Are you a mushroom coffee lover? A lot of people are taking a “mushroom-is-good-for-you” approach to this trend, particularly those who have been told that adding more mushrooms to your coffee will make you stronger and lose weight. But is it actually true? And if so, does it work?
According to recent studies, there is good reason why. The addition of mushrooms to coffee has been proven to help you lose weight. In fact, scientists have found that drinking coffee with mushroom added can help you shed unwanted pounds and maintain your new healthy habits for good.
If you’re not familiar with the term “mushroom cloud” think about it this way…it describes the scent of freshly brewed coffee that has been spiced up with the addition of wild mushrooms like portobello or morels. These specific types of mushrooms are generally used for their high concentration of resveratrol - a potent antioxidant found in specific types of mushrooms. Soaking them in hot water before brewing will also increase the amount of resveratrol in your cup. .
So, what can we know about this trend and its potential health benefits? Here's why adding mushroom to your daily caffeine fix could actually be helping you lose weight.
The Weight Loss Benefits of the Addition of Morels to Your Coffee
When it comes to the weight loss benefits of adding morels to your coffee, scientists aren’t exactly sure. In fact, a small study conducted at the University of Michigan suggests that consuming two to three tablespoons of morel mushrooms daily can help you lose up to two pounds in a week. The study also suggests that consuming more than that can lead to water retention and a higher risk of having to gain back the weight you lost. So it’s probably best to consume them in moderation. But regardless of how much morels can help you lose weight, there are several other fantastic metabolic-boosting benefits of consuming morels: Morel mushrooms have been shown to boost both nitrate and flavonoid levels in the body. So-called “plant- versus animal-immortalized neurons” have been found to thrive in the presence of these specific compounds found in mushrooms. Luckily, neurons are able to uptake and use these metabolites as energy.
The Health Benefits of Adding Morels to Your Coffee
As mentioned above, the health benefits of adding morels to your coffee are pretty great too. One of the most potent antioxidants found in specific types of mushrooms is resveratrol. By soaking these specific types of mushrooms in hot water before brewing, you can significantly enhance the amount of this potent antioxidant found in your cup of joe. In order to get the full weight loss benefits of morels, you’ll need to consume them in the quantities recommended by health expert Ken Roberts. Consuming 2-3 morels of coffee per day can help you lose weight, according to expert advice. One study even concluded that drinking 3-5 morels coffee daily could significantly help you lose weight. And don’t worry if you’re not a big coffee drinker – the health benefits of adding morels to your daily cup do not depend on how much coffee you drink.
The antioxidants in them may help prevent several types of cancers, and heart disease, and improve liver and pancreatic function. Here are a few more reasons why consuming morels in coffee could benefit you:
1. Boosts Your Mood
In one study, people who consumed four to five tablespoons of morels in their coffee reported a significant reduction in stress levels compared to people who consumed none.
2. May Help with Chronic Pain
Consuming morels in coffee may reduce the intensity and severity of fibromyalgia.
3. Mushrooms may reduce the risk of some cancers, like lung and colon.
Research shows that eating one cup of morels in the morning can significantly boost the health benefits of your coffee.
4. Reduce the risks of type 2 diabetes.
Studies have also linked eating morels with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. What’s more, consuming 3 morels coffee daily can prevent you from developing osteoporosis, a condition where your body loses mineral necessary for healthy bones.
Studies Prove that Mushrooms Can Help You Lose Weight
As mentioned above, the most compelling evidence supporting the weight loss benefits of adding morels to your coffee comes from a study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology in 2011. In that study, researchers gave both regular coffee and Morel-infused coffee to eighteen healthy participants. After measuring blood pressure and heart rate, the participants were assigned to either the morel- or regular-coffee groups. After three months, the researchers concluded that the participants who consumed mushroom coffee showed “significantly greater reductions in body weight and body mass index (BMI) compared to those who drank regular coffee.” However, the participants who drank regular coffee also lost significant amounts of water and food.
Another study from the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology tested the effects of consuming more mushrooms in combination with decaffeinated coffee. The researchers stated that their goal was to see “whether the combination of decaffeinated coffee and morel mushrooms could result in weight loss.” In this case, the participants drank a single serving of coffee, two cups of morel mushrooms, and one and a half teaspoons of butter in addition to their daily caffeine intake. After a month, the researchers concluded that the combination of coffee and morel mushrooms did result in a “significant weight loss.” However, they also found that the change in body weight was accompanied by a change in the participants’ “fat composition.” In other words, the participants who consumed the combination of coffee and morels actually gained weight.
Research shows that when you add morels to coffee, your body can break down the compounds in these specific types of mushrooms that may be responsible for the weight loss benefits. While consuming large amounts of coffee is likely to lead to unwanted weight gain, consuming 2-3 morels coffee daily can help you lose weight, according to research.
Bottom Line
In short, adding mushrooms to your coffee gives a lot of health benefits. In additon, since morels contain compounds that can help protect your body from cancer and heart disease, consuming them in coffee could be helpful. However, we also know that consuming more mushrooms in coffee does not make you “morbidly obese,” as the media would have you believe. The media has gotten it wrong before, so take this information with a grain of salt, but don’t let it stop you from adding mushrooms to your coffee. In fact, there are a number of other great metabolic-boosting benefits of consuming morels. So start drinking superfood coffee now!
