There are a million techniques for losing weight, ranging from simple to complex. But now studies have shown that including mushroom coffee in your routine may help.
What is mushroom coffee?
Instead of being made from the culinary mushrooms you see at the store, mushroom coffee is made with medicinal mushrooms mixed in with the coffee. By the time they are added and the coffee is brewed, the mushroom taste is barely noticeable, especially when it’s blended with coffee beans, cacao, or tea blends like matcha or chai. People report that it can taste earthier or nuttier if they notice the taste at all.
Most mushroom coffees are made with mushrooms such as chaga, lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, king trumpet, and turkey tail, which are chosen for their health benefits.
What are the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms?
The health benefits of mushrooms have been well-documented since ancient times. Many traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic practices include mushrooms in a variety of forms. And although they had somewhat fallen out of style, they have had a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
A recent study has shown that many coffee blends do have a number of health benefits, such as boosting the immune system, regulating metabolism, and higher antioxidant activity1.
So, can it help you lose weight?
According to dietitians, any caffeinated drinks can help you lose weight by raising your body temperature to burn more calories, having appetite-suppressing properties, and also by increasing your energy levels which can lead to you doing more physical activity.
But what about the mushrooms in the coffee? Well, that can lead to weight loss by reducing anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. All of these can also help with weight loss, as it lowers the chances of you snacking on unhealthy food during the day.
This comes with a caveat, though—that you don’t add any sugar. Adding sugar, milk, or anything that increases the coffee’s calorie count will overshadow the weight loss benefits and instead lead to weight gain.
It is also important to take into account that there have been no scientific studies on the effects of mushroom coffee on humans, and so far, all of the information from dietitians is speculative at best. Before we have any concrete evidence, extensive research will need to be conducted into the effects on humans.
Which mushrooms can help with weight loss?
It’s actually not just one thing that mushrooms do that can help you lose weight; rather, it’s a combination! Different mushrooms can do different things to aid with weight loss.
Reishi mushrooms
Reishi mushrooms help the body with storing and processing fat by improving metabolism. This helps to reduce hunger signals, so what you eat helps you feel full for longer and diminishes your require to snack2.
They can also work as prebiotics, which helps the beneficial bacteria in your digestive system. This helps you lose weight by improving your digestion, enhancing how you absorb nutrients, and reducing any bloating. In addition to this, studies have found that reishi mushrooms can control appetite, improve insulin sensitivity, and regulate fat metabolism3.
Other benefits of Reishi mushrooms are the fact they are rich in antioxidants, which can reduce inflammation and control blood sugar, both additional factors that can aid in weight loss.
Cordyceps mushrooms
Studies have shown that cordyceps mushrooms regulate hormones in your digestive system that signal to your brain that you are full. This can help you feel more satisfied after meals and decrease your need for snacks4.
Similar to reishi, cordyceps are rich in antioxidants to reduce inflammation, but they also have the ability to improve insulin sensitivity and enhance insulin secretion. In addition, they can boost energy use and production and, as a result, reduce body fat.
Lion’s mane mushrooms
Some studies show that lion’s mane mushrooms can improve the body’s metabolism of fat, making sure your body breaks down fat more effectively5.
More indirectly (but still important!), lion’s mane can help you manage stress better, which can reduce stress eating in those who are prone to such things, as well as improve your ability to sleep and overall well-being.
Chaga mushrooms
Chaga mushrooms also work as prebiotics, helping the helpful bacteria in your digestive system and helping you control your appetite.
Coffee Brands to Try
So, you want to try mushroom coffee but have no idea where to start? Well, here are a few of our top picks that may help you out with your weight loss journey.
Possibly the brand you are most likely to have heard of, from Food Network promos to celebrity partners, Four Sigmatic is a leader in the mushroom coffee trend and a definite must-try!
Although none of their blends tout weight loss as a benefit, we recommend Achieve and Think for their blend of lion’s mane and chaga mushroom extracts.
With reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, and chaga mushrooms all appearing in their signature blend, RYZE coffee is a great addition to your daily routine!
RYZE is definitely a mushroom-forward flavor, so be prepared for that, but if you’re a fan of earthy, complex flavors then it’s definitely one to try!
With a wide range of coffees offering a range of benefits, Wunderground hits all of the major players on this list!
For weight-loss we recommend Brain Wash for it’s mix of Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga as well as Hocus Pocus for it’s gut health boosting properties.
Want to kick the caffeine habit? Then Velty is a great option!
With Lion’s Mane and Reishi mushrooms adding the shroomy benefits, Velty has two blends to choose from – the Original, with a more earthy, rich flavor, and the Spiced line, which adds a kick of cinnamon and ginger.
For those wanting more caffeine in their coffee, Alpine Start’s Coffee with Benefits offers 15 more milligrams of caffeine than your average cup of joe.
With lion’s mane and reishi mushrooms, though, the coffee is better for your gut than your normal coffee.
For those not ready to give up their normal cup of coffee, there’s Laird Superfood. With a focus on high-quality beans, the bags have added mushroom extracts to improve your health as well as the flavor of the coffee.
For weight loss, there’s PERFORM, boasting chaga, maitake, lion’s mane, and cordyceps, as well as Focused Energy, with its lion’s mane extract.
References
- Łysakowska, Paulina, Aldona Sobota, and Anna Wirkijowska. “Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production—A Review.” Molecules 28, no. 14 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145393. ↩︎
- Geng, Ping, Chai Siu, Zhaomei Wang, and Yong Wu. “Antifatigue Functions and Mechanisms of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms.” BioMed Research International 2017, (2017). https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9648496. ↩︎
- Chang, Jung, Sheng Lin, Chen Lu, Jan Martel, Fei Ko, David M. Ojcius, Fu Tseng et al. “Ganoderma Lucidum Reduces Obesity in Mice by Modulating the Composition of the Gut Microbiota.” Nature Communications 6, (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8489. ↩︎
- Li, Yuan, et al. “Cordycepin Modulates Body Weight by Reducing Prolactin via an Adenosine A1 Receptor.” Current Pharmaceutical Design, vol. 24, no. 27, 3 Dec. 2018, pp. 3240–3249, https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612824666180820144917. ↩︎
- Docherty, Sarah, Faye L. Doughty, and Ellen F. Smith. “The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study.” Nutrients 15, no. 22 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224842. ↩︎
