Adaptogen Coffee: 5 Benefits
Organic coffee is the O.G. of superfoods. An all-natural stimulant with tons of antioxidants, coffee can supercharge your brain power and physical energy while even supporting a long lifespan.
But we don’t want to stop there. And by adding adaptogenic mushrooms to our organic brew, we don’t have to.
Keep reading this guide from Earth & Star to discover how organic, adaptogenic coffee can benefit you and how you can get started with this superfood beverage today.
How Exactly Does Coffee Work?
Most adults in the world start their day with a cup of coffee, but few know how it works. So, let’s clear some things up.
The key player here is a brain chemical called adenosine.
If you remember anything from high school biology, brain chemicals work similarly to a lock and key. Adenosine is a key that can open many different ”locks” — A.K.A. receptors — in the brain. One of those is the A1 receptor, which promotes sleepiness as the day progresses.
Adenosine can also bind to the A2 receptor. When it does this, it blocks the release of happy chemicals, such as dopamine.
Adenosine begins accumulating in the body as soon as you wake up. Towards the end of the day, your levels of adenosine are at an all-time high, which is when you get sleepy.
If you don’t get enough sleep, your adenosine levels are bound to be higher than usual. So, you may go through your day feeling groggy, drowsy, and seriously not in the mood.
If only there was a way to block the effects of adenosine…
Fortunately, there are. It’s called caffeine, which is one of the main chemicals in coffee.
Caffeine competes with adenosine for A1 and A2 receptors. For about two hours — about how long caffeine acts on the brain — adenosine is blocked from exerting its sleep-promoting effects.
Of course, when the effects of caffeine wear off, you might be hit with an extra dose of built-up adenosine. This is what causes that infamous caffeine crash.
Is Coffee Good for You?
The consensus seems to be yes — but let’s get a few things straight.
As long as you avoid cream, sugar, and a cigarette to accompany it, you can drink up to five cups per day and experience benefits, according to researchers.
That said, we also need you to keep in mind that only organic coffee is really, truly good for you. If you don’t choose organic, your coffee is likely full of pesticides and other unwanted chemicals that can, at the very least, cancel out any of the health benefits you’re hoping for — and at the very worst, leave you with some health concerns or issues.
Now that we’re clear, let’s get into the good stuff.
Coffee is full of polyphenols. These plant compounds have antioxidant properties, which means they can protect against free radical damage. (Free radicals are those pesky little molecules that cause chaos in your cells.)
Antioxidants are linked to reduced inflammation, glowing skin, better heart health, healthier weight, and longevity — among other benefits.
Coffee is also an awesome stimulant that doesn’t have crazy side effects, which makes it safer to take than the other members of the stimulant group. For this reason, coffee is known to be a major mood booster and cognitive enhancer.
Plus, coffee tastes delicious. So, it’s an amazing way to start your day and, with regular re-ups, to make it pass much better.
What Are the Negative Effects of Coffee?
We’re not gonna lie to you: Coffee is not for everyone.
In some people, coffee can cause nervousness, shakiness, and jitters. And let’s not forget about the crash that can follow if you drink too much on a sleep-deprived day.
Even more, if you don’t buy organic coffee, your coffee beans just might be packed with pesticides — which msy wreak havoc on your health in high amounts.
We think it’s better to keep drinking organic coffee (and reaping its full benefits). And, as for the typical side effects like jitters and nervousness, we have a better solution: adaptogens.
While there are many adaptogens in the plant world, we’re especially huge fans of mushrooms. These fantastic fungi have been used for thousands of years for their awesome effects on the mind and body. And adding them to your coffee might just enhance your favorite morning beverage.
What Are Adaptogenic Mushrooms?
There are the mushrooms that you put in your salads, stews, and boeufbourguignon — and there are the mushrooms that you take for their healing benefits.
Adaptogenic mushrooms belong to the latter category. Like other adaptogens, they increase the body’s resistance to physical, emotional, and chemical stress. They also help promote normal functioning during super hard times, protect your body against stress-related damage, and are free of harmful side effects.
There are a few adaptogenic mushrooms that we’re especially big fans of:
- Cordyceps: This is a wonderfully weird-looking mushroom known to support healthy levels of circulating oxygen. That’s good news not only for your body (we’re looking at you, marathoners) but also for your brain!
- Reishi: A.K.A. “The Queen of Fungi,” Reishi has long been used to support hormonal balance. So, you can feel rested, relaxed, and at ease, like a true queen.
- Lion’sMane: If brain fog gets the best of you, then Lion’s Mane is the perfect antidote to gain some mental clarity. It’s known for boosting concentration, improving memory, and supporting better cognitive function.
- Chaga: A superfood that hails from Siberia, Chaga has one of the highest antioxidant contents in the entire plant world. Free radicals have met their true match.
Adding these super fungi to your organic coffee can supercharge its awesome benefits while mitigating those pesky coffee jitters that some people may experience.
But there are tons of other benefits of combining organic coffee with adaptogenic mushrooms. Keep reading to find out five of our fav reasons to drink organic, adaptogenic coffee.
5 Benefits of Organic Adaptogen Coffee
1. Boost Your Brain Power
Caffeine is an all-natural way to boost dopamine, which is a chemical known to affect mood, motivation, and reward. Higher dopamine levels are linked to better cognitive performance, whether at work, school, or at home.
Coffee is wonderful on its own, but combining it with adaptogenic mushrooms can quadruple its brain-boosting effects.
Mushrooms like Lion’s Mane are known to boost cognitive performance, albeit in a different way from caffeine. Some studies suggest that Lion’s Mane can increase nerve growth factor (NGF), which can help the brain make new connections. This is key when learning something new.
Lion’s Mane may also protect from oxidative stress. In other words, when your brain is hit with dozens of potential stressors, it could be more resilient and less likely to suffer negative effects.
2. Improve Physical Performance
Coffee is the O.G. of pre-workouts. As a natural stimulant, it can increase your energy levels so you can go harder at the gym.
But on its own, coffee can’t protect you from sore muscles that can take away days from your fitness plans.
Well, oxygen-boosting mushrooms, such as Cordyceps, can help you to recover faster. By boosting oxygen, Cordyceps can bring this essential nutrient to your sore muscles and get you back on track faster than ever.
3. Reduce Stress
Coffee may have a small stress-reducing effect. Boosting your cognitive function can help you clear your to-do list, manage your time, and make important decisions. These tasks broadly fall under the category of executive function, which is pretty damn important for modern living.
But aside from that, coffee may not do much to calm you. And if you’re seriously on edge, then coffee alone can even make you feel worse.
We all face stress on a daily basis. In small amounts, stress is good, but experiencing it chronically can wreck serious damage. (Link here) this makes it important to find ways to manage it.
If you drink coffee all day, every day, then adding adaptogenic mushrooms can be an excellent way to manage stress. Mushrooms like Reishi can help support a healthy balance of stress hormones, helping you take on the day’s challenges.
4. Supercharge Immunity
If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that our immune system is seriously important. Not only does it fight off invading pathogens, but it also helps with wound healing, detoxification, and even our appearance. (Link to acne and immunity)
Some ways to boost your immunity include getting plenty of sleep, regular sunlight, and plenty of antioxidant-rich plants.
You might have heard that superfoods like blueberries, tomatoes, and carrots are rich in antioxidants. Well, none of them compare to the antioxidant content of the mighty Chaga mushroom.
Chaga has, by far, one of the highest antioxidant contents in the entire plant world. Sure, you can eat bowls and bowls of blueberries, or you can just add Chaga to your morning coffee. By making this mighty mushroom a part of your day, you’ll be giving your immune system a huge helping hand.
5. Get Better Sleep
Not everyone metabolizes caffeine in the same way. Some people can drink coffee at night and doze off with no problems, while others might be on edge from their early afternoon fix.
To fall asleep like a baby, try drinking your coffee with adaptogens. Mushrooms like Reishi have a relaxing effect on the body, balancing stress hormones when they’re off-kilter. This means that when it’s time for bed, you’ll be able to drift off naturally and wake up feeling super refreshed.
3 Ways To Add Adaptogens to Your Coffee
Sold on the benefits of organic adaptogenic coffee? Great!
Now let’s get to the fun stuff: mixing your coffee with adaptogenic mushrooms.
Here are some ways to accomplish this:
1. Add a Dropperful of Mushroom Tincture
To make consuming adaptogens as easy as can be, we made a super convenient tincture. We don’t like to brag, but it has the market's highest concentration of adaptogenic mushrooms. Plus, it’s made with 100% fruiting bodies, so you’re getting the most valuable part of the mushroom.
Choose between our Brain Drops, Beauty Drops, or Everything Drops. Then measure out a dropperful and drop it in your coffee.
The best part about our Mushroom Tinctures is that they’re portable, so you can add them to your coffee (or any drink, for that matter) when you’re on the go. Our Mushroom Tinctures will make the perfect addition to your day, whether it’s during your morning commute, a beach vacation, or a Sunday brunch.
2. Brew a Cup of Our Organic Adaptogenic Ground Coffee
To be honest, not every ground coffee out there is that great. Some are made with low-quality beans, others are sprayed with pesticides, and some are even covered with mold(!!!).
We would never want you to drink shitty coffee. That’s why we made our own. Our Organic Ground Coffee is made with the highest-quality beans, so you’re drinking something truly good for you. Plus, it tastes great.
Oh, and as for the best part: we added a blend of adaptogenic mushrooms to the coffee, including Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane. To round it off, there’s a bit of L-theanine, an amino acid known to support feelings of mental clarity and calm.
3. Drink a Cold Brew Latte
All the benefits of our Organic Ground Coffee but for when you’re on the go. Our Cold Brew Black Latte is made without gums, seed oils, stevia, or other nasty additives. And, to give you an adaptogenic boost, we added 2,000 milligrams of mushroom extract.
The Best Coffee You’ve Ever Had
If you’re in the majority of adults who drink at least one coffee daily, don’t miss the opportunity to upgrade it.
By adding adaptogenic mushrooms to your organic brew, you won’t only experience the stimulating effects of caffeine but gain some much-needed calm, boost your brain power, and supercharge your physical performance.
And the best part? It couldn’t be easier (or more delicious) to do so. With Earth & Star’s Mushroom Tincture, Organic Ground Coffee, and Cold Brew Latte, you’ll have adaptogenic coffee for any occasion.
Sources:
Caffeinated or not, coffee linked with longer life | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes | PMC
Dietary Antioxidants and Health Promotion | PMC
Caffeine increases striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability in the human brain | PMC
Determination of potentially mycotoxigenic fungi in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) from Nayarit | PMC