Fasting has been practiced for centuries for spiritual, religious, and health reasons. It’s embraced by health-conscious people for its potential in weight loss and metabolic health. The art of fasting is growing in popularity, and as more people integrate the practice into their routines, questions arise about what can and cannot be consumed during fasting periods.
As a general rule, only water and beverages with no caloric content should be consumed during periods of fasting. Consuming calories, sugars, and carbohydrates in any quantity can break a fast and sacrifice the health benefits that come from being in a fasted state.
So, will mushroom coffee break a fast?
In this article, we explore whether drinking mushroom coffee breaks a fast, examining the impact of its ingredients on the fasting process and how you can successfully implement it into your fasting regime…
Can You Drink Mushroom Coffee While Fasting?
Yes. Most people will consume mushroom coffee while fasting without any issues. However, there are a few caveats to this, and it entirely depends on how strict your regime is and the type of mushroom coffee you’re consuming.
Some mushroom coffees contain high amounts of sugar — these will not be suitable for drinking on a fast as the sugars will push you out of ketosis and cause you to crash about an hour later.
If you’re water fasting, mushroom coffee and any other liquid that contains nutritional additives is out of the question. However, if you’re fasting to induce ketosis, mushroom coffee without any added sugars should not break the fast and may even enhance the body’s transition to ketosis.
Mushroom coffee may contain a small amount of calories (usually around 5 to 15 calories in unprocessed blends). Although consuming such low calories is unlikely to break ketosis, it might interrupt the process of autophagy to some degree.
Related: Does Coffee Break a Fast?
How to Consume Mushroom Coffee as Part of a Fasting Regime
Consuming mushroom coffee while fasting can be done in ways that minimize caloric intake, improve your well-being while in a fasted state, and maximize the benefits of fasting as a whole.
Here’s how to incorporate mushroom coffee into a fasting regime without breaking your fast:
1. Choose the Right Mushroom Coffee
Choosing the right mushroom coffee is key if you’re to consume it during a fast. The mushroom blend and the coffee you purchase should contain minimal additional ingredients and contain no (or seriously low levels) carbohydrates, sugars, and overall calories.
Opt for mushroom coffee blends that are made from high-quality, organic ingredients, and double and triple-check that they are unsweetened before consuming during a fasted state.
2. Stick to Plain, Black Coffee
Make sure to brew the mushroom coffee using hot water only, without adding any milk, cream, sugar, or sweeteners. This ensures minimal caloric intake and avoids breaking the fast.
Don’t add any high-calorie additives like coconut oil, butter, or any other fats to your mushroom coffee during fasting periods. Although this can help maintain ketosis, it will break a fast, causing a shift in the rate of autophagy.
3. Consume Mushroom Coffee at the Right Time
Be mindful of when you consume mushroom coffee during your fasting window. This brew can help curb hunger and provide a cognitive boost without disrupting the fasting state.
I like to wait until around lunchtime to consume a cup of mushroom coffee. This is when hunger cravings begin to kick in for me. If you find you get hungry in the mornings, during the day, or afternoon, consume the brew to suit your hunger pangs during those periods.
Related: Best Time To Drink Coffee
4. Stay Hydrated
While in a fasted state, it’s extremely important to stay hydrated. Don’t just consume mushroom coffee and other low-calorie beverages. Make sure to drink plenty of water during your fasting window. This will not only help you detox and enter autophagy quicker but it will also help prevent hunger pangs.
5. Pay Attention to Your Body
Everyone reacts differently to fasting and consuming regular and mushroom coffee during a fasting state.
Pay attention to how your body responds and adjust your consumption accordingly. If you feel uneasy or develop stomach discomfort after consuming mushroom coffee during a fast, it’s best to stop and drink plenty of water instead.
If you ever feel extremely light-headed, like you're going to pass out, or develop any other side effects, break your fast immediately with a healthy, balanced meal.
6. Break Your Fast Mindfully
When it comes time to break your fast, do so mindfully. When your fasting period ends, consider breaking the fast with a nourishing broth, probiotic yogurt, or nutritionally balanced salad.
Slowly “break in” to your eating window and eat small amounts over an extended period until you can manage a balanced meal that includes protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates to replenish nutrients. Avoid binge eating, consuming junk food, or eating a single large meal directly after a fast.
What is Mushroom Coffee?
Mushroom coffee is a brew made from a 50:50 blend of functional mushrooms and arabica, robusta, or a blend of both coffees. The functional mushrooms used in mushroom coffee can include lion’s mane, reishi, chaga, shiitake, cordyceps, and other medicinal mushroom species.
Mushroom coffee tastes similar to regular coffee, but it often has earthy or cheesy notes from the mushrooms I fused in the brew. Drinking mushroom coffee daily can improve focus, concentration, and energy levels. It also boasts a range of potential health benefits, including enhanced immune function, improved cognitive function, elevated gut health, improved sleep quality, and more.
Here’s What’s Inside a Cup of Mushroom Coffee:
Mushroom coffee blends such as our Lyfted Coffees contain a blend of functional mushroom powders, strong coffee, and other superfoods and adaptogens.
You’ll find four or more of these mushrooms in our mushroom coffee blends:
- Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
- Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
- Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis)
- Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
- Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)
- Tremella (Tremella fuciformis)
- Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
- Shiitake (Lentinus edodes)
- Poria (Poria cocos)
Functional Mushrooms + Coffee
Mushroom coffees can be brewed with coffee grounds in a 50:50 mix or without — relying solely on the effects and flavor of the mushrooms.
High-quality coffee is a natural stimulant that can improve various aspects of brain function, including memory, mood, vigilance, energy levels, reaction times, and general cognitive function.
When combined with the brain-boosting and energizing qualities of functional mushrooms, the duo works synergistically to improve overall health and well-being. The dark, rich flavors of coffee also help mask the earthy taste of the mushrooms.
The best coffee to use when making mushroom coffee is robusta. Although often viewed as “arabica’s ugly sibling,” the rich, dark, nutty, and slightly bitter taste of robusta beans works beautifully in a mushroom coffee blend.
What is Fasting?
Fasting is the voluntary avoidance of foods and drinks for a set period. It’s been practiced for centuries for religious, spiritual, and health reasons. Fasting is a natural part of life for many species (including mammals) when natural food is scarce.
The primary goal of fasting varies, but most of you reading this are likely interested in fasting for health reasons.
When the body enters a fasted state, it shifts from using glucose for energy to burning fat and ketones. When practiced correctly, fasting can promote healthy weight loss and fat burning. It can improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Fasting also triggers autophagy, a process where cells remove damaged components and regenerate, promoting cellular health and longevity. It may also support brain health by promoting the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which aids in neuron growth and cognitive function.
Fasting comes with a range of potential health benefits. If we were to go through them all here, this article would be never-ending.
To give you a brief idea of the potential benefits of fasting, here’s a short list:
- Weight loss and fat-burning
- Improved metabolic health
- Enhanced cellular repair
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved heart health
- Enhanced brain function
- Increased growth hormone secretion
- Improved mental clarity and focus
- Longevity
- Enhanced detoxification
- Better digestion
- Reduced risk of chronic diseases
- Lower blood sugar levels
- Improved insulin sensitivity
- Increased energy levels
Different Types of Fasting
There are several different types of fasting. The types of fasting performed for health reasons generally involve cutting out all calories and only consuming fluids. Low-calorie liquids such as tea and black coffee are often allowed during a fast because they don’t contain enough calories to initiate a metabolic response that will “break” the fast.
Regardless of the type of fasting regime you decide to undergo, you must not consume over 50 calories or consume foods that cause a spike in blood glucose and insulin levels, such as those containing carbohydrates, sugars, or artificial sweeteners. Doing so will break the fast, stopping the processes of ketosis and autophagy.
When fasting for health, there are two main regimes that can be broken down further into subcategories. These fasting regimes are known as “intermittent fasting” and “extended fasting.”
Let’s learn more about them:
1. Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting involves fasting (consuming only water and compliant drinks such as coffee, tea, and mushroom coffee) for a set period and eating for a set period. People often fast for 16 hours and eat in an 8-hour window. For example, only eating between 12 PM and 8 PM and fasting the rest of the time.
The fasting and eating times for intermittent fasting can vary. It can take time and experimentation to find out what works best for you.
Here are some examples of intermittent fasting regimes:
- 16/8 Method — Fasting for 16 hours and eating all meals during an 8-hour window.
- 18/6 Method — Fasting for 18 hours and eating all meals during a 6-hour window.
- 5:2 Method — Eating a normal, healthy, balanced diet for five days per week and fasting for two days (48 hours).
- Eat-Fast-Eat Method — Fasting for 24 hours once or twice per week. For example, fasting on Monday (24 hours), eating on Tuesday and Wednesday, fasting on Thursday, eating on Friday and Saturday, etc.
2. Extended Fasting
Extended fasting involves fasting for (you guessed it) an extended period of time — usually more than 24 hours. If you decide to undergo an extended fast, it's best to try intermittent fasting (18/6, for example) first to see how your body reacts to the lack of calories.
It’s important to build up to an extended fast slowly and not jump in at the deep end and attempt a fast of 24 hours or more.
Here are some examples of extended fasting regimes:
- 24-Hour Fast — Fasting for a full 24 hours, often from breakfast one day to breakfast the next or dinner to dinner. This is typically done once or twice per week as part of a regular routine.
- 36-Hour Fast — Fasting for 36 hours. For example, finishing dinner on day one and not eating until breakfast on day three.
- 48-Hour Fast — A two-day fast where no calories are consumed — only water, tea, and other non-caloric beverages are allowed.
- 48-Hour Fast or More — Fasts of 48 hours or more should be performed by the experienced. It’s not recommended to undergo a fast of this duration without experience and seeking medical advice first.
FAQs: Mushroom Coffee & Fasting
Want to learn more about the power of functional mushrooms, coffee, and fasting?
Read through the answers to the frequently asked questions we’ve received below:
1. Can Coffee Help With Hunger Pangs While Fasting?
Yes. Coffee is fantastic at easing hunger pangs during fasting.
Caffeine in coffee can reduce appetite by influencing the central nervous system and altering the release of “hunger hormones” such as ghrelin. The stimulating effects of coffee can also induce feelings of fullness, making it easier to stick to a fasting regime without experiencing strong hunger signals.
Drinking coffee also contributes to hydration, which can help reduce the sensation of hunger. Consuming coffee alongside plenty of water to stay hydrated is crucial during fasting to maintain overall bodily functions and ease hunger.
2. Is Mushroom Coffee Gluten-Free & Vegan?
Yes, mushroom coffee is typically gluten-free and vegan-friendly. However, it depends on the specific ingredients and manufacturing process used.
Mushrooms and coffee beans in their raw form are naturally gluten-free. Mushrooms are inherently vegan and coffee beans are plant-based (also vegan).
Some manufacturers may add ingredients that contain gluten or animal-derived ingredients, such as certain flavorings, additives, or dairy powders. Make sure to read the labels before purchasing mushroom coffee and assuming it's gluten-free and vegan.
Related: Vegan Vietnamese Coffee Recipe
3. How Can I Make Mushroom Coffee at Home?
Mushroom coffee can be made easily at home by purchasing a powdered mushroom blend, such as our Lyfted Line of Instant Mushroom Coffees, and a high-quality coffee, such as our DaNang Arabica/Robusta Coffee blend. By mixing these two elements at a 50:50 ratio and brewing for five to 10 minutes in a French press, the perfect, balanced cup of mushroom coffee can be made.
If you’d rather create your own mushroom coffee blend at home, the process is a little more in-depth. Several different functional mushrooms must be sourced, dried, powdered, and combined. Each mushroom element should be combined in equal parts and then added at a 50:50 ratio with a high-quality coffee.
