Coffee Superfood: How To Energize Your Morning With Delightful, Nutrient-Rich Brews

Coffee is getting more and more popular. As of last year, according to the National Coffee Association, 67% of people surveyed had drunk coffee within the past 24 hours, and 75% of people had the drink within the past week. And there's a good reason for that: coffee can offer a tremendous boost of morning energy, and more and more potential health benefits are coming to light about coffee. Coupled with the increased access to tasty coffee brews and blends at home, it's no wonder coffee drinkers won't start their day any other way.

But coffee is more than just a tasty drink. For many people, it's an essential superfood that offers key nutrients, wellness benefits, and a peaceful, rejuvenating routine. Coffee consumption can have even more benefits with delicious mushroom blends, healthy creamers made from real food ingredients, and other tasty additions. Keep reading to learn more about how coffee secured its place as a nutrient-rich drink, some of the benefits you may get from making it your go-to brew, and some ideas for doubly delicious recipes.

What Makes Coffee a Superfood?

There is no official FDA definition of what a superfood is or the numerous health benefits it might provide. Merriam-Webster defines it like this:

"A food (such as salmon, broccoli, or blueberries) that is rich in compounds (such as antioxidants, fiber, or fatty acids) considered beneficial to a person's health."

Working with this understanding of what a superfood is can help you categorize potentially healthy foods as authentic superfoods and foods that might just be caught up in the superfood marketing craze. For example, wine enthusiasts regularly contend that red wine might just be a superfood-but its potential health drawbacks stop it from making the cut. Similarly, a lot of green juices might be packed with vitamins but stripped of all their fiber. So it's important to take care whenever you encounter a 'superfood' label.

Coffee is often characterized as a superfood, and we think it fits that definition to a T. Coffee beans are chock-full of antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals and play a role in protecting cells and DNA.

Blending coffee with other highly nutritious foods can make it even more powerful. Functional mushrooms such as Chaga, Lion's Mane, Maitake, and Cordyceps include nutritious compounds that can support better cognition, improve energy without the jitters or crashes of too much coffee, and provide smoother mental clarity. It's becoming more and more popular for people who want to support their health to add functional mushrooms to their diet through a mushroom coffee blend.

Health Benefits of Coffee Superfoods

Coffee's primary superpower is in its antioxidants. Some of the antioxidants accessed by drinking coffee include chlorogenic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, melanoidin, and trigonelline. Because it's so rich in these compounds, coffee can firmly cement its place as a superfood. Different brewing styles may highlight or exclude some antioxidants, but the brew offers several benefits in virtually every cup. The electrons in antioxidants can bind with free radicals, making them less potentially harmful.

Other popular benefits of coffee consumption and coffee superfoods, especially in a mushroom coffee blend like Laird's Organic PERFORM Functional Mushroom Coffee - Medium Roast Ground, include:

• Better focus: Lion's Mane mushroom is well-regarded for its potential benefits in cognitive function and nerve growth. Some people see subtle but immediate effects, while others may see significant improvements over time.
• Energy without crashing or jitters: Coffee provides caffeine, which can be very energizing. But too much caffeine may make many people jittery or can cause a crash as soon as the effects wear off. Mushroom coffees tend to have less caffeine, leading to a less abrupt crash. The mushrooms may also support caffeine's mental effects with more focus and clarity, and the adaptogenic effects can help manage stress and fatigue. A secondary benefit this can have is improved mood, and the lower stress may help improve sleep.
• A better immune system and gut health: Some functional mushrooms have been studied for their immunomodulatory benefits. Depending on the brew, mushrooms may activate or suppress immune responses, strengthen the immune system, and provide a bigger boost of polyphenols and other antioxidants.
• Reduced risk of some chronic diseases: The research on how functional mushrooms and coffee help reduce the risks of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease is still underway. But there are promising signs that the beta-glucans in Chaga may reduce inflammation and that the mushroom's antioxidants may help protect cells. Combined with coffee's antioxidants, a daily mug of coffee superfoods can help mitigate the effects of chronic inflammation.

Popular Nutrient-Rich Coffee Brews

Coffee itself already fits most people's idea of a superfood. The drink's rich mix of healthful antioxidants and energy-boosting caffeine can make plain coffee a great way to start your morning or get an early afternoon burst of cognitive and mood renewal. But by adding other nutritious ingredients to your coffee, you can supercharge your superfood and create an endless array of appetizing drinks.

Here are some easy and popular coffee brews with supplemental mix-ins and ingredients:

• Coffee with functional mushrooms mixed in, which is a convenient and delicious way to get a daily dose of superfoods
• Coffee blends with MCT oil, as the MCT oil provides a more stable source of energy by stabilizing blood sugar and turning into ketones

Coffee drinkers can also skip the coffee altogether by finding healthy hot chocolate mixes and coffee-free alternatives that contain functional mushrooms and MCT oil. There are plenty of "coffees" that may provide the same relaxing routine and many of the antioxidative and immune-boosting effects of mushroom coffee blends.

How To Prepare Your Morning Coffee Superfood Brew

Everyone has their own way of preparing their morning coffee to harness its beneficial effects. Many coffee superfoods and mushroom blends make it even easier to experiment and find your favorite recipes without a lot of hassle. Looking for a new favorite, or just want to experiment with different options to add some pizazz to your day? Play around with these elements:

• Temperature: Try a hot brew for cozy vibes, or add ice for a cool drink. You can even brew your coffee superfood blend the night before and chill it overnight.
• Adding blends: If you want to reduce your caffeine or add more nutrients, switch to a coffee mushroom blend. Look for blends that dissolve easily and have a mild flavor.
• Add flavors and creamers: The right mushroom coffee will have a smooth, mellow taste all its own. But you can also add natural creamers, milk alternatives, sweeteners like coconut sugar, or even hot chocolate mix for a mocha.

When you're experimenting, try to zero in on natural, high-quality ingredients. Coconut-based creamers, for example, are naturally sweet and creamy. This may help you enjoy your coffee without artificial additives or tinny-tasting flavors. It also helps the drink keep its nutritious advantages without loading up on calories and unhealthy fats, or sugars. While coffee is not a meal replacement, it's important to consider it as part of your healthy diet.

Incorporating Coffee Superfood Into Your Daily Ritual

One of the best ways to access the health advantages of natural foods is to make them part of your routine. When it's a habit to brew up a mug of mushroom coffee instead of going through the drive-through, the benefits add up over time without increasing your stress or taxing your willpower.

The most important part of building a daily routine is making sure you enjoy it. Think about your favorite flavor profiles for roasted coffee, and experiment with different options until you find a nutrient-rich blend of high-quality coffee beans. Laird's coffee is carefully selected to be rustic, organic, and shade-grown for maximum flavor and wellness.

Also, think about convenience and your favorite parts of making coffee. Do you like carefully adding ingredients to each cup, or do you prefer a simple stir-in option you can whip up in 60 seconds? Do you meditate as you heat the water? Is your ideal cup of coffee the same every day, or do you want to have a few choices on hand to add variety to your mornings? Your preferences will be the building blocks of your new routine.

Addressing Common Concerns and Misconceptions

With all the buzz about caffeine and mushrooms, the Internet is full of a lot of misconceptions. As you shop around for your new favorite coffee, here are some misconceptions to avoid:

• Functional mushrooms like Chaga, Lion's Mane, and Cordyceps are not psychedelic mushrooms, and they are not known to have psychedelic effects.
• Know what level of caffeine you're comfortable with. Most functional mushroom coffee blends have approximately half the caffeine of traditional coffee, allowing the energizing and cognitive benefits of functional mushrooms to shine through. But some brands use very caffeinated coffee grounds to increase the caffeine. Take the time to research your products before you drink more than your usual cup, especially if you're sensitive to caffeine.
• Mushrooms aren't medicine. While the science behind functional mushrooms when it comes to chronic inflammation and mood is becoming more robust, that doesn't mean mushrooms can replace medications. Talk to your physician about your unique health and wellness concerns and the role superfoods can play in your health journey.

Browse the Best Brews at Laird Superfoods

Coffee is a delicious, popular superfood in its own right, and coffee superfood blends with functional mushrooms may provide even more benefits as part of a healthy lifestyle. A healthy blend of functional mushrooms in your cup, along with healthy additions like MCT oil and natural, uncomplicated sweeteners, may be a great way to add more nutrients to your diet, relax, and see some additional health benefits like improved cognition, smooth energy, and immune system strength.

At Laird, we create delicious coffee blends from healthy, natural ingredients so you can have an energized morning without the crash. Explore our coffee blend ingredients to start brewing up your new favorite coffee.

Resources:

67% of people: https://www.ncausa.org/Newsroom/Daily-coffee-consumption-at-20-year-high-up-nearly-40

Definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superfood#:~:text=noun,words%20from%20the%20same%20year

Antioxidants: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-worlds-biggest-source-of-antioxidants#:~:text=Coffee%20contains%20antioxidants%20like%20phenolic%20acids%20and,an%20estimated%20400%20million%20cups%20consumed%20daily.

What antioxidants do: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/add-antioxidants-to-your-diet/art-20546814

Coffee's effect on gut health and chronic disease: https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/coffee-may-improve-gut-health/

Adaptogenic mushrooms: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/adaptogenic-mushrooms

Benefits of MCT oil in coffee: https://www.webmd.com/diet/mct-oil-health-benefits-common-uses

Too much caffeine effects: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-impact-caffeine