Once upon a time, I used to drink three to four cups of coffee per day to get me moving.
That’s quite a LOT of caffeine!
I needed strong surges of stimulation to help me make it through the day because my own energy was lagging.
Unfortunately, drinking that much coffee set me up on an endless cycle that was feeding my fatigue.
I was exhausted (mostly because I wasn’t eating well or taking care of myself), so I drank coffee, but it didn’t really recharge me. It just revved me up so I could do more work… even though I was completely exhausted.
My coffee consumption created false energy that wasn’t sustainable or nourishing my body.
“Drinking one or more caffeinated beverages daily results in short-term energy and possible long-term fatigue. Caffeine puts the nervous and hormonal systems into a constant state of ‘flight or fight’ stress response, depleting energy reserves.”[1]
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe coffee is bad. But, it doesn’t actually nourish the body.
Coffee is draining, not nutritive. There’s a BIG difference between the two. This is one of the reasons why most folks go to the bathroom after a strong cup of Joe – it purges (drains) the system.
If you are seeking a morning beverage that can support the body on a deeply nutritive level to increase energy over time, try mushroom coffee.
It’s not really coffee, it’s more of a decoction; a medicinal preparation made from boiling a plant, or in this case, funghi.
Unlike coffee, you may not immediately feel the effects of drinking this beverage, but within a few weeks you will notice improved energy and enhanced immunity.
Here’s what’s in the mushroom brew and what it can do for you:
- Reishi Mushroom – According to traditional Chinese Medicine, Reishi promotes longevity and vitality. “Modern research is fascinated with these funghi: not only are they incredibly safe, they seem to have a profound balancing effect on immunity, stress hormones, heart and brain function and genetic expression.”[2]
- Maitake Mushroom – aka “hen of the woods” because it resembles the backside feathers of a fluffed chicken, Maitake mushrooms have long been studied in Japan for their anti-cancer properties. Lesser known is its connection to regulating blood sugar. “Several studies show it modulates glucose levels, which can be especially important for limiting the development of Type 2 diabetes.”[3]
- Chaga Mushroom –if you were to stumble upon this funghi in the woods, you would never recognize it as a mushroom. Chaga grows on birch trees and looks like a burned crusty piece of dead wood, but it has amazing healing properties. “Chaga extract has inhibitory and proapoptotic effects against colon cancer and hepatoma cells. It also reduced toxicity associated with radiation and inhibited tumor cell growth in animal models. In some studies, Chaga demonstrates selective apoptosis in tumor cells with no effects on healthy cells.”[4] Simply stated, this mushroom kills cancer cells.
- Astragalus Root – this is not a mushroom, but I included it in my brew because it’s been used as medicine in China for thousands of years. “It’s yellow root contains compounds that stimulate your immune system, promoting the formation of antibodies, increasing the production of T cells, and boosting the supply of infection-fighting white blood cells.”[5]
It won’t be long before the word gets out about this medicinal brew and they start selling it at coffee shops around the globe.
Here is the recipe for making your own homemade Mushroom Coffee. It takes 3 hours to decoct, so you’ve got to have some patience.
BUT, if you are like most folks and don’t have the time or cant’ be bothered making this yourself, you can simply purchase mushroom coffee pre-made. All you have to do is add hot water: Instant Mushroom Coffee.
Just like coffee, mushroom brew tastes bitter. You can doctor it up for your taste buds by adding a teaspoon of honey or other sweetener.
Keep in mind that you can’t continue eating CRAP and then drink mushroom coffee thinking it’ll clear all of your ailments, boost immunity and improve your energy.
Use this mushroom coffee as a supplement to an already healthy diet and lifestyle for the best results.
Enjoy the brew!
[1] http://www.livestrong.com/article/269199-caffeine-effects-on-the-adrenal-
function/
[2] The Wild Medicine Solution, by Guido Mase, Healing Arts Press 2013, pg. 241
[3] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-stamets/maitake-mushroom_b_2908332.html
[4] http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/chaga-mushroom
[5] 21st Century Herbal, Michael J. Balick, PhD, Rodale 2014, pg. 112
