Add MitoMushroom To Your Coffee For A Tasty Way To Improve Mood, Energy Levels, Immune Function, And More

From the pacific northwest, to Appalachia and even a few midwestern states rich in beautiful wooded countryside, the spring season is a long anticipated time of year.

Why?

Mushroom foraging, that’s why!

Growing up in rural southeastern Indiana, the start of mushroom season meant many would be searching for meadow mushrooms or chanterelles.

And, while these make great additions to breakfast, lunch, and dinner cuisine, there is another category of mushrooms that boast some incredibly powerful health benefits.

These types of mushrooms are medicinal, and are otherwise known as adaptogenic mushrooms.

Today we’ll discuss what adaptogenic mushrooms are, what benefits they can bring to the health of your body, and we’ll even share a few ways you can deliciously include them in your daily brew!

And, don’t worry, if you don’t have time to forage, we’ve got you covered here as well as each of the adaptogenic mushrooms we’ll be discussing today are included in our MitoMushroom powders: MitoMushroom Mocha and MitoMushroom Morning Routine.

So, let’s get right down to it, looking at the specific kinds of medicinal mushrooms each of these coffee add-ins contain as well as some of my favorite ways to deliciously use them in your morning (or anytime) mug!

Benefits Of Adding MitoMushroom To Your Coffee

Can I begin with a confession?

I get bored easily when it comes to foods and drinks. Yes, even with coffee.

So, I love to switch things up, finding new things to add to my brew to amplify its health benefits.

I mean, you get great benefits from coffee already, but adding tasty items like cinnamon, vanilla, cacao powder, or raw organic honey can not only take the flavor experience to the next level, but compound the rewards you reap for your body as well.

However, when I first learned of adding mushrooms to my coffee, I wasn’t all that enthusiastic, despite the claims I’d read regarding the benefits these forest fungi offered for my health.

So, the first time I tried mushroom coffee, I did so with a bit of prejudice, you know, like a small child who just knows that broccoli doesn’t taste as good as adults claim it does, even though they’ve never tasted the vegetable.

But, as I sipped, I was overwhelmingly, and happily, surprised at how rich and creamy this addition made my brew. And, as I’m sure you’re wondering, it did not make my coffee taste like mushrooms either.

The type of mushrooms we’re referring to here aren’t like those we prefer in our dinner dishes such as shiitake or the prized favorite right now in many midwestern or Appalachian states, the morel.

No, these mushrooms, the ones used in Lifeboost MitoMushroom powders contain what are commonly referred to as medicinal mushrooms.

And, these have an earthy taste, similar to coffee.

The mushrooms in Lifeboost MitoMushroom powders include: lion’s mane, cordyceps, chaga, and reishi, each of which are adaptogens.

Adaptogens are herbs, roots, or other plants, such as mushrooms, that aid your body in its fight against the negative effects of stress.

To be considered adaptogenic, an herb, or in this case, a mushroom, must:

- Be non toxic at normal, or typical, doses (Some alarm has been raised surrounding the use of some mushrooms as they can be toxic when consumed in high doses. Rest assured, adding adaptogenic mushrooms to your coffee at normal doses is not toxic, instead containing powerful health benefits, which we’ll detail soon.)

- Support the body’s response to, and ability to cope with, stress (This means whole body support, aiding each of your body systems in dealing with stress such as your sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, as well as your cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems.)

- Aid in the body’s ability to return to a state of homeostasis (A balance among all body systems which is often disrupted as the body encounters excessive stress.)

As each of the medicinal, or adaptogenic, mushrooms included in MitoMushroom boast both individual and collective boosts to your body, let’s look at them separately before exploring a few ways to use them in your morning mug.

Lion’s Mane

A great amount of research has been focused on how lion’s mane can aid the body in repairing damage that occurs within the brain.

Specifically, lion’s mane contains compounds that prompt new cell growth (within the brain), even protecting from damage caused by, or associated with, Alzheimer’s disease.

But, there’s so much more to this mushroom!

A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry lists lion’s mane as having the following attributes: “antibiotic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, anti-fatigue, antihypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-aging, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective.”

In other words, lion’s mane may:

• Inhibit the growth of bacteria
• Protect against cancer and diabetes
• Fight fatigue
• Keep blood pressure levels from getting too high
• Keep the concentration of fat in your blood at a healthy level
• Fight against the negative effects of aging
• Protect your heart (cardiovascular system)
• Protect your liver
• Protect your kidneys
• Prevent cell death or promote the growth of healthy cells

Lion’s mane has also been used in the treatment of infections and wound healing, reduces anxiety and depression, and may even promote digestive health.

Cordyceps

This type of mushroom possesses a wide variety of benefits.

Due to its ability to increase your body’s production of specific molecules needed in delivering energy to your muscles, especially during exercise, these adaptogens have been linked to improved athletic performance.

Due to their antioxidant content, cordyceps have been used for generations to combat the negative effects of aging, including the prevention of memory loss, aiding in overall strength, decreasing fatigue, and improving both sex drive and function.

In animal studies, cordyceps have even been linked to a longer lifespan.

These mushrooms have also been used to treat diabetes, and may keep fat levels in the blood healthy due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

There are a few potential side effects of cordyceps as some people experience nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, or dry mouth when consuming them.

Reishi

There have been multiple studies conducting here in the US and abroad surrounding reishi mushrooms which have led to a long list of potential benefits including:

• Decreased inflammation
• Decreased fatigue, or improved energy levels
• Liver protection
• Gut health aid
• Protection against heart disease, hypertension, and high cholesterol
• Improved sleep
• Protection against anxiety and depression

Reishi mushrooms have also been linked to a longer lifespan due to long chains of carbohydrates found in them.

These chains are known as polysaccharides and they are thought to add length to your days by improving immune function as well as preventing abnormalities in blood vessels which can prevent the formation of cancerous growths (namely tumors).

But, reishi mushroom consumption has been linked to preventing the growth of cancer cells as well.

Regarding immune function, studies have shown reishi to be capable of affecting the genes in white blood cells which lowers inflammation, aiding your body in fighting infection.

And, these powerful aids also work to restore hormonal balance in your body, which is needed for homeostasis, or the state of healthy body system balance.

Chaga

Chaga is another mushroom with powerful antioxidant properties, which makes them highly anti-inflammatory.

One study found the anti-inflammatory nature of chaga to decrease gut inflammation specifically, a common culprit in irritable bowel disease.

Like the other mushrooms we’ve mentioned here today, chaga has also been linked to cancer prevention and protection, this adaptogen having been found to slow the growth of cancer cells and even reduce the size of tumors by up to 60%.

Chaga mushrooms have also been known to:

• improve insulin resistance
• reduce blood sugar levels
• lower cholesterol and improve overall heart health
• improve immune functioning
• reduce oxidative stress throughout the body (the type of stress that can lead to chronic disease)

Enjoying MitoMushroom Mocha & More

Now it’s time to put those powerful benefits into action in the most delicious ways possible!

Majestic MitoMocha

Chocolate and coffee make the perfect pair. Even chocolatiers agree, some noting that the classic mocha, a combination of coffee, milk, and chocolate syrup, has prompted their special relationship with the “coffee world.”

But here, you won’t have to search for multiple ingredients, as MitoMushroom Mocha contains lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, and chaga mushrooms as well as cacao powder, vanilla, coconut sugar, and monk fruit, each combining to create the rich, classic, chocolatey goodness mocha lovers enjoy.

And, I don’t know about you, but personally, I welcome any and all healthy one-stop-shop ingredients!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee
• 1-2 tablespoons MitoMushroom Mocha powder
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
• Whipped cream, optional for topping
• Shaved dark chocolate, optional for topping

Instructions

• Pour freshly brewed coffee into a large mug.
• Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of MitoMushroom Mocha powder, stirring until completely combined.
• Add unsweetened coconut milk to a small saucepan and heat on low heat just until warm. Pour warmed milk into the coffee mixture, stirring to combine.
• If you’d like, you can top with whipped cream and shaved dark chocolate. Enjoy!

*For the dark chocolate, I like to use a vegetable peeler to shave small curls of any chocolate bar. For me, this works more smoothly (and safely) than using a knife.

And, for the health benefits, I recommend using 70%+ cacao dark chocolate. Just shave or “peel” the chocolate on top of the whipped cream for garnish.

And, if you prefer your brew iced but don’t want to water down your mocha, I highly recommend using coffee ice cubes. To make coffee ice cubes, simply prepare 1-2 cups of coffee ahead of time, and allow it to cool completely. Then, add the cooled coffee to an ice cube tray (or trays) and freeze (it usually only takes 3-4 hours, but you can freeze overnight) to use in your hot brew.

Make the recipe as listed above, and allow the mocha to cool for a few minutes. Add a desired amount of coffee ice cubes to a tall glass, pour your prepared mocha over the coffee ice cubes, and enjoy!

MitoMorning Magic

For some, the thought of not preferring the chocolate and coffee pairing just sounds outlandish.

But, if you’re like me, sometimes you just don’t want chocolate, instead desiring a neutral base to concoct just about any coffee creation you’d like.

Our MitoMushroom Morning Routine powder is prepared using the same healthy mushrooms as MitoMushroom Mocha minus reishi. But, this powerful coffee (or any beverage) add-in also omits cacao powder and other ingredients like vanilla and monk fruit making it a neutral addition to boost any brew, no matter your flavor preference.

And, here we’ll boost your brew beyond the benefits of lion’s mane, cordyceps, chaga, and coffee by including cinnamon and real maple syrup.

- Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants, and this spice is linked to decreased inflammation, protection against heart disease, and much more.

- Pure maple syrup is a natural sweetener, and what many don’t realize is the fact that this product of nature contains 24 antioxidants which fight free radical damage, lowering the risk of inflammation as well as many chronic diseases.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces freshly brewed Dark Roast Coffee
• 1-2 teaspoons MitoMushroom Morning Routine
• 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon ground ceylon cinnamon
• 6 ounces milk of your choice

Instructions

• Add freshly brewed coffee to a large mug.
• Stir in MitoMushroom powder, maple syrup, and cinnamon.
• Add milk to an electric frother and froth on the heat and froth setting.
• Pour frothed milk on top of the coffee mixture, and enjoy!

Check out Lifeboost Coffee MitoMushroom Morning Routine.

Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

References:

https://foragingguru.com/edible-mushrooms-indiana/

https://www.wakacoffee.com/blogs/coffeelifeblog/mushroom-coffee-vs-instant-coffee

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/what-are-adaptogens-and-should-you-be-taking-them

https://draxe.com/nutrition/lions-mane-mushroom/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lions-mane-mushroom

https://cascadiamushrooms.com/blogs/cm/everything-you-need-to-know-about-lions-mane-mushrooms

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

https://www.verywellhealth.com/benefits-of-cordyceps-89441

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/reishi-mushrooms-6-awesome-health-benefits

https://draxe.com/nutrition/reishi-mushroom/

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/chaga-mushroom-benefits/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318527

https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body

https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body

https://sprudge.com/the-mocha-the-surprising-history-of-a-delicious-coffee-drink-173766.html

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-cinnamon

https://mainemapleproducers.com/nutrition-the-9-health-benefits-of-maple-syrup/

https://minimalistbaker.com/5-minute-mushroom-latte-2-ways/#wprm-recipe-container-40715