RYZE Mushroom Coffee has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional coffee, promising sustained energy without the jitters. This review delves into the ingredients, potential benefits, taste, and overall effectiveness of RYZE Mushroom Coffee, particularly in relation to weight loss.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.
What is RYZE Mushroom Coffee?
RYZE Mushroom Coffee is an organic blend of dried adaptogenic mushrooms, coffee, MCT oil, and coconut milk. It combines six powerful adaptogenic mushrooms with organic Arabica coffee, creating a unique blend that promises more than just a morning energy boost.
Ingredients
The magic of Ryze lies in its carefully selected, organic ingredients. Each ingredient serves a specific purpose:
- Cordyceps: Originally discovered in the Himalayan plateaus, these mushrooms increase oxygen utilization for sustained energy and faster recovery. They're your natural energy booster without the crash.
- Lion's Mane: Known as the "smart mushroom," it's been used by Buddhist monks for centuries to enhance focus and mental clarity during meditation. Mushrooms like Lion’s Mane are linked to cognitive enhancement, including better focus, memory, and mental clarity.
- Reishi: Called the "mushroom of immortality" in eastern medicine, it helps manage stress and promotes better sleep quality. Reishi is often referred to as the “mushroom of immortality” in traditional Chinese medicine and is known for its calming, adaptogenic properties.
- Turkey Tail: Named for its distinctive stripes, this mushroom supports gut health and digestion through its antimicrobial properties.
- Shiitake: Beyond its culinary fame, this mushroom strengthens immune function and supports healthy metabolism.
- King Trumpet: Rich in amino acids and antioxidants, it fights oxidative stress and boosts overall immunity.
- Organic Arabica Coffee: Shade-grown and carefully roasted Mexican beans provide a smooth, mild coffee base with just 48mg of caffeine per serving.
- Organic MCT Oil: Derived from coconuts, it provides clean energy and supports cognitive function.
- Organic Coconut Milk: Adds natural creaminess and healthy fats while making the mushroom blend more bioavailable.
It's equally important to note what's not in Ryze: no artificial additives, no fillers, no added sugar, and no mysterious ingredients you can't pronounce. All of their ingredients are 100% organic and naturally processed.
Read also: Unlocking the Potential of Ryze Matcha
Adaptogens
Adaptogenic mushrooms are a group of fungi known for their ability to help the body manage stress and restore balance. The use of medicinal mushrooms is based on ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic practices, but research on medicinal mushroom benefits is mostly limited to animal or petri dish studies.
Potential Benefits of RYZE Mushroom Coffee
Those who love mushroom coffee will tell you that it can help your body in several ways. However, many of those claims haven't been proven yet. The presence of mushrooms does add potential health benefits to this interesting beverage.
Energy and Focus
RYZE mushroom coffee contains less caffeine than coffee and is rich in mushroom antioxidants. At just 48mg of caffeine per cup (less than half of regular coffee), it's the mushrooms doing the heavy lifting here, not the caffeine. Cordyceps mushrooms have long been used to boost stamina and oxygen utilization. Some RYZE customers report increased energy and focus, while others say they don’t feel any different.
Immune System Support
Mushrooms have beneficial compounds, such as:
- Polyphenols
- Polysaccharides
- Vitamins
- Carotenoids
- Minerals
These have major antioxidant properties. So, experts believe that mushroom coffee can provide antioxidants that support your immune system. Chaga and Reishi mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and beta-glucans, compounds that may help support immune function and combat inflammation. Many medicinal mushrooms are loaded with antioxidants that protect the body from oxidative stress and free radical damage.
Read also: In-Depth Look: Everyday Dose and Ryze
Stress Management
Studies show that adaptogens, such as the mushrooms in mushroom coffee, level out the amount of cortisol in your blood and saliva. So, this drink could potentially help you manage stress. Reishi is often referred to as the “mushroom of immortality” in traditional Chinese medicine and is known for its calming, adaptogenic properties.
Gut Health
Turkey Tail supports gut health and digestion through its antimicrobial properties. I've also been in the market for a product to help with bloating that I've been experiencing lately, and a bunch of Ryze customer's noted that Ryze really helped their bloating too. I didn't realize coffee could really mess up your gut so much, but my doctor had convinced me of it.
RYZE Mushroom Coffee and Weight Loss
Some people think mushroom coffee can speed up your metabolism and help you burn more fat. But does RYZE mushroom coffee really work for weight loss? RYZE probably isn’t effective for weight loss on its own. This is one claim I keep seeing in the ads, saying mushroom coffee will help you lose weight, and I haven’t had any luck with that. To lose weight, the most important thing is to be in a calorie deficit. For full disclosure, I am almost 50, menopausal and fighting that “meno belly” bloating by trying to eat better and regularly workout.
However, if you're replacing high-calorie coffee drinks with RYZE (which has only 15 calories per serving), it could support your overall weight management goals. The stable energy it provides might also help reduce cravings and crashes that lead to unhealthy snacking.
Taste and Preparation
Despite containing coffee the taste still received mixed reviews from people making the switch from traditional coffee. Ryze has a smooth, coffee-forward taste with subtle earthy undertones. It really doesn't taste like mushrooms (luckily)- instead, Ryze has a gentle, less acidic coffee taste with a hint of earthiness and natural creaminess from the coconut milk.
Read also: Protein Coffee Smoothie Recipe
Nicole mixed one tablespoon of mushroom coffee powder with 8 ounces of hot water for a warm, comforting beverage. It's simple: mix one tablespoon with 8-10 ounces of hot water.
Taste Experience
As a long-time coffee enthusiast, I can tell you it's unique, but not in the way you might be thinking. If you add milk or creamer to your real coffee, then you will have no issue with Ryze. You'll notice it might actually taste much better and palatable. In the beginning, I found the taste most approachable in the afternoon rather than first thing in the morning when my taste buds were extra sensitive. I originally started with some really hot water and sometimes adding a splash of oat milk or my favorite creamer. I used the same creamer I had used with my coffee (thank you Coffee Mate) and that made Ryze quite delicious off the bat.
Preparation Tips
It's simple: mix one tablespoon with 8-10 ounces of hot water. I personally like to:
- Use very hot water for the best dissolution
- Stir thoroughly to avoid clumping
- Add milk or creamer if desired (though it's already creamy from the coconut milk)
You can also blend it into smoothies or make iced versions during warmer months.
Potential Downsides
Some downsides of mushroom coffee are that it doesn’t taste the same as coffee and that adaptogenic mushrooms may not be safe for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals.
Taste
The taste is different from your regular cup of joe. It's earthy and smooth, with a subtle coffee flavor that takes some getting used to. You might not love it off the bat, but you'll get used to it (and start to appreciate it). The earthiness might take a few days to get used to, especially if you're accustomed to strong, conventional coffee.
Third-Party Testing
Unfortunately, RYZE doesn’t have third-party testing done for their mushroom coffee. And because RYZE uses a proprietary mushroom blend, we’re even less certain about what you’re getting in each bag. A lot of dietary supplement brands will have their products independently tested throughout their manufacturing process to reflect their confidence in their product and also give consumers third-party results on what is actually in their products. Since Ryze doesn't do this, you have nothing to really look at to see if the ingredients in their products are truly what they say they are.
Proprietary Blend
However, we could only rate the formulation a 3 out of 5 since RYZE uses a proprietary blend of mushrooms. This means the amount of each specific mushroom is unclear.
Customer Reviews and Experiences
Many customers love the woodsy flavor, especially when mixed with coffee creamers, cinnamon, oat milk, or cocoa powder to imitate hot cocoa. Many mentioned feeling more well-rested, sleeping better, feeling energized but not jittery, having less bloating and anxiety, and improved their skin and hair. Customers leaving negative reviews generally comment that they don't love the taste, think it's too expensive or say that they didn't feel the benefits.
Who Should Avoid RYZE Mushroom Coffee?
You should avoid mushroom coffee if you have kidney problems, sensitivity to grains, or a high risk for kidney stones. While Ryze uses natural ingredients, it's always best to consult with your healthcare provider before using any supplement during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The adaptogenic mushrooms and caffeine content may not be suitable for everyone. If you're sensitive to mushrooms or take blood thinners, diabetes medication, or cancer treatments, consult your healthcare provider first.
Cost and Availability
You can order mushroom coffee online, but some health food stores might have it. It comes in many different forms, including:
- Mushroom coffee grounds
- Premade lattes
- Instant packets
- Pods
It costs about twice as much as regular coffee. At around $1.20 per serving (if you go with their subscription model), RYZE isn't the cheapest coffee alternative out there. It costs me about 20% more than my coffee routine would, but overall, it's just an extra $10 per month or so.
You can usually save some money by signing up for a subscription or waiting for seasonal sales. At the time of writing, for example, RYZE was offering a 40% summer discount.
Is RYZE Worth It?
OK - now the real talk. Is it worth it? How does Ryze compare to daily coffee in terms of price? And if we are being real - that is absolutely worth all of the benefits that Ryze gives me.
Ryze does offer a subscription service with free shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it relatively risk-free to try. Their products start around $27/month and you get a bunch of free add-ons in your first order. So it's a great value off the bat and if you don't need more than a cup per day, then it likely ends up being cheaper than coffee (less than $1/day). If you don't love online subscriptions, then you might not like Ryze. It's a subscription-first business.