One of the most original variants of coffee is the one based on mushrooms, which would represent a "healthy alternative to the classic version.
Having recently come to the fore, mushroom coffee is actually not an absolute novelty, as mushrooms would have been used as a substitute for coffee in Finland already during the Second World War, when coffee beans were not available, and they are present in many preparations of Chinese medicine, precisely because of their beneficial properties.
, considered super food.
The most used is Reishi, or Ganoderma Lucidum, which in addition to possessing valuable properties for physical well-being, would also counteract the negative side effects of caffeine. However, there are Mushroom coffees made with blends of other mushrooms such as Shiitake, Chaga, Lion's Mane and Turkey's Tail.
In terms of taste, coffee with mushrooms does not differ much from the classic one but is slightly more delicate.
How it is made and how it is consumed
Coffee with mushrooms is available in the form of a soluble blend, ground preparation or pods, at retailers specializing in the sale of organic or healthy food, or online.
To prepare it, the mushrooms are dehydrated, ground into a fine powder and prepared to be consumed, just like traditional coffee, with mocha, espresso machine, American coffee machines, infusion methods or other.
The cost of coffee with mushrooms is about double the normal one and this derives from the fact that medicinal mushrooms are not present in large quantities in nature, therefore their cultivation, processing and marketing is rather difficult.
, rapid heartbeat, stomach upset and other side effects. Preferring mushroom coffee to regular coffee, on the other hand, greatly diminishes these effects. Furthermore, it is a drink that can be consumed more frequently even in the evening and before going to sleep, since its minimum amount of caffeine should not affect the ability to fall asleep and the quality of sleep.such as phosphorus, potassium, selenium and magnesium and contain B vitamins.
This, first of all, strengthens the immune and cardiovascular systems and helps the body to defend itself during the change of seasons.
Furthermore, coffee with mushrooms would be an important source of antioxidants, even higher than that of cocoa. A medium cup would contain even more of it than black tea and green tea.
The mix of coffee and mushrooms would also help fight free radicals and consequently reduce oxidative stress that can cause cell damage.
This drink seems to have many other beneficial properties, such as improving the functioning of the digestive system or the anti-stress action given by compounds extracted from medicinal mushrooms called adaptogens, which can improve the body's response to anxiety-inducing situations.
It should be remembered, however, that although there are premises and evidence of the positivity of a constant consumption of medicinal mushrooms, to date most of the studies on medicinal mushrooms are based on animals or conducted in the laboratory, with little clinical insights into humans.
Furthermore, while it is definitely possible to say that medicinal mushrooms and coffee have some well-established benefits on their own, these studies are not specific to mushroom coffee and do not clarify whether there are any combined positive or negative health effects of mixing mushrooms and coffee beans.
Specifically, according to some studies, Chaga mushrooms could help fight ulcers and allergies, the latter by suppressing the activity of immune cells responsible for an allergic response to certain foods.
Reishi mushrooms, on the other hand, would reduce blood cholesterol levels and, consequently, decrease the risk of heart disease.
Learn about the properties of cooked or raw mushrooms, and which ones are the most nutritious.
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