Mushrooms and Coffee: A Detailed Examination
Upon an in-depth look at mushroom coffee, it’s evident that most brands contain only small amounts of mushroom extracts per serving, far from the recommended dosage. Many prominent brands are mixing coffee with Cordyceps, which reveals a lack of understanding regarding mushrooms' properties.
Cordyceps and Coffee
When looking into the combination of mushrooms and coffee, particularly Cordyceps and Lion's Mane, it's important to understand the interaction between these components and their bioactive compounds.
Cordyceps contains key bioactive compounds such as cordycepin and adenosine, which are crucial for its health benefits. These compounds are water-soluble, meaning they dissolve in water and can be extracted effectively in such mediums (Examine.com). However, combining Cordyceps with coffee may not be beneficial.
Interactions:
- Adenosine Antagonism: Caffeine in coffee acts as an adenosine antagonist, which can counteract the benefits of Cordyceps since adenosine is a key bioactive marker of Cordyceps (MDPI). This interaction significantly diminishes the benefits of mushroom coffee for health.
- Cordycepin Neutralization: Cordycepin, another critical compound in Cordyceps, also faces neutralization by caffeine, reducing its efficacy in providing energy and other health benefits (MDPI). This is a key reason why mixing Cordyceps with coffee is not recommended.
- Optimal Consumption: For maximum effectiveness, Cordyceps should be taken on an empty stomach, not mixed with coffee. This allows for the best ways to consume Cordyceps for energy without interference from caffeine.
Lion’s Mane and Coffee
There is some speculation that caffeine may cancel out the noticeable effects of Lion's Mane mushrooms, although there is no scientific research to support this claim yet. Another important consideration is that:
- Milk and Polyphenols: Milk contains lactose, which binds to polyphenols, rendering them ineffective. Polyphenols are antioxidants present in most functional mushrooms, including Lion’s Mane, providing significant health benefits (MDPI). Therefore, functional mushrooms without coffee and milk offer the best results.
Personal Preference and Optimal Outcomes
While I love both coffee and mushrooms, I prefer to keep them separate for a few reasons:
- Mushroom Effects: I prefer to feel the full effects of the mushrooms, which caffeine seems to diminish or completely cancel out.
- Milk Combination: I enjoy my coffee with milk, but as discussed, lactose and mushrooms are not an ideal combination.
Conclusion
For those seeking the individual benefits of mushrooms, consuming them separately from coffee is recommended. Understanding the interactions between caffeine and mushroom bioactives can help you optimize your intake for maximum health benefits. By keeping these points in mind, you can make informed decisions about how to incorporate both coffee and mushrooms into your routine without compromising their individual benefits.
For more detailed information on the studies and evidence regarding these interactions, you can refer to sources such as the comprehensive review on cordycepin's health benefits published in Molecules (MDPI) and the research breakdown on Cordyceps bioactives by Examine.com (Examine.com).
Here is a quote I found on Reddit and I think it sums it up well:
There are no 'good' mushroom coffee brands. Those are without exception a waste of money: no specifications, not extracted, under-dosed, overpriced, overhyped.
There are good coffee brands and good mushroom brands, though.