With so many supplements on the market, we don’t have time to waste trying each one and getting half-hearted results — we need to know right away which ones work and which don’t. There are quite a few mushroom coffee supplements out there, and they all promise a host of benefits. 

However, it’s important to look past the benefits each supplement advertises and focus on the quality of the supplement. If you compromise on quality, you could end up experiencing potential side effects of mushroom coffee. 

What Is Mushroom Coffee?

Mushroom coffee is kind of what it sounds like — a hot drink made of medicinal mushrooms and other ingredients designed to mimic coffee. Some brands include actual coffee in their formulas, while others choose to go completely coffee-free. 

This type of supplement has become very popular recently. This is probably due in part to the benefits of mushroom coffee and in part to how easy it is to take and how delicious it can be.

The benefits won’t be the same for each brand you try — every brand of mushroom coffee has its own formula, which means the benefits can change from brand to brand. It also means it’s pretty easy to find a mushroom coffee that best fits the benefits you’re looking to experience.

For instance, our Mushroom Coffee+ blend features lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms, L-theanine, collagen, and coffee extract. 

Combined, these can lead to the following benefits:

• Supports gut health
• Encourages focus and mental clarity
• Supports clear memory
• Supports balanced mental health
• Encourages feelings of relaxation
• Supports a good night’s sleep
• Encourages feelings of energy
• Supports hair, skin, and nail health
• Supports overall immunity

What Are the Potential Side Effects of Mushroom Coffee?

Mushroom coffee clearly has some great benefits. However, like many supplements, it can also have some side effects if you aren’t careful or if you take a poor-quality supplement. Here are some of the potential side effects of mushroom coffee. 

1. Anxiety and Jitters

One of the biggest potential side effects of mushroom coffee is caffeine jitters. When you drink too much caffeine, it can cause feelings of anxiety, sweating, heart palpitations, and overall jitteriness. 

Many mushroom coffee formulas are lower in caffeine than normal coffee, so you might be wondering how you could be at risk of caffeine jitters. The reality is that everyone has different caffeine metabolisms.

Everyone has a pair of genes that code for how they metabolize caffeine. If you have two fast genes, you could probably have multiple cups of coffee without an issue. However, if you have two slow genes, you might experience these side effects with a much lower amount of caffeine — possibly even less than a cup.

2. Stomach Upset

Some people report experiencing an upset stomach after taking mushroom supplements. This could include indigestion, stomach cramps, or feelings of heaviness.

While this can happen, doctors don’t know what causes it. It could be due to the high prebiotic content of mushrooms. Loading up on prebiotic fiber can cause feelings of heaviness and constipation if you’re not used to getting that much fiber or if you eat too much. Also, stomach upset can be yet another sign of caffeine overload. 

3. Kidney Damage

Chaga has a high content of compounds called oxalates. Our bodies are equipped to handle everyday levels of oxalates, but having an excess amount of oxalates can contribute to kidney damage.

Oxalates also bind to calcium, forming kidney stones. It’s worth noting that many people can still handle even the high oxalate content found in chaga mushroom — it takes pounds and pounds of chaga over the course of years to cause that kind of damage. However, those with preexisting kidney damage might be more sensitive and should discuss any supplement they wish to take with a healthcare provider.

4. Allergic Reactions

Finally, it is technically possible to have an allergic reaction to the mushrooms in mushroom coffee. This allergy isn’t common, but it’s important to be on the lookout for any signs of an allergic reaction. If you know you have a mushroom allergy or you’ve had allergy symptoms to mushrooms in the past, talk to a doctor before taking mushroom coffee.

Signs of a serious allergic reaction include:

• Hives or rashes
• Difficulty breathing
• Itching, tingling, or swelling of the mouth or throat
• Wheezing or coughing
• Stomach pain or vomiting
• Fainting

Who Shouldn’t Drink Mushroom Coffee?

Most people should be able to handle mushroom coffee without a hitch. However, if you have a health condition involving your kidneys, or any other health conditions, or are taking medications, talk to your doctor before taking any supplement, including mushroom coffee. Also, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should talk with a healthcare provider before taking mushroom coffee.

What Role Does Quality Play in Mushroom Coffee Benefits and Side Effects?

Ultimately, some of the side effects of mushroom coffee come down to the quality of the mushroom supplement. Here’s how quality can affect the benefits and side effects of your supplement:

• How the Mushroom Is Extracted: Mushroom extracts are generally higher in bioavailable compounds than mushroom powders.
• How the Mushroom Is Grown: Grain-grown mushrooms are less nutritionally dense than wood-fed mushrooms.
• The Part of the Mushroom Used: Supplements made largely with mycelium generally have lower amounts of certain beneficial compounds than those made with fruiting bodies.
• Added Ingredients: A brand’s commitment to quality goes beyond the mushrooms they use. Check for markers of quality in the other ingredients used in your supplement, as well. For instance, we use 100 percent pure L-theanine and grass-fed bovine collagen in our mushroom blends.
• Caffeine Content: Brands that add too much caffeine to their coffee can cause jitters and stomach upset. That’s why our formula uses only 45 mg of caffeine per serving. You can still feel the benefits of focus and alertness — just without the side effects.

Wrapping It All Up

Mushroom coffee has become more and more popular over the past few years, and it’s easy to see why. With benefits that are almost too good to be true, delicious taste, and an easy-to-take supplement format, the real question is who wouldn’t want to take mushroom coffee?

However, possible side effects include jitters and stomach upset from caffeine overconsumption, kidney damage, and allergic reactions. Jitters and stomach upset can be mitigated by simply choosing a high-quality supplement.

To learn more about mushroom coffee and how our ingredients work, visit the Everyday Dose blog today.

Sources:

Caffeine Intoxication: Unregulated, Over-the-Counter Sale of Potentially Deadly Supplements | PMC

Tolerance of probiotics and prebiotics | PMC

Chaga mushroom-induced oxalate nephropathy that clinically manifested as nephrotic syndrome | PMC

Food allergy - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic