Level Up Your Morning Ritual: The Power of Protein Mushroom Coffee

Morning routines matter. Ninety-two percent of highly successful people power their mornings with a specific ritual or routine. Creating your own ritual has big payoffs, from energizing your mornings to starting your day with a sense of calm and purpose.

The substance of your personal morning ritual can be just as varied as the goals of your ritual: you might meditate, exercise, read, or watch the sunrise. Some people even build their morning rituals around 'do not's as much as 'do's: no sugar, no socials, or even no caffeine. Some rituals are complex, while others are speedy and simple—the great thing about morning routines is that there are so many options that you can pick based on what you want to get out of your morning.  But where do you start?

Optimize Your Coffee Routine

Take one part of your morning and optimize it at a time. Start with your coffee. But trying to get your homemade pourover just right in a chaotic morning makes the coffee bitter and stressful—if it takes too long, you might have to leave it on your countertop. Or you might head to the drive-through, where long lines and even longer traffic jams turn even your favorite latte into a source of frustration.

Instead, create a creamy, delicious morning pick-me-up from a premade mix of delicious adaptogenic mushrooms and coconut-based creamer made from a short list of ingredients. With just a few moments for heating up the water and measuring out your latte, your new morning routine can center around enjoying your coffee, not waiting for it.

Laird Superfoods creates tasty coffee blends made from hearty adaptogenic mushrooms that can power cognitive performance, long-lasting calm, and wellness. We also add protein for satiety and muscle health. No matter what you want your morning ritual to be, protein mushroom coffee might just be the atomic habit to get it going. See how the healthy ingredients, convenient recipes, and carefully selected combinations of mushrooms can fit into your ideal lifestyle.

What Is Protein Mushroom Coffee?

Protein mushroom coffee is the ultimate transformation of coffee into a hearty, nourishing brew. Around two-thirds of Americans drink coffee, which offers several potential health benefits, such as: 

• Potentially lowering heart disease by helping drinkers manage cholesterol levels and blood pressure
• Associated with reducing inflammation, which may help improve blood flow and circulation
• Being associated with a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes
• Offering potential protection to cells from free radicals and other sources of cellular damage

However, coffee's main benefit for most drinkers is the boost of energy it provides. The caffeine content may help drinkers stay alert, chase off sleepiness, and even have improved focus and memory. These advantages, along with its great taste, make coffee a popular part of many morning routines. But mushroom coffee may provide additional benefits by adding functional mushrooms to the mix. These mushrooms might help protect cells from damage, and functional mushrooms are associated with similar mental benefits as coffee: sharper memory, more focus, and better mental performance. Each mushroom offers unique potential health effects. 

Protein mushroom coffee goes one step further down the pathway to a perfect morning routine by adding protein to the mix. Healthy sources of plant-derived protein are the invisible star of the show in this morning brew, delivering satiety and essential amino acids to help drinkers regulate their appetites while still meeting daily protein goals. Protein powder may also transform the jittery energy burst of pure coffee into a more sustained and functional flow of energy. 

Those are the main aspects of protein mushroom coffee: just protein powder, functional mushrooms, and coffee. Laird Protein Instant Latte is a premade powder that just needs hot water to become a delicious, creamy, and energizing morning drink, with just these ingredients (and nothing else): 

• Coconut milk powder
• Pea protein
• Organic coconut sugar
• Freeze-dried coffee
• Calcium derived from seaweed
• Hemp protein
• Pumpkin seed protein
• Sea salt
• Organic Lion's Mane mushroom extract
• Organic Chaga mushroom extra
• Organic Cordyceps mushroom extract
• Organic Maitake mushroom extract
• Monk fruit extract

The Science and Benefits of Mushrooms in Coffee

Health and wellness science has focused on adaptogenic and functional mushrooms for years, investigating potential health benefits of specific mushrooms like Lion's Mane, Chaga, Cordyceps, and more. Altogether, these types of mushrooms have shown promising results in terms of supporting immune health, helping people resist physiological and mental stress, and supporting longer-lasting mental clarity and focus. But when you're leveling up your morning routine to create practices that are exactly right for your health and goals, it helps to have a deeper understanding of the potential power of each mushroom.  

Benefits of Lion's Mane

Lion's Mane mushrooms are full of bioactive compounds. Researchers are conducting ongoing animal and human studies into these compounds to identify their benefits. Currently, scientists believe that Lion's Mane can have positive effects on gut health, the cardiovascular system, and the brain. Some of the most likely health benefits these mushrooms (and mushroom extracts) can offer may include: 

• Hericenone and erinacine compounds that can stimulate brain cell growth
• Protective effects against aging and dementia
• Relief from some depressive and anxious feelings (but not as a medical substitute for pharmaceuticals)
• Better gut health by promoting healthy bacteria and stymying unhealthy bacteria
• Reducing cellular and stomach inflammation
• Helping to lower triglycerides and regulate metabolism
• Boosting the immune system
• Helping manage inflammation from oxidative stress

Benefits of Chaga

Chaga mushrooms may offer similar health benefits, according to ongoing studies. Many people take Chaga mushroom extracts due to their potential anti-inflammatory properties through the mushroom's polyphenol content. Chaga mushrooms may also help boost the immune system due to the presence of beta-glucan polysaccharides, making it a great autumn boost. Scientists also see encouraging results in anti-cancer studies, which indicate that Chaga mushrooms might help white blood cells fight against cancer.

Benefits of Cordyceps

Cordyceps are rich in nutrients and micro compounds that may offer health benefits. The mushroom has been popularly used in traditional medicine in China, and modern scientific studies indicate its high concentration of polyphenols can prevent cellular damage, and its adaptogenic properties can further reduce cellular stress and aging, especially for skin cells. Additional research offers promising results for managing blood sugar levels.

Benefits of Maitake

Maitake is a known source of Vitamin D, making it a nutritious source of flavor and richness. Scientists are also uncovering additional potential benefits, such as: 

• High concentrations of beta-glucans that may aid in cancer prevention and strengthen immune system health, as well as support a healthier heart.
• SX-fraction polysaccharides that may help with diabetes management.
• Better arterial function.

All combined, extracts from these adaptogenic mushrooms may help boost your immune system, reduce chronic conditions, and help promote heart health. Scientists are still conducting studies into the specific health benefits, and this selection of mushrooms is particularly promising.

Why Add Protein? The Latte That Does More

Most morning routines include a nod to macronutrients, not just micronutrients. Depending on your goals, you might be looking for routines and rituals that help you manage your calories, increase muscle growth, or maintain satiety and energy throughout the whole morning. 

Protein is the key to all of these goals and more. There are many different formulas people use to calculate their ideal protein intake, with fitness-focused audiences preferring a higher intake. The Mayo Clinic stands by the calculation of 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day, or around 60 grams for someone who weighs 165 pounds. 

This gets tricky if you don't like heavy breakfasts or breakfasts at all. But adding a light plant-based protein powder to your morning coffee is a great way to get 10 grams of protein—nearly 20% of your daily recommended amount if you're 165 pounds—in a cup. This early morning protein is more than a great start to your daily goal. It can provide a slight metabolic boost to start your day off right, and well-timed doses of protein can help support muscle growth and maintenance (especially if you pair your protein coffee with a morning workout).

Many people also find that protein powder helps with satiety and appetite management. While many breakfast foods (like donuts, cereals, and fruit smoothies) can make you temporarily full and then ravenously hungry in just a couple of hours, protein can help you feel full for hours, so you can eat more intentionally and say goodbye to hunger pangs in your first hours at work. 

How To Select a Protein Mushroom Coffee

Every protein mushroom coffee is different. Some popular "mushroom coffees" contain just the mushrooms without the coffee to create a low, steady source of energy and wellness; others supercharge their drinks with extra caffeine so it has the same buzz as conventional coffee cups. Different companies may also offer different combinations and concentrations of adaptogenic mushrooms.

Because there are so many variations, reading articles (like this one!) can help you pick the perfect fit for your mornings because you understand the potential benefits and the value of each ingredient.

If you're shopping around for your dream protein mushroom coffee, keep these factors in mind: 

• Organic and real food ingredients: Look for ingredients like organic mushrooms, pumpkin seed and pea protein, and coconut milk powder, without large concentrations of artificial sweeteners or preservatives.
• A meaningful amount of protein: Some coffees say they offer protein, but it's just a couple of grams. Laird's protein coffees have 10 grams per serving.
• Specific mushrooms: Check the ingredients label to make sure the specific mushrooms are listed. Look for Lion's Mane, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Maitake—some of the most effective and well-researched adaptogenic mushrooms. 
• Convenience: If you're building a new morning routine, simplicity makes it easier to stick to. Opt for protein mushroom coffees that you can easily make with hot water for a smooth and light drink. This gives you the freedom to whip up a drink in under a minute or make it the evening before and wake up to a lovely cold coffee. 

At Laird, we keep all of these priorities in mind for our protein mushroom coffees. Our instant latte mix features 10 grams of plant-based protein, a mix of organic functional mushrooms, and coconut milk powder as a light, sweet creamer. The balanced blend of tasty mushrooms, coffee, protein, and creamer is built to boost your mental performance, cognitive wellness, and physical wellness. 

How To Incorporate Protein Mushroom Coffee Into Your Routine

You know you want coffee in your daily routines. Maybe you want to wake up and start your whole day with a refreshing hot latte, or maybe your mushroom coffee sounds great as a post-workout treat. Here are a handful of options to experiment with as you find a wonderful way to start your day: 

• Have a light morning: Swap out breakfast with an instant latte if you want morning fuel without a full meal.
• Sip on the go: Make your coffee the night before or quickly shake up a latte as you walk out to the car, and you'll have a tasty treat without waiting in any drive-through lines. 
• Support your workout: If you like jogging, weightlifting, or working out in the morning, press pause on your coffee until after your workout is complete. The protein can support recovery and muscle growth, and the light sweetness can be a tasty reward for your hard work.
• Replenish your energy in the early afternoon: Mushroom coffees aren't just for mornings. If you like tea or traditional coffee in the morning, try a Laird instant latte as your midday reset. The light caffeine and sustaining effects of the mushrooms give you all-day energy without an afternoon crash.

Start the Day Right With Laird Protein Mushroom Coffee

Your morning routine can shape your whole day. Give yourself a delicious start with nourishing protein and functional mushrooms. Laird's Protein Instant Latte protein mushroom coffee has Cordyceps, Chaga, Maitake, and Lion's Mane mushroom extracts to support cognitive and physical health, and the 10 grams of plant-based protein in every serving can keep you sustained and energized. 

Switching from traditional coffees or drive-through buys to an instant latte is an instant morning upgrade. We also offer a wide selection of functional mushroom coffees that you can blend with your own protein powders and creamers for high-quality performance, focus, and immune defense.

Sources: 

https://www.thesuccesspod.com/p/power-of-habits-guide-successful-people

https://www.ncausa.org/Newsroom/More-Americans-Drink-Coffee-Each-Day-Than-Any-Other-Beverage-Bottled-Water-Back-in-Second-Place#:~:text=National%20Coffee%20Association%20/Newsroom%20/More,to%2043%25%20in%202020).

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lions-mane-mushroom

https://naturopathic.org/news/news.asp?id=565437&hhSearchTerms=%22coffee%22#:~:text=%E2%80%9CChaga%20can%20be%20supportive%20in,it%20could%20work%20for%20you.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_9

https://www.webmd.com/diet/maitake-mushroom-health-benefits

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/are-you-getting-too-much-protein#:~:text=The%20recommended%20dietary%20allowance%20to,grams%20of%20protein%20per%20day.

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