Posts in category: Dating Tips, Guide and Advice

I’ve been a daily coffee drinker since I was 13. I’ve been devoted to my four cups a day ever since and have tried a seemingly endless variety of brews—classic drip, pumpkin spice lattes, flat whites, oat milk lattes, and even CBD-infused concoctions.

They’ve all had their moments, but I always return to my tried-and-true: regular drip coffee, two sugar substitutes, and a whole lotta creamer. However, I was intrigued when I heard about something I hadn’t tried: mushroom coffee. Yes, you read that right—mushroom, as in fungus. Don’t worry; I had questions, too.

While I initially wondered if mushroom coffee was a beverage made purely from mushrooms, I learned that many types still contain coffee (although some don’t). It’s usually a mix of equal parts ground coffee and powdered medicinal mushrooms like lion’s mane, chaga, reishi, or cordyceps.

While it’s gained attention in wellness circles in recent years, the idea of using mushrooms to improve health and well-being isn’t exactly new. Mushrooms have been utilized for centuries for their healing and health benefits in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.

Today, mushroom coffee is often touted as an alternative that can deliver benefits like improved cognition, immune support, reduced inflammation, and better stress resilience. But does it actually live up to the hype? That’s what I wanted to find out.

So, I decided the best way to learn more was to give it a go. For 30 days, I swapped my regular coffee for mushroom coffee and kept track of how it affected my energy, mood, focus, and sleep. Here’s how it went.

Potential Benefits of Mushroom Coffee

Before we look at my experience, let’s consider some of the purported benefits of mushroom coffee. Beyond being a novel way to consume caffeine, there’s some growing attention to the possible benefits these drinks might offer. 

“Each mushroom has potential benefits,” explains Catherine Gervacio, RND, a registered dietitian, exercise coach, and nutritional consultant at WowMD. For example, she explains that lion’s mane may help boost memory and focus by supporting brain cell growth.

“When mixed with coffee, you get a smoother, more ‘clear-headed’ energy,” she says. “Reishi, on the other hand, is for helping your body manage stress better, calming the mind, and even promoting better sleep if you drink it later in the day without adding caffeine.”

Improved Cognitive Function

Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is probably the most well-researched when it comes to its potential brain-boosting benefits. Some evidence suggests that it may help support cognitive function and have neuroprotective effects.

A 2023 study found that lion’s mane supplements were linked to improvements in cognitive function. It may also help reduce stress and mood disturbances in young adults.

Some animal research suggests that lion’s mane supplements may help improve memory and reduce brain inflammation. However, further research is needed to learn more about its effects in humans. 

Immune Support

Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) are rich in antioxidants, which can play a helpful role in supporting immunity. Antioxidants fight off unstable free radicals that can weaken the immune system and negatively affect cells. This ensures your body stays strong and ready to fight off potential threats.

The antioxidants found in chaga mushrooms may also help reduce inflammation in the body, which is essential for keeping the immune system working properly.

Increased Energy

Mushroom coffee proponents suggest that the shroomy brew provides more sustained energy without the jitters you might experience after drinking a regular ol’ cup of coffee. Cordyceps mushrooms (Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris) are often linked to better energy and endurance. Mushroom coffee containing cordyceps is thought to offer a more balanced energy boost without the sudden jitters or energy crashes you might get from regular coffee.

While there’s not much research to back up these claims beyond anecdotal reports, one 2016 study found that older adults who took cordyceps supplements showed better tolerance to high-intensity exercise.

“Mushroom coffee made with ground functional mushrooms—like lion’s mane, chaga, or reishi—either replaces or dilutes traditional coffee, lowering the total caffeine content or eliminating it entirely,” explains Bryan Quoc Le, PhD, the founder and principal food consultant at Mendocino Food Consulting.

“For people who feel jittery, anxious, or crash hard after drinking coffee, these blends offer a way to keep the morning routine without the same stimulant load. Some versions have no coffee at all, relying solely on mushrooms to provide focus or calm.”

Lower Stress and Better Sleep

Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) have been associated with calming effects and the potential to improve sleep quality. These mushrooms are often used in traditional medicine to reduce stress and promote relaxation. 

One study found that different formulations containing Ganoderma lucidum extract could be used to effectively combat fatigue or improve sleep in mice. While more research is needed, their adaptogenic properties could potentially help the body better cope with stressors and contribute to more restful sleep.

Researchers also suggest it may have potential for treating metabolic disorders, including diabetes and obesity, by improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar levels, as well as supporting immune function.

More Research Is Needed

It’s important to remember that while these studies show promise, more human research is needed to learn more about the potential effects of mushrooms and their consumption in the form of mushroom coffee.

“The health claims tied to mushroom coffee usually come from studies on isolated mushroom extracts, not from brewed powders or blends. There’s very little peer-reviewed research on how effective these products are when consumed in coffee-like drinks, especially at typical serving doses,” Le says.

Your response may vary, so you should talk to your doctor before you make any significant changes to your diet or begin using supplements.

For example, I spoke to my doctor before trying mushroom coffee to determine if there were concerns about how it might affect my blood pressure and heart rate. My doctor found no specific interactions with my current medications, but he also suggested starting slow, monitoring how I felt, and tracking my blood pressure to see if any changes occurred.

Drinking Mushroom Coffee Daily

I love coffee and mushrooms, but I’m going to be honest with you: I wasn’t 100% sold on the idea of pairing them together. Part of me seriously expected it to taste like I’d used cream of mushroom soup in my coffee instead of regular creamer. Fortunately, that was not the case.

Week 1

I started my new routine by making my first cup of mushroom coffee right after dropping my kids off at school on a Monday morning.

I found myself cutting back on my usual splash of creamer because I felt like I didn’t need as much. I don’t know if that was thanks to the mushroom blend or just the specific brand I was using, but it definitely made the drink feel a bit indulgent. I’ll admit, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

I’ve given up coffee temporarily before when I was struggling with infertility and recurrent miscarriages; those experiences were accompanied by all the classic withdrawal symptoms: irritability, headaches, fatigue, cravings, etc.

Surprisingly, while I did have some tiredness, my symptoms weren’t nearly as noticeable as they were when I’d cut back on coffee in the past. Instead, my mornings during the first week were productive, although I did feel a bit more fatigued than usual by mid-afternoon.

Week 2

By the second week of my mushroom coffee experiment, my energy levels became more consistent throughout the day. Instead of my usual pattern (exhausted in the morning, energized mid-morning through lunch, and dragging my way through the midday slump), I felt focused, and my energy stayed pretty even all day long.

It also seemed like my sleep was unusually good this week. Revenge bedtime procrastination is my downfall, but I found myself falling asleep much more easily and waking up feeling a little more rested than usual. I hadn’t changed anything else about my usual routine, so it’s safe to assume that the mushroom coffee played at least some part.

Week 3

While I still felt like I was sleeping well and maintaining consistent energy levels, I started experiencing more headaches than usual. Had this happened earlier, I would have assumed it was a side effect of caffeine withdrawal, but I should have been well past that point by now. 

Because I have a history of high blood pressure, the headaches were concerning. However, I didn’t see any spikes in my blood pressure readings–in fact, they were somewhat lower throughout this month-long experiment than usual. Whether that can be attributed to the use of mushroom coffee or reduced caffeine intake is not clear, however.

The headaches weren’t terrible—just nagging and persistent. I brushed it off at first since I am prone to headaches. I told myself it might be something else, like not drinking enough water or staring at my computer screen for too long.

By the second day, I was starting to wonder if the mushroom coffee was having some unwanted effects. I continued to have periodic headaches off and on this week, and while I can’t say for sure that the two were related, it was enough to give me pause.

That said, I felt good overall. The headaches were the only real downside.

Week 4

By week four, the headaches were largely gone. I’m not sure if it was just my body adjusting or something else, but it was a welcome relief.

At this point, mushroom coffee had just become a regular part of my daily routine–one I really looked forward to each morning. The great taste, non-jittery energy boost, and mental clarity were all major wins in my book.

While the headaches are an issue I’ll keep an eye on, the overall experience was more positive (and delicious) than I expected.

Should You Try Mushroom Coffee?

That depends. If you want to reduce your caffeine intake while still enjoying the taste and ritual of having a cup of coffee, mushroom coffee is a great option. If you do decide to try it, you may need to experiment with a few different brands and blends to find the one that’s right for you.

Many brands offer variations that focus on specific benefits depending on the type of mushrooms used, including some for immunity, mental focus, and digestion, among others. 

You might find that mushroom coffee works well for you, but it’s not a magic solution. Don’t expect instant results. If you’ve never tried adaptogenic mushrooms before, consider starting with a half serving and give yourself time to adjust. Pay attention to any side effects you might experience, even mild ones.

To get a clearer picture of whether it is working for you, consider keeping track of your mood, energy, sleep, and cognition during the first few weeks. Tracking your experience makes it easier to notice subtle changes that you might otherwise overlook.

There are definitely perks to giving it a try, but there may also be risks and side effects to watch for. As with any supplement, your individual experience may vary. It’s fine to be curious, but use caution.

Potential Risks

“Although rare, some people could be allergic to mushrooms, so it’s smart to start with a small amount to see how your body reacts,” Gervacio cautions. You should also avoid drinking it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, since data on its use by these groups is limited.

Gervacio also notes that digestive issues are one potential side effect people should watch for. “People who have a sensitive gut may experience a little stomach discomfort when they first start drinking mushroom coffee,” she says.

Mushrooms may also interact with certain medications, especially blood thinners like warfarin.

Because mushrooms can have immune system-boosting effects, you should also avoid mushroom coffee if you take an immunosuppressant.

Takeaways

After my experiment, I did return to drinking my regular brewed full-strength coffee each morning, but I’ve also decided to swap my afternoon pick-me-up for mushroom coffee instead. It’s been a great way to reduce my caffeine consumption later in the day, which has made it much easier to fall asleep each night.

Ultimately, it’s worth a try if you are trying to limit your caffeine intake and want to potentially gain some of the adaptogenic benefits of medicinal mushrooms.

When you have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, tasks that seem simple become insurmountable. This is a feature of executive dysfunction, or difficulty managing certain cognitive skills like planning, self-regulation, and starting tasks. People who experience executive dysfunction are sometimes called “lazy,” but this could not be further from the truth! When you have executive dysfunction, you truly want to do the task, but cannot bring your brain and body to act out your commands.

One of the many ways that executive dysfunction can manifest for ADHD-ers is called the “wall of awful.” While not a clinical term, the wall of awful is a useful analogy for understanding and coping with executive functioning difficulties. If you have ADHD, it can help you understand the struggles you are facing. If you know someone with ADHD, it can help you empathize with their experience and extend compassion.

Learn about the wall of awful and how to cope when you face this barrier.

Understanding the Wall of Awful

The “wall of awful” is a metaphorical barrier that gets in the way of doing a task or activity. Usually, the activity is something we would rather not do but which is important, like washing dishes, completing a homework assignment, or having a difficult conversation.

The wall of awful is not an exclusively ADHD experience, but ADHD-ers tend to struggle more and have larger walls of awful to overcome. This is for several reasons: ADHD-ers receive more criticism and rejection than non-ADHD peers, ADHD-ers are at higher risk for rejection sensitivity than the rest of the population, and ADHD brain already struggles to initiate non-preferred tasks even without the wall of awful getting in the way.

Mike S, an LPC from Oregon, has ADHD and works with many ADHD clients. He shared: “I often use the metaphor of a giant hill that we need to climb before we can start driving anywhere.  It’s powerful inertia, reinforced by guilt and shame. It just takes more effort, more energy, more capacity to get started doing…well, almost anything.”

The wall of awful is built up over time. It is made of perceived failures, rejection, shame, and fear of mistakes. Past negative experiences increase fear that the next experience will also be negative, standing in the way of our ability to try again. This avoidance increases feelings of anxiety and guilt, as well as cycles of negative self-talk. You might tell yourself, “This isn’t so hard! Why can’t I just do it?”

But getting down on yourself for struggling with the wall of awful only further perpetuates feelings of shame and guilt–you experience perceived rejection and failure without even attempting the task.

Psychological Impact of the Wall of Awful

Over time, the wall of awful can get taller if we continue to experience perceived rejection, criticism, failure, and other negative experiences. We can then internalize negative messages, such as that we are “lazy” or otherwise inadequate.

Over time, we may be less inclined to try to succeed because we anticipate that we will only fall short again. And then, when we do not try, we can get down on ourselves for not making an effort. The wall of awful can perpetuate itself in this way, growing taller and taller until it feels insurmountable.

This can trigger feelings of inadequacy and lead to low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, it can cause us to develop negative schemas, or core beliefs about ourselves. If I think, “I can’t do anything right,” and then I am unable to overcome the wall of awful to complete important tasks, this might reinforce to my brain that it is true that I am unable to do anything right. Then the next time I am faced with a challenge, I anticipate falling short again, making it even harder to try.

Mike S continues, “The longer I practice and the older I get, the more I see the world in relation to trauma. Pain is the most powerful teacher we’ve evolved as a species, whether that pain is physical, mental, or emotional.  Traumas are not always big and discrete but can be systemic and ongoing. As a social species, we’ve gotten very good at reinforcing norms and punishing divergence from those norms. ADHD is a divergence from normal, and it is inarguably punished in multiple ways across multiple systems. That has an impact, particularly over time.”

Overcoming the Wall of Awful

Fortunately, it is possible to overcome the wall of awful. You do not have to surrender to it or accept it as an inevitability. If you struggle with negative self-talk and schemas around your wall of awful, cognitive behavioral therapy with a qualified mental health professional can be particularly helpful in challenging those schemas.

Instead, we can take small, manageable steps to climb over the wall of awful. First, catch your thought spiral before it gets out of control. You can name what is happening and re-frame: “I am experiencing negative self-talk, but thoughts are not facts.” Take a moment to regulate intense feelings that may be coming up. Practice positive self-talk, and list times when you have been successful. This can help reframe those negative thoughts.

In his own life, Mike S shared, “The very best I have gotten to so far feels frustratingly, infuriatingly small, but I believe it is key to existing in a neurotypical world: despite all of my socialization, despite all my low grades and failures and derpitude, despite how the world around me seems to be built, I have to be okay with only doing a little bit.” In other words, be kind to yourself!

Practical Tips for Managing the Wall of Awful

Sometimes tasks feel so big that they are impossible. These simple mantras can help break down big tasks into more manageable pieces:

• “Just start. Don’t finish.” When something feels too big to complete, getting started can feel impossible. For example, if the sink is full of dishes, just wash one plate. Once that plate is washed, you might find that you have the motivation to do a few more. If not, you at least did one small part of your task!
• “Done is best.” Perfectionism is often a side effect of rejection sensitivity, and it can feel impossible to start if you know that the outcome will not be perfect. If it just needs to be off your list, accept a finished product even if it is not perfect.
• “Your best is different every day.” No one performs at the same level all the time. Something might be more difficult today than it was yesterday, and that is okay. It does not mean you have failed.
• “It’s ok if this is hard for me.” It can be easy to tell yourself that you “should” be able to do something that appears simple. But just because it feels simple does not mean it is easy.
• “What can I learn from this?” Even if you were not successful in your initial goal, any failure is an opportunity to learn. You can develop a new skill to help you accomplish your goals in the future.

Keep in Mind

The wall of awful can feel insurmountable, especially if you have been facing it for a long time. Remember, though, that it is okay to struggle even with tasks that seem simple or basic. A therapist can help you change your thought patterns and show yourself more kindness. Re-framing the experience and changing how you approach the wall can also help you climb over the wall.

Especially if you have ADHD, the wall of awful can be tall from years of perceived rejection and shortcomings. But remember that there is more to who you are than the things you struggle with, and it can get better!