Lion’s mane mushrooms work best when taken in the morning. But, can you take them with your morning cup of Joe?

You absolutely can!

Let’s take a look at the benefits of taking lion’s mane and caffeine together.

Article Jumplinks:

What are the benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms?

What are the negative effects of lion’s mane?

Can you take lion’s mane with caffeine?

How can you take lion’s mane?

How much lion’s mane is in Forij granola?

What Is Lion’s Mane?

The lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is a functional mushroom that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Nowadays, this unique-looking fungus is praised for its antiinflammatory effects, its ability to improve cognitive functioning, as well as its potential when it comes to stress and anxiety reduction.

Lion’s Mane Benefits

Lion’s mane is one of the healthiest mushrooms you can consume. This mushroom species was shown to reduce blood sugar levels, improve immune functions, and prevent memory loss by promoting nerve growth factor protein production.

The health benefits of lion’s mane include:

• reduces anxiety and depressive disorders
• improves cognitive functions and overall brain health
• reduces the risk of heart disease
• has protective effects against mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease
• reduces inflammation and nerve pains
• alleviates oxidative stress
• encourages apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells
• improves digestive tract health and prevents stomach ulcers
• lowers blood sugar levels
• reduces symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease

Lion’s Mane Side Effects

There are no known side effects to consuming Hericium erinaceus. Although there are no studies on the negative effects of Hericium erinaceus, anecdotal evidence and centuries of use suggest that it is completely safe to eat lion’s mane mushrooms.

Can You Take Lion’s Mane with Caffeine?

Yes, you can take lion’s mane with caffeine. Both lion’s mane and caffeine energize the brain and the body. However, since lion’s mane does not contain caffeine, you don’t have to worry about ingesting too much of this stimulant when consuming Hericium erinaceus. 

Lion’s Mane and Coffee Benefits

Consuming lion’s mane with coffee can improve your cognitive function and memory. Lion’s mane is known to improve memory and focus.

When combined with caffeine, this mushroom can help you feel more focused and productive throughout your workday. Plus, lion’s mane can alleviate negative effects associated with coffee, such as anxiety, nausea, jitters, and the dreaded mid-day energy crash.

Will Lion’s Mane Keep Me Awake?

While lion’s mane can have stimulating properties, it will not keep you awake in the same manner a regular cup of coffee would. Therefore, you can take lion’s mane later in the day as well, just make sure not to take a supplement that contains caffeine.

Is Lion’s Mane a Stimulant?

Lion’s mane is not a stimulant, but it can have stimulating effects on the brain. Lion’s mane appears to reduce symptoms of ADHD and improve mental functions, all without the mid-day energy crash and caffeine jitters that you may experience when drinking a standard cup of coffee.

How to Take Lion’s Mane

There are three main ways to take lion’s mane mushrooms—lion’s mane powder, lion’s mane supplements, and foods and drinks fortified with a lion’s mane extract.

Lion’s Mane Powder

Lion’s mane mushroom powder is a popular way to consume this fungus, as it’s easy to use, often cheaper, and more accessible than some of the other options. You can put the lion’s mane powder in your shakes and smoothies or mix it with water. The downside of lion’s mane mushroom powders, for some, is the taste.

Lion’s Mane Coffee

Mushroom coffee with lion’s mane is another way to get your daily dose of lion’s mane and caffeine. You can buy a pre-made lion’s mane mushroom coffee mix, or make lion’s mane coffee by mixing organic instant coffee powder and lion’s mane powder.

If you’re looking for a fair trade option, it may be best to make your own coffee from fair trade coffee beans and mix in a bit of high-quality lion’s mane mushroom powder.

Lion’s Mane Supplements

A lion’s mane mushroom supplement is a popular choice for people who already take certain medicine or daily vitamins. Supplements come in many forms, with lion’s mane mushroom capsules being the most common.

Although this way of consumption of lion's mane is quick and easy, it’s not the best option for people who aren’t used to taking pills and capsules daily, as forgetting to take the supplements may diminish the effects of lion’s mane.

Foods Fortified with Lion’s Mane

If you can’t stomach the taste of mushrooms, but you still want to reap the many benefits of lion’s mane, try adding them into your diet with fortified foods (for example, our granola).

Forij granola uses a high-quality lion's mane extract made from whole medicinal mushrooms. Our dual extraction method extracts both water-soluble beta-glucans as well as alcohol-soluble triterpenes. Our decoction process breaks down indigestible chitin cell walls of the mushroom to get much more of these compounds out than ordinary processes do.

One serving of our granola provides 250 mg of hyperconcentrated lion's mane mushroom extract, which is eight times more concentrated than a regular lion’s mane supplement. Therefore, you get as much lion's mane potency as you would if you were taking a 2000 mg mushroom powder supplement, all in one bowl of granola.

Are You Interested in Taking Lion’s Mane Mushrooms?

If you’re interested in taking lion’s mane with your morning coffee, why not have it as a part of your breakfast?

Our mushroom granola contains high-quality, organic lion’s mane extracted via a dual extraction method, which ensures you’ll get all the lion’s mane you need in a single serving.

The granola is vegan, gluten-free, and made with high-quality ingredients. Oh, and did we mention that it’s so delicious you won’t even notice you’re eating mushrooms for breakfast?

FAQ on Lion’s Mane and Caffeine

Does lion’s mane interact with anything?

Lion’s mane can interact with some medications, antidiabetics and anticoagulants in particular. Therefore, if you are on blood-thinning medication or diabetes medication, make sure to consult with a healthcare professional before taking a lion’s mane supplement, as lion’s mane may be contraindicated for you.

Should lion’s mane be taken in the morning or at night?

You can take lion’s mane mushrooms any time of the day, but we suggest taking them in the morning, especially if you’re taking them with caffeine. Taking Hericium erinaceus in the morning allows you to reap the many lion’s mane mushroom benefits throughout your workday. Luckily, there’s an easy and delicious way to get your daily dose of lion’s mane with your breakfast—our flavorful mushroom granola.

How does lion’s mane make you feel?

Lion’s mane has an abundance of spiritual benefits that will certainly make you feel good. People use this adaptogen to reduce stress, as well as improve memory and concentration. Some studies also suggest that lion’s mane can reduce mild symptoms of depression, as well as alleviate anxiety.

Does lion’s mane affect hormones?

Yes, the beneficial compounds found in lion’s mane fruiting bodies appear to stabilize hormone levels. This mushroom contains bioactive compounds called hericenones and erinacines, which can affect hormones by maintaining homeostasis in the body. For instance, Hericium erinaceus may aid in the production of testosterone through the beneficial effects it has on the brain.

How is lion’s mane best absorbed?

Lion’s mane is best absorbed when taken in the form of an extract. In particular, by taking a hyperconcentrated extract, such as the one we use in our granola, you’ll be able to absorb nutrients you may not get by taking a supplement or a powder version of this adaptogenic mushroom.

What does lion’s mane coffee taste like?

The taste of lion’s mane coffee will vary depending on how you make your coffee and which lion’s mane coffee recipe you use. An instant mushroom coffee mix with lion’s mane tastes quite similar to regular coffee, though it may be a bit less bitter. If you add a lion’s mane powder to your french press or iced coffee, you will likely be able to taste the seafood-like flavor of lion’s mane.

Can I take lion’s mane and chaga together?

Yes, you can take lion’s mane and organic chaga mushrooms together. You can take lion’s mane with any adaptogen, including Rhodiola rosea, turkey tail, and the reishi mushroom. When it comes to adaptogens, the whole is better than the sum of its parts, so you’ll likely reap more benefits of lion’s mane if you take it with other adaptogenic fungi.

Forij Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or medical reviewers.