Best Mushroom Coffee (2024): Expert-Tested and Ranked for Flavor, Quality, And More

Mushroom coffee is the latest darling of wellness influencers and functional health enthusiasts, widely promoted on social media and recommended by loyal customers. As a blend of ground coffee or tea and medicinal mushroom extracts or powders, it’s marketed as a coffee alternative that will boost energy levels without the jitters that can accompany a regular cup of coffee.

Whether you’re interested in mushroom coffee for the lower caffeine content or potential adaptogenic benefits for stress, anxiety, gut health, or your immune system—similar to the best greens powders—we know you want a high-quality product at an affordable price point that also tastes fantastic. 

With varying types and amounts of mushrooms, caffeine sources, and bonus ingredients you may never have heard of, however, deciphering the labels on these products and trying to figure out whether they’re effective or not can feel overwhelming. 

That’s why we’ve personally tested and analyzed many of the most popular mushroom coffees according to our comprehensive supplement testing methodology, evaluating categories like taste, price, and formulation with the experience of our product testers and insights from a registered dietitian (that’s me!).

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.

5 Best Mushroom Coffees

• Best Mushroom Coffee Overall: Four Sigmatic Organic Mushroom Coffee
• Best-Tasting Mushroom Coffee: Everyday Dose
• Best Mushroom Coffee for Gut Health: RYZE Mushroom Coffee
• Best Organic Mushroom Coffee: MUD\WTR 
• Best Latte-Style Mushroom Coffee: Laird Superfood Instant Latte

Best Mushroom Coffee Overall: Four Sigmatic Organic Mushroom Coffee

Good for: Those wanting a flavorful instant coffee with less caffeine that also contains functional mushrooms and adaptogenic herbs

Best Overall

Four Sigmatic Organic Mushroom Coffee

GGR Score: 3.96

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Product Highlights

• Combines coffee and mushroom
• Listed benefits: Improve focus, energy, mood, immunity, digestion, and decrease stress depending on variety selected
• USDA organic, keto, and gluten-free
• Available in 6 different varieties with unique benefits

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Available as both ground coffee and coffee pods
• Different flavors and levels caffeine available
• Third-party tested for toxins

Cons

• Mushroom contents varies by flavor
• Vague ingredient label that does not disclose ingredient amounts
• Mixed reviews on taste

Bottom Line

Four Sigmatic coffee mixes coffee and mushrooms to make a healthier option for your morning coffee. The label does not detail how much of each ingredient is in a single serving. The drink had many positive customer reviews, with customers indicating they found it boosted their energy and focus in the morning.

Compared to the other brands we tested, Four Sigmatic Organic Mushroom Coffee had the best balance of flavor, formulation, ingredients, and third-party testing, making it our pick for the best overall mushroom coffee.

Erin Chancer, GGR senior editor and certified nutrition coach (CNC), was surprised by how much she enjoyed the flavor of the Think instant coffee. “I love my coffee with a sweet creamer, so I rarely drink black coffee. I was surprised by the nice caramel flavor and could actually see myself drinking this instant coffee black, though I did still add a little creamer,” she said. 

Overall, Erin gave it a 4-out-of-5 rating for taste and said she’d be a repeat customer. And for those who don’t want to deal with adding a separate creamer, Four Sigmatic also offers a latte-style option with coconut milk powder. 

One limitation of this product is that it doesn’t quantify the amount of mushroom extracts in the formula, which we found is not uncommon with mushroom coffee brands as a whole. Four Sigmatic is certified USDA-Organic, keto-friendly, and low in added sugars, but we were underwhelmed with the inclusion of only two types of mushrooms. Overall, Erin rated the formulation a 3.5 out of 5.

It scored similarly in third-party testing with a 3-out-of-5 rating. “Four Sigmatic claims that their products are tested by independent labs for mold, pesticides, heavy metals, and mycotoxins, but they don’t disclose the labs that conduct the testing,” noted Erin.

RELATED: Best Ashwagandha Supplement

Best-Tasting Mushroom Coffee: Everyday Dose

Good for: Those who want extra skin and joint health benefits from hydrolyzed collagen

Best-Tasting

Everyday Dose Mushroom Coffee Starter Kit

GGR Score: 3.9

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Product Highlights

• Combination of coffee, mushrooms, collagen protein, and nootropics
• Listed benefits: Improve energy, mood, focus, memory, sleep, immunity, and gut health while reducing stress
• Dairy-, soy-, sugar-, and gluten-free
• Included: 30 servings mushroom coffee, rechargeable frother, gunmetal dose spoon, breathwork app by Othership, and wellness booklet

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Combines coffee, mushrooms, collagen, and nootropics
• No GMOs, herbicides, pesticides, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners
• Keto- and paleo-friendly

Cons

• Only 2 mushrooms in the blend
• Not vegan due to collagen
• Only available in the United States

Bottom Line

Everyday Dose is a coffee alternative that combines a two-mushroom blend and coffee. One serving contains 45 milligrams of caffeine. Customer reviews for this were generally positive. Many consumers found this product helpful in reducing their coffee and caffeine consumption.

Everyday Dose is unique among mushroom coffees for the inclusion of hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides, added for its potential joint and skin health benefits. It also has L-theanine, an amino acid that may help boost focus¹ when combined with the moderate caffeine content in this product.

RELATED: Best Collagen Supplements

Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1 and GGR senior writer tried Everyday Dose and rated it pretty highly overall. He thought the flavor wasn’t bad, tasting “something like watered down instant coffee with only a subtle earthiness.” He didn’t love it enough to replace his regular coffee, but noticed a lot of positive reviews on the flavor online and rated it a 4 out of 5.

“It tasted great mixed into my morning coffee,” he noted. Adding it to coffee may defeat the purpose for some people, but it may be worth trying this product in different ways, perhaps by adding creamer or making a protein coffee shake, until you find a method you really enjoy. 

Caine was really impressed with the smooth, creamy consistency, “The complimentary frother makes a big difference, making it light and airy. There’s no settling and no grittiness,” he said, rating the solubility a 5 out of 5.

The customer service experience was good but not perfect, earning a 4 out of 5. They offer 45-day returns for first-time orders and allow you to cancel anytime. In reality, Caine said that he “wasn’t able to cancel until 20 days had passed because the company wants you to give the product a chance. It’s easy to forget about canceling before your next order ships, so that rubbed me the wrong way,”

Out of all our testing criteria, Everyday Dose scored lowest for formulation. Because it only contains two mushrooms and combines the mushrooms, coffee extract, and L-theanine in a 7,000-milligram proprietary blend without clearly labeling the amounts of each, we could only rate it a 2 out of 5. There’s also only 45 milligrams of caffeine per serving, so if you’re looking for a boost, you may need to go elsewhere.

That said, the Everyday Dose subscription comes with a lot of fun freebies, such as a rechargeable frother and gunmetal serving spoon for the first month. Caine said he also got a mug, thermos, and a few other fun bonuses with subsequent orders.

Check out our full Everyday Dose Mushroom Coffee Review for more detailed information.

Best Mushroom Coffee For Gut Health: RYZE

Good for: Anyone wanting a lower-caffeine beverage without completely giving up coffee

Best for Gut Health

RYZE Mushroom Coffee

GGR Score: 3.96

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Product Highlights

• Vegan mushroom coffee with less than half the caffeine of a traditional cup of coffee
• Features California grown mushrooms and Mexican coffee
• No sugar, gluten, dairy, soy or GMOs
• 1% of profits go to teaching mindfulness in schools
• Listed benefits: Improved focus, energy without a crash, supports immune, gut, and digestive health, and optimizes brain function

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 30 Day Guarantee
• 100% recyclable packaging
• Vegan, keto, and paleo friendly
• 6 mushroom blend

Cons

• Only available in the United States currently
• More caffeine than competitors
• Mixed reviews on taste

Bottom Line

Ryze Mushroom Coffee contains both a 6 mushroom blend and coffee. Despite containing coffee the taste still received mixed reviews from people making the switch from traditional coffee. It was described as “earthy” both positively and negatively.

If you’re looking for a mushroom coffee to help improve your overall gut health and you’re already dialed in on a healthy diet, RYZE Mushroom Coffee could be a good option. They specifically include turkey tail mushrooms for their purported gut microbiome benefits, although it’s important to note that the scientific evidence² for this is still preliminary.

Nicole Davis, PN-L1 and GGR head of content gave RYZE a try. “It reminds me of watered-down coffee with some noticeable earthiness from the mushrooms. It isn’t bad; I could see myself enjoying this in place of a cup of tea in the winter, but I wouldn’t choose it over regular coffee,” she said, rating the flavor a 4 out of 5. 

We liked that RYZE includes six different adaptogenic mushrooms, is made with organic ingredients, and is free from added sugars and food additives, but the lack of transparency in the formulation was disappointing. “RYZE doesn’t list the amounts of each mushroom on the label. They’re only listed as a blend with 2,000 total milligrams of mushrooms,” noted Nicole.

Because of this, it’s hard to tell whether there’s enough turkey tail in this product to effectively support gut health. However, compared to other mushroom coffee we’ve tested, this one gets a  5 out of 5 in formulation.

Nicole appreciated the 30-day refund policy, rating the customer experience a 4 out of 5 overall. She couldn’t find many customer reviews that mentioned the customer service, whether positive or negative, so she didn’t feel she could give them full marks.

For more detailed information, check out our full RYZE Mushroom Coffee Review.

Best Organic Mushroom Coffee: MUD\WTR

Good for: Tea and cacao lovers who prefer whole powdered mushrooms over extracts

Best Organic

MUD\WTR

GGR Score: 3.48

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Product Highlights

• Low- or no-caffeine coffee alternative
• Listed benefits: Provides energy boost without jitters, improves focus and mood, supports immunity
• Certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO project verified, certified vegan, Kosher, and Whole 30-approved
• Available in 4 varieties: Original, Matcha, Turmeric, and Rest
• Included: 30-serving tin, rechargeable frother, guidebook, sticker, and sample

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2 flavors with caffeine and 2 flavors without caffeine
• 30-day money back guarantee
• Vegan, Kosher, and Whole 30 Approved
• Free shipping within the United States

Cons

• Very mixed reviews on taste, texture, and mixability
• Website defaults to 30-day subscription when you attempt to purchase
• Mixed reviews on effectiveness

Bottom Line

MUD\WTR is a low- or no-caffeine alternative to a cup of coffee. They recommend pouring hot water over 1 tablespoon and mixing with a spoon or frother. MUD\WTR claims this powder will give you energy without the jitters and crash associated with coffee. They also claim it will improve your mood and support your immune system. This drink has extremely mixed reviews on taste, texture and effectiveness. The taste is described as ‘earthy’ in both positive and negative reviews.

MUD\WTR is unique for its use of warming chai spices and black tea powder, making it a great choice for those who prefer tea to coffee. It’s USDA Organic, a certification not held by all mushroom coffees, and is also made from whole mushrooms rather than isolated extracts.

We like that it includes four types of mushrooms, isn’t sweetened, and doesn’t contain any unnecessary additives, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 in formulation. It has less caffeine than a cup of coffee and the same amount as a cup of black tea. 

Frieda Johnson, certified nutrition coach and GGR editor, wasn’t impressed by the flavor and gritty texture. “I’ve tried other coffee alternatives that taste better,” she said, and noted that she “didn’t have more mental focus or feel more energized.” To be fair, she did say that she had transitioned away from coffee a while ago, so it might be more helpful for people who haven’t yet made the switch.

One nice thing about MUD\WTR is their caffeine-free options. One is a golden milk-like drink made with anti-inflammatory turmeric and chai spices. The other is Rest, a blend of rooibos tea with ashwagandha and calming chamomile.

For more information, read our full MUD WTR Review.

Best Latte-Style Mushroom Coffee: Laird Superfood Instant Latte

Good for: People who want a latte-style mushroom coffee with the same amount of caffeine as traditional coffee

Best Latte

Laird Superfood Instant Latte

GGR Score: 3.125

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Product Highlights

• Created by famous big wave surfer Laird Hamilton
• Combines coffee, mushrooms, and coconut milk creamer
• Listed benefits: Long-lasting energy and helps manage stress

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No artificial colors, flavors, or ingredients
• Vegan and paleo-friendly
• Combines coffee and mushrooms
• Non-GMO verified and gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free

Cons

• More expensive per serving that other coffee mushroom combinations
• Low number of servings per pack—largest available is 16 oz with 14 servings
• Mixed reviews on taste

Bottom Line

Laird Superfood Instant Latte combines freeze-dried coffee and mushrooms to provide a healthier version of your morning coffee. According to Laird Superfoods, this product provides energy and helps to decrease stress. There are mostly positive customer reviews but there were some mixed reviews on the taste.

For those who want their mushroom coffee to taste like a sweet vanilla latte, the Laird Superfood Instant Latte is the best option out of all the products we tried. Erin tried the “Sweet & Creamy” flavor, which she rated a 3.8 out of 5 overall. 

Per Erin, “Thanks to the coconut milk powder and coconut sugar, I didn’t need to add any additional sweeteners or creamers to this instant coffee. The flavor reminded me of vanilla and coconut and wasn’t bad, but I didn’t care to finish it. I’d liken it to a mediocre latte from one of those automatic latte machines.”

Like other mushroom coffees on this list, this one contains mushroom extracts rather than whole powdered mushrooms, and the package doesn’t indicate the actual amounts of each mushroom. 

And because the first two ingredients are coconut milk powder and coconut sugar, you’re basically paying for a sweet instant coffee with a vague amount of mushroom extracts. “After trying it out, this isn’t worth upwards of $2 a serving,” Erin noted. 

It also contains 8 grams of added sugars, which is a bit much considering this product is marketed as a way to improve your health. That said, we liked that the product doesn’t contain artificial ingredients or fillers. Overall, the formulation earned a 3.5 out of 5 rating.

Erin gave it nearly the same 3 out of 5 rating for third-party testing. “I didn’t see any mention of third party-testing, and the proprietary blend lacks transparency. I did rate it a bit higher for being Non-GMO Project Certified,” she said.

The takeaway? If you’re looking for a sweetened latte-style coffee alternative with the same amount of caffeine and aren’t too picky about the amount of mushrooms it contains, this product could be a good choice for you.

Other Mushroom Coffee We Researched

In our search for the best mushroom coffee, there were quite a few runners-up. These are a few that didn’t make the cut:

• Beyond Brew Mushroom Superfood Coffee: This coffee boats six different mushroom extracts, organic cacao, and probiotics at an affordable $1.23 per serving. However, the extract potency isn’t clearly labeled. It also doesn’t contain any actual coffee and contains a negligible amount of caffeine, so it’s not the best choice for those looking to reduce their caffeine intake slowly.
• Clevr Coffee SuperLatte: This coffee appears to have a creamy consistency from the added oat milk and coconut milk powders, but since these are the first two ingredients listed, you’re not getting as many mushrooms for your money. It also only contains two mushroom extracts and the potency is unclear. That said, you might like it for the added ashwagandha and green tea extracts.
• Lore Mighty Mushrooms: This comes in interesting flavors like Hazelnut Espresso, is USDA Organic, sweetened with a small amount of coconut sugar, and contains 2,000 milligrams of a mushroom extract with 21.5% beta-glucans. However, it’s a bit pricey at $1.66 per serving and only contains lion’s mane extract.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Mushroom Coffee

Our expert testers included a team of certified nutrition coaches, certified personal trainers, and even a former Olympian. They tried each of these products in place of their regular coffee or coffee alternatives to replicate the experience of mushroom coffee newbies looking for the best product. 

During the testing process, we looked closely at each of the following factors:

• Formulation: We considered types of mushrooms, plant-to-extract ratios, potency, and whether the product contains added sugars and artificial ingredients. We gave higher scores to those with more mushroom variety and potency listed on the label. That said, all of the products we tried could have been more transparent with their formulations.
• Taste: This is subjective based on the tester, with high scores reserved for a drinkable mushroom coffee that the tester would like to have daily.
• Solubility: We gave higher scores to products that dissolve well, aren’t gritty, and don’t leave floaties or sediment at the bottom of the glass.
• Side effects: We looked out for unwanted issues like digestive upset, caffeine-related side effects, or weird aftertastes.
• Transparency and third-party testing: We’re typically looking for certification by a major organization like NSF, Informed Choice/Sport, or Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG) or a super transparent label. 
• Customer service: This entails company policies (returns, exchanges, shipping, etc.) as well as their general helpfulness to the consumer. 
• Customer reviews: We looked for the presence of online reviews and how well they rated the product. 

Benefits of Mushroom Coffee

If you’re wondering “What is mushroom coffee?” you’re not alone. They’re rising in popularity, and there are a lot of claims about their effectiveness. I’ll explain a few of its potential health benefits below. 

May Help With Gut Health 

The ability to improve gut health and reduce bloating are very common claims with mushroom coffee. There isn’t much research on mushroom coffee and gut health, but certain ingredients and compounds could help. These include:

• Lion’s mane: Lion’s mane might help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria associated with reduced inflammation in the gut, according to research³ in mice.
• Turkey tail: Polysaccharopeptide, a compound extracted from turkey tail mushrooms, acted as a prebiotic in a small study⁴ in humans.
• Polyphenols: Mushrooms and other common ingredients like cacao, spices, matcha, and black tea are rich in polyphenols, powerful plant-based compounds that are metabolized by gut bacteria and help reduce inflammation.
• Probiotics: Some mushroom coffees contain probiotics, but there isn’t much research suggesting that probiotics provide much benefit for healthy people. However, certain bacterial strains could but may help calm Irritiable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). A few of these are Bifidobacterium lactis, Bacillus coagulans, and Lactobacillus plantarum.

May Reduce Anxiety

Mushroom coffee could help ease anxiety severity in a couple of ways:

• Reduced caffeine intake: Excessive caffeine intake can make anxiety symptoms worse. Replacing a cup of joe with a mug of mushroom coffee could help since most products contain about half the amount of caffeine as regular coffee.
• Adaptogens: A small 2010 study⁵ showed that women consuming 2,000 milligrams of powdered lion’s mane baked into cookies had improved anxiety symptoms. Keep in mind that most mushroom coffee blends contain a lower dose of lion’s mane, and many don’t report the amount at all, so they may not all be effective.

May Help You Sleep Better

Despite our best efforts, getting enough good quality sleep can be a challenge. For some people, mushroom coffee could help by:

• Reducing caffeine intake: For some people, you might simply be drinking too much caffeine. Mushroom coffee is lower in caffeine than regular coffee, but will still give you a bit of an energy boost.
• Reducing anxiety: As mentioned above, too much caffeine can make anxiety worse. If coffee affects you in this way, mushroom coffee could be a helpful alternative.
• Providing mild sedative-like effects: Reishi mushrooms contain multiple bioactive compounds (such as beta-sitosterol) which can act like sedatives to depress the central nervous system and potentially counteract insomnia⁶.
• Improving immune function: Sleep and immunity coexist in a bi-directional relationship, with each affecting the other. Some mushrooms, like reishi, might help improve sleep quality indirectly by strengthening the immune system⁶.

Dosing and Interactions 

Adaptogens can impact the body in ways you might not realize. Lion’s mane, chaga, cordyceps, and reishi mushrooms and adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha can interfere with the following types of medications:

• Immunosuppressants
• Diabetes medications
• Anticoagulants/blood thinners
• Sedatives
• Thyroid hormone (e.g., levothyroxine)
• Antihypertensives

Additionally, cordyceps⁷ and ashwagandha⁸ may raise testosterone levels based on rodent and in vitro studies, although more research is needed. This may mean that people with hyperandrogenism, such as some women with PCOS, and those who are pregnant or nursing, may need to exercise caution with these adaptogens.

When taking medication, it’s always best to discuss the use of any new dietary supplement with your physician first.

Third-Party Testing

Third-party testing ensures the safety and purity of dietary supplements, often testing for things like heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticides, and anabolic steroids, among others. 

We prefer products that are certified by reputable, trustworthy programs like NSF, USP, and Informed Choice/Informed Sport. None of the mushroom coffees we tested were third-party tested. 

Buying Guide: What to Look for in the Best Mushroom Coffee

No two mushroom coffee brands are exactly alike, with products differing in variety and amount of mushrooms, extracts vs powders, creamers, and extra ingredients for boosting focus and mental clarity, gut health, or other health benefits. 

Keep the following factors in mind to make shopping for mushroom coffee a little easier. 

Types of Mushrooms

Not all functional mushrooms are the same, as certain types vary in their health benefits. If you’re looking for specific benefits, try to choose a coffee alternative with mushrooms that match.

• Lion’s mane: Lion’s mane may reduce depressive symptoms and improve cognitive function⁹.
• Reishi: Reishi may improve gut health by acting as a prebiotic to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and reduce pathogenic bacteria. It’s also rich in antioxidants and may help lower blood sugar ¹⁰.
• Chaga: Chaga is rich in antioxidants and may provide immune support¹¹.
• Cordyceps: Commonly known as a zombie fungus that infects insects, cordyceps is non-toxic to humans and may have neuroprotective benefits¹².
• Turkey tail: This medicinal mushroom contains polysaccharopeptide (PSP), a special compound that may help improve the gut microbiome¹³.
• Shiitake: Shiitake mushrooms are commonly used in cooking as a culinary mushroom, but may provide antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immune support benefits as an adaptogen.

Keep in mind that most research is limited to rodent or petri dish studies. More research in humans is needed to confirm these potential benefits.

Other Beneficial Ingredients

Many brands like to include additional health-promoting ingredients like the following:

• L-theanine: May help boost focus¹⁴ in combination with caffeine 
• Adaptogenic herbs: Additional adaptogens like ashwagandha may help reduce stress and anxiety¹⁵
• Spices: Rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, spices like cinnamon and turmeric can help reduce inflammation and support the gut microbiome

Extraction Process 

Most mushroom coffees are made with mushroom extracts, which are made by drying whole mushrooms, grinding them into a powder, treating them with hot water and/or alcohol, and extracting certain beneficial compounds.

Mushroom extracts can be highly concentrated sources of adaptogens and other beneficial compounds, depending on the quality of the extraction methods. They’re claimed to be more easily absorbed by the body and to contain more beta-glucans than mushroom powders. Unfortunately, detailed information on the extraction process is difficult to find for many brands, and extract potency isn’t always indicated. 

Mushroom powders are less concentrated but provide the same balance of nutrients found in whole mushrooms. They include two important parts of the mushroom: the mycelium and the fruiting body, which both contain unique bioactive compounds like erinacines, hericerins, and beta-glucan polysaccharides.

Best Mushroom Coffee: FAQs

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

References

1. Giesbrecht T, Rycroft JA, Rowson MJ, De Bruin EA. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness. Nutr Neurosci. 2010;13(6):283-290. doi:10.1179/147683010X12611460764840
2. Yu ZT, Liu B, Mukherjee P, Newburg DS. Trametes versicolor extract modifies human fecal microbiota composition in vitro. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2013;68(2):107-112. doi:10.1007/s11130-013-0342-4
3. Priori EC, Ratto D, De Luca F, et al. Hericium erinaceus Extract Exerts Beneficial Effects on Gut-Neuroinflammaging-Cognitive Axis in Elderly Mice. Biology (Basel). 2023;13(1):18. Published 2023 Dec 28. doi:10.3390/biology13010018
4. Pallav K, Dowd SE, Villafuerte J, et al. Effects of polysaccharopeptide from Trametes versicolor and amoxicillin on the gut microbiome of healthy volunteers: a randomized clinical trial. Gut Microbes. 2014;5(4):458-467. doi:10.4161/gmic.29558
5. Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, et al. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomed Res. 2010;31(4):231-237. doi:10.2220/biomedres.31.231
6. Qiu Y, Mao ZJ, Ruan YP, Zhang X. Exploration of the anti-insomnia mechanism of Ganoderma by central-peripheral multi-level interaction network analysis. BMC Microbiol. 2021;21(1):296. Published 2021 Oct 29. doi:10.1186/s12866-021-02361-5
7. Kusama K, Miyagawa M, Ota K, et al. Cordyceps militaris Fruit Body Extract Decreases Testosterone Catabolism and Testosterone-Stimulated Prostate Hypertrophy. Nutrients. 2020;13(1):50. Published 2020 Dec 26. doi:10.3390/nu13010050
8. Lopresti AL, Drummond PD, Smith SJ. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males. Am J Mens Health. 2019;13(2):1557988319835985. doi:10.1177/1557988319835985
9. Cha S, Bell L, Shukitt-Hale B, Williams CM. A review of the effects of mushrooms on mood and neurocognitive health across the lifespan. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2024;158:105548. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105548
10. El Sheikha AF. Nutritional Profile and Health Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum “Lingzhi, Reishi, or Mannentake” as Functional Foods: Current Scenario and Future Perspectives. Foods. 2022;11(7):1030. Published 2022 Apr 1. doi:10.3390/foods11071030
11. Fordjour E, Manful CF, Javed R, et al. Chaga mushroom: a super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential. Front Pharmacol. 2023;14:1273786. Published 2023 Dec 5. doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1273786
12. Sharma H, Sharma N, An SSA. Unique Bioactives from Zombie Fungus (Cordyceps) as Promising Multitargeted Neuroprotective Agents. Nutrients. 2023;16(1):102. Published 2023 Dec 27. doi:10.3390/nu16010102
13. Pallav K, Dowd SE, Villafuerte J, et al. Effects of polysaccharopeptide from Trametes versicolor and amoxicillin on the gut microbiome of healthy volunteers: a randomized clinical trial. Gut Microbes. 2014;5(4):458-467. doi:10.4161/gmic.29558
14. Giesbrecht T, Rycroft JA, Rowson MJ, De Bruin EA. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness. Nutr Neurosci. 2010;13(6):283-290. doi:10.1179/147683010X12611460764840
15. Akhgarjand C, Asoudeh F, Bagheri A, et al. Does Ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2022;36(11):4115-4124. doi:10.1002/ptr.7598

Stephanie Wells, MS, RD, LD, ACSM-CPT

Stephanie is a registered dietitian and owner of Thyme to Go Vegan Nutrition Services, a private practice offering telehealth nutrition counseling for vegans, freelance writing, and consulting services. She loves helping others learn how to optimize their nutrition and live healthy, sustainable lifestyles with the power of plant-based foods.

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