Doctor Reviews: Mushroom Coffee

Watch this on YouTube.

Who would have thought that mushroom coffee could actually taste good? Surprisingly, it’s not bad at all! But let’s shift our focus away from the taste and dive into the health claims surrounding Ryze Mushroom Coffee.

We’ll explore the research behind the touted benefits of the mushrooms it contains, and see what kind of health perks you might realistically gain from sipping on this unique brew.

What is Ryze Mushroom Coffee?

So, what exactly is Ryze Mushroom Coffee? It’s essentially a blend of instant coffee, powdered raw mushrooms, and spray-dried coconut oil as a creamer. If we break it down by weight, you’ll find more powdered coffee than mushroom in each 6-gram scoop. That scoop contains about 2 grams of the mushroom blend, roughly 1 gram of coconut creamer according to the nutritional label, and approximately 3 grams of instant coffee, giving you a kick of around 48 mg of caffeine.

But let’s not dwell on the coffee aspect too much. While regular coffee does have its own set of health benefits thanks to compounds like caffeine and chlorogenic acid, our main focus here is on the mushrooms. Ryze Mushroom Coffee boasts six different types of mushrooms: Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Turkey Tail, Shiitake, and King Trumpet. Our aim is to dig into the evidence supporting the health claims associated with Ryze.

Now, when it comes to evaluating these claims, we’re not just taking any evidence at face value. We’re specifically looking for evidence from human studies. Why? Well, while studies conducted on cells or animals might suggest potential benefits of mushrooms, it’s important to remember that findings from these studies don’t always directly apply to humans. Our biology is complex and differs from that of cells or animals. That’s why clinical trials involving humans are crucial. They’re the gold standard for determining the safety, effectiveness, and practicality of supplements, ensuring that what works in lab experiments can actually benefit human health.

Cordyceps

This type of fungus typically grows on caterpillars in the high mountains of China. But don’t worry, the cordyceps in commercial products aren’t harvested from these natural sources. That whole process of trying to gather infected caterpillars from mountain peaks sounds pretty inefficient, doesn’t it? Instead, commercial cordyceps products are made using artificially grown and fermented cordyceps mycelial cells.

Ryze claims that cordyceps can amp up your stamina, a belief that’s pretty widespread. However, when we look at the research, it paints a different picture.

In a small study with cyclists, participants who took 3 grams of cordyceps daily for 5 weeks didn’t show any improvement in endurance time trials or aerobic capacity. Similarly, another study involving healthy elderly adults found that taking 3 grams of cordyceps daily for 12 weeks didn’t boost exercise performance either. Even when cordyceps is included in various combination products, there’s no evidence showing benefits in terms of athletic performance, stamina, or body composition beyond what you’d expect from a placebo effect.

Lion’s Mane

This mushroom, also known as Hericium erinaceus, grows on the dead trunks of hardwood trees such as oak and beech. According to Ryze, Lion’s Mane is said to be excellent for boosting focus.

There’s some evidence, though not super strong, suggesting that older patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease might see better scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, a test for cognitive function, by taking Lion’s Mane mushroom. Another study, this time with older Japanese patients aged 50 to 80 with mild cognitive impairment, found that taking 1 gram of Lion’s Mane mushroom powder three times daily for 16 weeks improved cognitive function. However, this improvement reversed within 4 weeks after stopping the treatment.

But here’s the thing: these studies mainly involve people who already have cognitive issues. What about those of us who are generally healthy? Research on college-aged young adults shows that taking 10 grams of Lion’s Mane mushroom daily for 4 weeks doesn’t really boost cognitive performance during periods of exercise-induced fatigue. On the other hand, a small clinical trial involving older individuals aged over 50, taking 3.2 grams of Lion’s Mane mushroom daily for 12 weeks, did show some improvement in cognitive function.

So, the evidence on Lion’s Mane for focus or cognitive function is a bit mixed. It seems that older folks over 50 and those with known cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s might benefit, while younger individuals may not see much improvement. Another thing to consider is the dosage – studies suggest benefits can be seen with doses ranging from 3 to 10 grams. However, Ryze Mushroom Coffee might not provide enough Lion’s Mane unless you’re downing multiple cups a day, which, let’s be honest, is not a great idea due to the caffeine content.

Reishi

This mushroom, also called Ganoderma lucidum, has been a staple in Asian traditional medicines for centuries, spanning over 2000 years. According to Ryze, Reishi is touted for its stress-relieving properties.

While using Reishi for stress is a longstanding tradition, there’s a lack of direct studies showcasing its stress-reducing effects in humans. It’s more of a theoretical belief without concrete human evidence to back it up.

Turkey Tail

This mushroom, also known as Coriolus Versicolor or Yun Zhi, is a pretty common fungus found on stumps and decaying wood. In traditional Chinese medicine, it’s believed to boost the immune system and detoxify the body. Ryze claims that Turkey Tail is beneficial for gut health.

However, there’s a lack of research specifically on Turkey Tail and its impact on human gut health. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be any human research even remotely related to this topic.

In medical research, two refined components from the Turkey Tail mushroom – polysaccharide krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP) – are commonly used instead of the whole mushroom. These components are utilized for certain medicinal purposes in Japan. It’s important to note that these are specific compounds extracted and refined from Turkey Tail mushrooms, and consuming the whole mushroom won’t necessarily have the same effects.

Shiitake

These mushrooms are a popular edible fungus, ranking as the second most commonly eaten mushroom worldwide. Ryze suggests that Shiitake is great for boosting immunity. This idea might be linked to a compound called Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC), often derived from Shiitake mushrooms. Research suggests that AHCC could potentially support the immune system.

A small clinical study involving adult females with high-risk HPV found that taking AHCC (3 grams daily) increased the clearance of the virus. However, preliminary clinical research in adults with chronic hepatitis C indicates that taking AHCC doesn’t improve virus clearance.

It’s important to note that these studies utilize large doses of purified AHCC, not raw Shiitake mushroom powders. So, sipping on Ryze Mushroom Coffee won’t provide the same immune-boosting benefits.

King Trumpet

These mushrooms are commonly used in cooking and are known for their delicious flavor and meaty texture. While some research has uncovered interesting compounds in King Trumpet mushrooms, such as anti-inflammatory properties or beneficial sterols, they’re not usually used for medicinal purposes like the other mushrooms we’ve discussed.

As of now, there haven’t been any human trials investigating the health benefits of King Trumpet mushrooms. And certainly, there’s no evidence to support the idea that they’re effective for fighting oxidative stress.

Does Ryze Mushroom Coffee work?

Wondering if Ryze Mushroom Coffee lives up to the hype? Well, it’s unlikely to do much more than your regular cup of joe. While medicinal mushrooms have caught the eye of the medical community and are being studied in humans, many still lack substantial research. This knowledge gap adds to their mystique and almost magical reputation.

Unfortunately, there’s not solid human evidence to support the health benefits marketed by Ryze Mushroom Coffee. While the idea of mushroom coffee is intriguing, it’s important to realize that you’re mainly drinking it for the taste and texture. Realistically, the mushrooms in mushroom coffee aren’t likely to significantly boost your overall health.

But maybe deep down, you already had a feeling about that. Perhaps you hoped that the unproven but potentially beneficial effects from the powdered mushroom mix would somehow seep into your cells as you enjoyed your mushroom coffee, giving you a little extra pep and clarity. And maybe it was the mushrooms… or maybe it was just the coffee.

Top alternatives to Ryze Mushroom Coffee

If you’re looking to achieve effects similar to Ryze Mushroom Coffee, I would try:

• Caffeine anhydrous – 1 cap / day
• Green coffee (caps) – 1 to 2 caps / day
• Green tea (caps) – 2 to 4 caps / day
• Green tea (Hyleys) – 1 to 2 cups / day
• Green tea (teabags, decaf) – 1 to 4 cups / day
• Green tea (teabags) – 1 to 4 cups / day
• Mushroom coffee – 1 to 2 cups / day

Learn more about

• Is Coffee Good For Weight Loss?
• Green Tea For Weight Loss
• Green Coffee Bean For Weight Loss
• Supplement reviews

See also

• 
  Doctor Reviews: Boostaro
  Boostaro claims to be a “male intimacy enhancer”, however there is no evidence it works or can help with erectile dysfunction.
• 
  Doctor Reviews: Nutrafol
  Nutrafol is being sued for making false claims about their products being “clinically proven” when their studies are seriously flawed
• 
  Doctor Reviews: ZBiotics
  ZBiotics uses the probiotic Bacillus subtilis ZB183, however there is no evidence it can metabolize alcohol or help in hangovers in humans
• 
  Doctor Reviews: Bee Bread
  Bee bread is fermented bee pollen, and may be quite nutritious, but lacks any researched health benefits in humans.
• 
  Doctor Reviews: PreVagen vs Neuriva
  When comparing the cognitive-enhancing effects of PreVagen and Neuriva, it’s clear that Neuriva is the more effective option.