From podcasts to Instagram ads to the latest lifestyle vlogs, the mushroom coffee trend has been everywhere. As an avid coffee drinker and a try anything once woman, I figured I would give this trend a go to enlighten our readers on just how worth it this switch up is.
Mushroom coffee is exactly what it sounds like – coffee grounds combined with mushrooms. I decided to try Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffee, specifically their “Think” recipe that combines organic coffee with Lion’s Mane and Chaga mushrooms.
On their website, Four Sigmatic explains that they choose to use functional mushrooms, which are significantly different from the typical mushroom you may be thinking of. According to Four Sigmatic’s website, functional mushrooms, “ . . . have been used in cultures across the world for thousands of years for things like productivity, immune system support, stress support and more.”
One reason Four Sigmatic chose to introduce these powerful mushrooms to the public via coffee is because of the common daily habit of the morning cup. Functional mushrooms, like many superfoods, are most beneficial when ingested daily. So, they found a way to inspire customers to do that, hence, mushroom coffee.
Before I dive into my review, I’ll list a few of the benefits of the mushrooms in my coffee choice from Four Sigmatic, the Think Blend.
To start, I’ll cover Lion’s Mane using information from The National Center for Biotechnology, also known as NCBI. The NCBI found that Lion’s Mane, scientifically known as H. erinaceus, when used in a study on brain health, had a significant impact. The study suggested that “H. erinaceus is effective in improving mild cognitive impairment.” This study was done on elderly patients who had already experienced a decrease in cognitive function, which was improved with the intake of this mushroom.
In addition, Healthline listed other health benefits from Lion’s Mane including the ability to, “Help relieve mild symptoms of anxiety and depression, may speed recovery from nervous system injuries, protects against ulcers in the digestive tract, reduces heart disease risk, helps manage diabetes symptoms, may help fight cancer, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress.”
The second type of mushroom that was added into my coffee blend was Chaga. This mushroom has a funky look to it, appearing to be a clump of dirt on the outside, yet if you break it open you’ll reveal bright orange tissue. Many of the benefits of Chaga mushrooms have been cross listed for Lion’s Mane, but there is no doubt Chagas have a list of their own, unique benefits as well. According to Medical News Today, Chaga mushroom benefits include being, “nutrient dense, slowing the process of aging, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and preventing drug side effects.”
Now that you’ve read the plethora of benefits that come with ingesting these functional mushroom nutrient powerhouses, here’s a little on the taste and experience I had with Four Sigmatic’s Think blend.
First off, the taste of the coffee is amazing, and it’s organic, which is always a plus. I felt like I was drinking a normal cup of coffee, but knew in the back of my mind it was much more than simply a cup of energy. In addition, I wasn’t nearly as shaky as I get when I drink my typical coffee blends.
Because I am a college student doing online classes, I drink my morning cup to ensure I get all of my work done that’s required that day. What’s interesting is that this past week, I haven’t once experienced that mid-day slump that I usually get around 4 p.m. when my coffee wears off. If you get that late afternoon dip in energy as well, you know how nice it is to rid that from your daily routine.
Overall, the benefits of functional mushrooms are unmatched by many of the trendy foods and supplements that float around the internet today. They have a long history of research and are easy to incorporate into your morning routine thanks to the concept of mushroom coffee.
Lastly, Four Sigmatic has many other caffeine-free options that still have all of the mushroom power such as elixirs, protein powder, plain mushroom powders and more. For this reason, I must ask, why try out the functional mushroom trend?
Use the discount code FIRSTTIMER for 10% off your first order!