clients I work with. These are all signs of a stressed, overwhelmed brain—and the constant mental load doesn’t make it easier. While many lifestyle habits and wholesome food choices can be a great asset to boosting your cognition some have been turning to mushroom blends as an alternative to their regular coffee. Not a coffee drinker? Some mushroom coffee is made with no coffee at all. And these adaptogenic mushroom blends (like those found in mushroom coffee) may be the natural brain boost you’ve been looking for.
Why Mushrooms?
Adaptogenic mushrooms help your body and brain adapt to stress, support focus, and balance energy levels without the crash of traditional coffee. The key players?
- Lion’s Mane: Known as the “brain mushroom,” Lion’s Mane supports memory, focus, and mental clarity. It’s been shown to promote nerve growth factor (NGF), which helps repair and maintain brain cells. If you struggle to finish a thought or forget why you walked into a room, Lion’s Mane could help keep your brain firing on all cylinders.
- Reishi: The calming adaptogen. Reishi helps reduce jitters, improve sleep, and ease anxiety by balancing your body’s stress response. If racing thoughts or tension keep you on edge, Reishi can help you feel more grounded.
- Cordyceps: If you’re constantly dragging and can’t shake mental fatigue, Cordyceps can restore natural energy levels. Unlike caffeine, it supports sustained focus without the rollercoaster crashes.
Note: Each blend has its own unique blend of mushrooms. These 3 happen to be the most common I’ve seen.
How are these working?
Adaptogenic mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Turkey Tail are powerful tools for managing stress and restoring balance in the body. These fungi help the body adapt to physical, emotional, and environmental stressors by regulating the stress response and promoting resilience.
Reishi is ideal for calming the nervous system and reducing tension, while Lion’s Mane boosts cognitive function, helping to clear brain fog and sharpen focus. Chaga supports immunity and reduces inflammation with its rich antioxidants. Cordyceps naturally enhances energy and endurance by improving oxygen utilization, and Turkey Tail nourishes the gut, strengthening immunity and overall wellness.
Note: Some of these mushroom coffee blends claim to support gut health. Interesting concept- but I have yet to see noticeable results within my practice.
What are adaptogens anyway?
Adaptogens are natural substances, like herbs and fungi, that help the body adapt to stress and maintain balance (homeostasis). Homeostasis is a key player in helping you to feel calm, centered, and focused. This can appear out of reach for many women. Adaptogens support the body’s ability to respond to physical, emotional, or environmental stressors by regulating the nervous system, hormonal balance, and immune response. Common adaptogenic herbs include Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, and Holy Basil, while mushrooms like Reishi and Cordyceps are also adaptogens. Instead of masking symptoms, adaptogens work with the body’s needs—whether calming the mind, improving energy, or enhancing focus—to promote overall resilience and well-being.
Professionally, I use adaptogens often supplementally to help women get back to their homeostasis. Each blend is different and are hand selected for my client’s unique needs.
Related: Burn out recovery project
Can Mushroom Coffee Help You Lose Weight?
Mushroom blends may indirectly support weight loss through their effect on stress, energy, and blood sugar balance. Adaptogens like Reishi help regulate cortisol (your stress hormone), which, when elevated, can contribute to cravings and stubborn weight gain, particularly around the midsection. Cordyceps can support energy levels, making it easier to stay active without relying on sugar or extra caffeine. Additionally, mushroom coffee is often lower in calories and smoother on your digestion than sugary or heavy coffee drinks, which could make it a weight-friendly swap.
Can Mushroom Blends Help Lower Cholesterol?
Yes, certain mushrooms like Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake contain powerful compounds like beta-glucans and eritadenine, which may help reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol and support heart health. Beta-glucans act like a sponge, reducing cholesterol absorption in the gut, while compounds like eritadenine can block cholesterol production.
Plus, mushrooms’ adaptogenic properties, like stress reduction from Reishi, can lower cortisol, which indirectly supports healthy cholesterol levels. Incorporating mushroom coffee or blends into your routine may be a natural way to support your overall wellness, including heart health.
If lowering your cholesterol is your main concern, there may be a more targeted approach. In practice, I’ve seen cholesterol levels reduce enough to no longer meet criteria to be put on a statin.
Mushroom Coffee vs. Regular Coffee
Mushroom coffee offers a smoother, gentler alternative to regular coffee, especially for those sensitive to caffeine (like myself). While regular coffee can cause jitters, anxiety, and energy crashes, mushroom coffee combines adaptogenic mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, and Lion’s Mane, which help support focus, energy, and stress resilience. It contains little to no caffeine but still provides a subtle energy boost alongside brain-boosting and immune-supporting benefits. For those battling brain fog or racing thoughts, it’s a great way to enjoy coffee without the crash.
Related: Are decaf coffees really caffeine free?
Mushroom Coffee vs. Matcha
Mushroom coffee and matcha are both great alternatives to regular coffee, but they offer different benefits. Matcha, a powdered green tea, provides a steady energy boost thanks to its combination of caffeine and L-theanine, which promotes calm focus without the jitters. Matcha has antioxidants like EGCG, mushroom coffee adds functional benefits for mental clarity, energy, and overall wellness. Both are gentle on the body but cater to slightly different needs.
Personally, I’m still searching for a matcha that I really enjoy. If you have a suggestion, send one to me.
Why Switch to Mushroom Coffee?
If you’re a coffee lover who can’t imagine giving it up, mushroom coffee blends are the perfect middle ground. I still remember the conversation I had years ago when my new functional doctor reminded me that any coffee I was drinking was keeping me from making better progress with my OCD/anxiety. What I also knew, was that while I was struggling so much day to day with my illness- my coffee was 1 thing I really looked forward to. I simply decided to not make any changes to my routine.
Now, years later. I can see how these hits of caffeine were keeping my thoughts racing at super speed and leaving me more agitated and scattered than I needed to be. Currently, as I’m writing this- I’m sipping on my yearlong afternoon staple of a decaf americano, wishing I had made the change years before.
Once I had enough personal experience with seeing how I felt with less and less caffeine, I started feeling more interested in searching out low caffeine drinks like these.
Personally, I fully enjoy the benefit of the focus and the calming effects and choose to start each work day with 1 cup of mushroom coffee. It’s part of my new routine for the last several months and I have no regrets.
Which mushroom coffee should I try?
There are several popular mushroom coffee brands, each with its unique spin on this functional beverage.
Four Sigmatic stands out for its blends with adaptogens like Lion’s Mane and Reishi to promote focus and relaxation. However, this also is still a coffee- meaning it still has all the caffeine you may be wanting to avoid.
Ryze offers a smooth, low-acid option with a combination of six mushrooms and MCT oil for sustained energy. This is made with instant coffee and has only half the caffeine of a cup of coffee.
MUD\WTR skips coffee entirely, focusing on chai spices and mushrooms for a calming boost.
Laird Superfood combines mushrooms with functional ingredients like turmeric for additional anti-inflammatory support.
Rasa blends adaptogenic mushrooms and herbs, making it a rich, caffeine-free option for stress relief.
I’m still deciding on my personal presence to give a full revive on these products. I’ll upload my thoughts once I have them all collected.
How to Start
Switching your coffee routine is easier than you think. Start with a quality mushroom coffee blend or add mushroom powders to your current brew. Pair it with other brain-supporting habits like proper hydration, blood sugar balance, and whole-food meals to see even bigger results.
Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t have to be your norm. Adaptogens like Lion’s Mane and Reishi in mushroom coffee can help bring your mind back to clarity, calm, and focus.
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