Mushroom ...Coffee?

Not gonna lie, I've been thinking about holistic ways of living for several decades (makes you wonder how old I am, doesn't it?) and herbal teas were the top of the beverage chain in my mindset.

This year, I have been bombarded by ads for MUSHROOM COFFEE.  I was extremely skeptical.

Several of my friends reported that they've tried a few brands and all of them tasted "like dirt" which... really turned me off from the idea.  But then I remembered that they don't care for certain things -- like mushrooms (that taste like dirt) and lettuce (that tastes like dirt) and carrots (that taste like dirt).

I love all three of those things that my friends say taste like dirt.  Apparently I like dirt.

So I did some research.

Almost all of the mushroom coffees use the following:

Lion's Mane mushrooms, which help with cognitive functions, gut health, immune regulation, and antimicrobial activity.

Chaga mushrooms are boasted as being rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and helps stimulate the immune system.  It is also known to help boost energy (like caffeine) without a sudden "crash" once it has worn off.

Reishi mushrooms are believed to have antioxidant properties, may help with regulating blood sugar levels, could help with heart, depression, and fatigue - and may even help with cancer issues.

Cordyceps mushrooms have a plethora of possibilities, too.

All things in this world have side effects to look out for, including all of the items currently listed:

Lion's Mane may cause stomach upsets, and may slow blood clotting (like a daily aspirin regimen, it thins the blood).  Chaga may cause kidney damage, though there isn't enough information on the fungus to give a full scope.  Reishi may cause dizziness, dry mouth, itching, nausea, upset stomach, and rash - though this, too, does not have enough research to give a clear list of specific possibilities, merely possible possibilities. Cordyceps may cause diarrhea, constipation, and stomach discomfort.

Nothing in life comes without possible side effects.  That's probably somewhere in the list of Murphy's Laws, but I don't have time to sift through such a long list right now!

I spent the better part of a month just researching the possibilities, being bombarded with Facebook ads talking about mushroom coffee and coffee-mushroom blends.  Already being a coffee drinker, I skipped the straight "mushroom coffee" and looked through coffee-mushroom blend brands.

Yes, I was actually sucked into the rabbit hole of possibilities before Thanksgiving appeared.

After a long and exhaustive search... I decided to try Everyday Dose.

I made my purchase, and I will be waiting patiently for it to arrive.

...even though there seems to be snow on the horizon.  Yay.

Let us hope the mail will not be delayed.  I want to see if it really tastes like dirt, or if my friends (both online and offline) just have a really bad set of tastebuds.

-- Mathie Tremas.

A big thank you to Crystal Jo on Unsplash, who created the image used as a topper.