Mushroom Coffee and Gut Health: Is It Better for Digestion?

Mushroom coffee is trending in the coffee world for its potential health benefits. It’s also meant to be gentler on the stomach for those with digestive issues. Research so far has been promising – but is the evidence worth the hype, especially when some mushrooms seem ill-suited for common consumption? 

Let’s learn together by diving into how mushroom coffee affects gut health, the prebiotic benefits of mushrooms, and how antioxidant-rich mushrooms can improve your overall health.

What is Mushroom Coffee?

Mushroom coffee is created when mushrooms are blended into traditional coffee. Usually, this means adding functional mushroom extracts to coffee powder. 

The main types of mushrooms used in mushroom coffee are:

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane is a popular choice for coffee blends. They’re large, white mushrooms that look like an elegant lion mane. It also offers tons of potential health benefits. Lion’s Mane mushroom has been found to:

• Protect against digestive tract ulcers 
• Mitigate symptoms of anxiety and depression 
• Stimulate the growth of brain cells (though more studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy) 
• Improve sleep 
• Reduce risk of heart disease

We also enjoy the taste of Lion’s Mane mushroom coffee. It’s neutral enough but tastes just a little different from regular coffee. You can generally expect mushroom coffee to be earthier than regular blends. An acquired taste, but one we got used to after a few cups. 

Chaga

Chaga mushrooms contain a ton of antioxidants. Antioxidants help the body fight off free radicals, which are primarily used to fight off infections. Unfortunately, if free radicals heavily outnumber antioxidants, it can lead to oxidative stress. To reduce the chances of chronic diseases, it’s recommended to maintain a healthy level of antioxidants.  

Reishi

The Reishi mushroom is most notably used in medicines and cuisine for its ability to boost the immune system. 

• Immune system boost
• Great source of antioxidants

However, Reishi is not necessarily the best mushroom if you want a smooth digestion process. Some people report gut discomfort after eating Reishi mushroom coffee for a while. Reishi mushroom is also not meant to be consumed frequently.

Cordyceps

The Cordyceps mushrooms can improve energy and heart health. Some mushroom coffee brands incorporate Cordyceps to provide greater energy and immunity support than other mushrooms. However, if you’re looking for a mushroom coffee for digestion, you might want to steer clear of Cordyceps. Too much of it can actually cause gastrointestinal discomfort. 

As for taste, Cordyceps mushroom coffee will be notably shroomy. Some people love it, others won’t. 

Understanding Gut Health and the Microbiome

Everyone has a gut microbiome that contains around 100 trillion microbes, bacteria, and other microorganisms. The gut microbiome is mostly located in the large intestine and can greatly influence your overall health (and mood!). 

Gut bacteria are necessary for breaking down indigestible particles that people consume. This mostly means complex carbohydrates and fibers. The bacteria also interact with the immune system and help maintain healthy immune responses. 

If the gut microbiome is disturbed, it can weaken the immune system and worsen overall health. Here are major factors that can negatively impact gut bacteria.

• Diet: A diet with too little fiber and too much processed foods can decrease microbial diversity. This can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria 
• Stress: Just like how stress can improve the chances of ulcers, it can cause issues in the gut microbiome
• Medications: People don’t think about it often, but medications like antibiotics can seriously disrupt the gut microbiome. Not to say antibiotics can’t be a lifesaver, but it’s good to ask your doctor about how antibiotics can affect your gut health 

Prebiotics and Their Role in Digestive Health

Prebiotics are non-digestible food components (like fiber) that encourage good gut bacterial growth. Prebiotic-rich foods include garlic, artichokes, onions, oats, and mushrooms. Mushrooms are actually a great source for prebiotics – they contain chitin, xylans, galactans, and other carbohydrates that can promote good digestive health. 

You might have heard of probiotics, too. These are live microorganisms that can restore or improve the gut microbiome. Popular examples include: yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, and kimchi. 

It’s generally good to consume foods with both prebiotics and probiotics. Striking a good balance is integral for any diet. Probiotics and prebiotics have a synergistic effect in maintaining gut homeostasis. 

Prebiotic Properties of Mushrooms in Mushroom Coffee

Mushrooms are mainly rich in beta-glucans, a type of prebiotic fiber. As we’ve touched on already, fiber helps nourish beneficial gut bacteria (e.g. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus). The gut bacteria, in turn, help break down the non-digestible beta-glucan. By encouraging the growth of these beneficial bacteria, you can reduce the impact of disease and digestive tract issues. 

Let’s go over the prebiotic properties of the four popular mushroom coffee fungi. 

Chaga

Chaga mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and prebiotic polysaccharides. The antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress in your body, which can improve your overall health. 

The prebiotic polysaccharides in Chaga mushrooms can strengthen the gut microbiome and the immune system. 

Lion’s Mane

The Lion’s Mane can support gut lining and encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria. This is one reason why the Lion’s Mane mushroom is often used in successful culinary experiments. It makes people’s stomachs feel good. 

Reishi

The Reishi mushroom has long been used for its beneficial, adaptogenic properties. It also contains prebiotic fibers, which can support good gut health. However, note that Reishi mushroom supplements and coffee brews are not meant to be consumed regularly, but more as an occasional treat. 

Cordyceps

Like the other mushrooms, Cordyceps have a potential for being a good source of dietary fiber and prebiotics. However, some people do experience nausea and an upset stomach after consuming Cordyceps mushrooms and supplements. They can activate the immune system and be more harmful than helpful, especially for those who are children or have pre-existing health conditions. 

Potential Benefits for Digestion

For many people, mushrooms can improve the overall digestive experience after drinking coffee. This is because compared to a high dose of concentrated caffeine, the less caffeinated mushroom coffee contains all the potential benefits of the functional mushroom. These benefits include:

Supporting regular bowel movements 

There it is–you’ve probably seen this coming. How can an article on gut health not address bowel movements? The good news is, functional mushrooms can be helpful for regular bowel movements and healthy digestion. They naturally contain prebiotic polysaccharides, which can help make your bowel movements more predictable and manageable. 

Enhancing nutrient absorption

With so many heavily processed foods shoved in our faces these days, it has become harder than it should be to eat healthily. The gut can suffer from chronic inflammation, which hurts the intestinal lining. 

Consuming prebiotic, fiber-rich mushrooms can promote a healthier gut lining, ultimately leading to better digestion. 

Reducing oxidative stress

Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals exceed the number of antioxidants in the body. This imbalance may be resolved by consuming healthy, antioxidant-rich foods. Common ingredients with antioxidants include:

• Mushrooms (yay!)
• Coffee (double yay!)
• Berries
• Spinach
• Dark chocolate 
• Goji
• Kale
• Beets

Alright, we’ll stop flooding you with a grocery list. Still, antioxidants are indeed great for gut health. They have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can make the mushroom coffee easier to digest. 

Possible role in managing irritable bowel symptoms 

Some people with stomach ulcers and IBS have reported feeling better after drinking mushroom coffee rather than regular coffee. Still, not everyone reacts the same to drinking mushroom coffee when they have IBS or other gut health concerns. 

In general, people with IBS are advised to avoid triggers such as caffeine. Mushrooms are also high in mannitol, a sugar alcohol that can trigger bowel symptoms in some people. You and your doctor know your gut health best. 

Comparison to Regular Coffee

Regular coffee famously wakes people up and improves productivity. Did you know a humble cup of coffee can also improve digestion? That’s because coffee contains a lot of antioxidants. 

However, regular coffee also has an acidic nature, which can potentially irritate the gut. Hear it from someone who has GERD – too much caffeine can sadly make it hard to lie down without acid reflux. 

Mushroom coffee can be a good alternative to regular coffee. It has less caffeine, which means less acid reflux. Mushrooms are alkaline foods, which means they can mitigate the potentially harmful effects of caffeine on the gut. 

Scientific Evidence and What Research Says

Since mushroom is such a common ingredient in both medicines and dishes, scientists are constantly researching more about them. Currently, researchers lean towards these conclusions:

• Adaptogenic mushrooms can benefit physical health 
• Not all mushrooms should be consumed regularly 
• Mushrooms are a good source of antioxidants and prebiotics

We still need more studies to specifically target mushroom coffee. That way we can get a clearer idea of whether drinking coffee with mushrooms has any special impacts on health.

What we do know is that many mushroom coffee drinkers have reported better digestion without sacrificing the energy boost from coffee. Try out a cup of Lion’s Mane mushroom coffee, like the Atlas+ Superblend, to see if it helps you. 

Tips for Incorporating Mushroom Coffee for Gut Health

You’ve picked between different beans or instant coffee brands before. Now it’s time to tackle the unusual question of what mushrooms to get for your coffee? 

The most time-saving and safe way to get mushroom coffee is to choose from one of our favorite mushroom coffee brands. These brands are sure to use high-quality ingredients, and our experts review each of them to highlight their pros and cons. 

When drinking mushroom coffee, it’s also a good idea to beware of the typical advice. Start small in case of any negative reactions. Those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, have kidney issues, take medications, or have other pre-existing health conditions should consult their doctor before trying out mushroom coffee. 

With a gradual introduction of mushroom coffee to your diet, you can enjoy the benefits of mushrooms without flooding your system with a new type of ingredient that can impact your systems. 

Potential Downsides and Considerations

Ensure mushrooms are good quality 

It’s important when choosing mushroom coffee blends that the mushroom extracts are pure and safe to consume. This is typically not an issue if you’re purchasing from a reputable brand. 

If you buy from a cheap brand, fillers (e.g. grains and starch) may be used to expand the volume of your mushroom coffee without adding anything useful. Watch out. 

Stomach upset

Individuals can experience an upset stomach after consuming mushroom coffee. Like how some people react poorly to lactose, people can react poorly to the prebiotics and other compounds in mushrooms. This is why it’s recommended for people to start small and consult with a doctor or dietitian when switching to mushroom coffee.

It shouldn’t replace other dietary needs

Mushroom coffee can be a nice way to promote your digestive health while still giving you a natural boost to your energy levels. However, it is not a substitute for a balanced diet, and in order to maintain a healthy gut microbiome, other dietary changes (like consuming less hyper-processed food) may be necessary. 

Conclusion

Mushrooms like Chaga and Lion’s Mane have solid research to back up their prebiotic and antioxidant health benefits. They can reduce oxidative stress and contribute to a healthier gut microbiome. Because of this, mushroom coffee is a popular choice for those who want a smooth alternative to regular coffee. When combined with other gut-friendly habits, like staying hydrated and exercising regularly, it can make a real beneficial difference. 

However, mushrooms can also harm digestive health, especially for those with underlying health concerns. Make sure you consult with a healthcare provider if you have any health concerns and always start small and gradually when taking mushroom coffee for the first time.