Mushroom Tea: Is It Good for You?
Diet & NutritionBeverages

Is Mushroom Tea Good for You?

Is Mushroom Tea Good for You?
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By
Nick Nielsen
Updated on January 5, 2026
by

While drinking mushroom tea has become a popular trend, mushrooms have long been used in traditional medicine for their healing properties.

Here's what you need to know before you add mushroom drinks to your diet.

What Is Mushroom Tea?

Mushroom tea is made by steeping mushroom powder or dried mushrooms in hot water. It is sometimes also blended with black or green tea and other herbal ingredients.

The types of mushrooms typically used in mushroom teas are medicinal varieties, including lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), chaga (Inonotus obliquus), and cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis).

 These mushrooms are chosen for their adaptogenic properties, which are natural compounds in plants and mushrooms that may help your body adapt to stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

Medicinal, or adaptogenic, mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and studies have shown they can offer therapeutic benefits. But more research is needed to understand exactly how they contribute to human health.

5 Potential Health Benefits of Mushroom Tea

Medicinal mushrooms used in teas contain a diversity of nutrients and active compounds that may provide a variety of health benefits, including boosting your immune system and improving digestion and metabolism.

1. Boosts Your Immune System

Oxidative stress is linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. It’s caused by an excess of unstable molecules in your body called "free radicals," which can cause damage to cells. Antioxidants can neutralize these free radicals.

Medicinal mushrooms contain antioxidant compounds (like ergothioneine, vitamin E, and vitamin C) that can protect your body from stress and prevent cell damage. They also contain substances called polysaccharides, including beta-glucan, that activate the immune system, protect against viruses and bacteria, and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

A study published in 2021 in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research found that extracts of chaga (Inonotus obliquus) mushrooms in particular had higher polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity than other medicinal mushrooms.

2. Aids Blood Sugar Control

Maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is important if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Extracts of medicinal mushrooms, including lion's mane and reishi, contain antidiabetic compounds that may help regulate blood sugar and reduce insulin resistance. They also have a low glycemic index, meaning they won't cause your blood sugar to spike.

In an animal study published in 2023 in the Journal of Fungi, researchers gave high doses of A. bisporus extract to rats. After 3 weeks, the rats had significantly decreased blood glucose and triglyceride levels.

It's important to note that while studies in animals are promising, human studies are still needed to confirm these effects.

3. Supports Weight Loss

Because mushrooms are low in calories and high in fiber, they may support weight loss as part of a well-balanced diet. Their antidiabetic properties may also help regulate your metabolism and support weight loss, though more evidence is needed for these effects.

4. Provides Vitamin D

Medicinal mushrooms can be a good source of vitamin D. Mushrooms contain the compound ergosterol, which converts to vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which is important for strengthening bones and teeth. It also plays a role in reducing inflammation and regulating your immune system.

The vitamin D content of medicinal mushrooms can vary depending on how they are grown, processed, and stored. Dried mushrooms exposed to UV light may contain as much as 15 micrograms (mcg), which is almost 100 percent of the daily recommended vitamin D intake for adults.

5. Improves Your Gut Microbiome

Prebiotics are components in food that feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut.

 They are primarily found in fruits and vegetables — particularly those that contain complex carbohydrates.
Mushrooms are also a good source of fiber and other prebiotics that encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria, helping to balance your gut microbiome. Medicinal mushrooms, including lion's mane and reishi, are among the most frequently reported edible mushrooms known to benefit gut flora.

Health Risks of Mushroom Tea

More studies are still needed to confirm the health effects of medicinal mushrooms and mushroom teas in humans. But traditional usage along with in vitro and animal studies suggest they may generally be safe.

Still, it's important to note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate supplements the same way as foods and other medicines. Because of this, it's important to consult with your doctor before regularly consuming mushroom teas.

Should You Try Mushroom Tea?

Because of their many potential benefits and low risks, medicinal mushrooms can be a healthy addition to your diet.

Drinking mushroom tea can be an easy way to get more of the beneficial compounds in medicinal mushrooms. Because they are regulated differently, you should always use caution and read nutrition labels before consuming mushroom tea.

“If you’ve checked it out with your healthcare team and the drink helps you feel better, then it’s worth a try,” says Christy Brissette, RDN, the founder of 80 Twenty Nutrition in Chicago.

The Takeaway

  • Mushroom tea is made by steeping mushroom powder or extract in hot water. It is commonly made with medicinal mushrooms, including lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), chaga (Inonotus obliquus), and cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis).
  • Medicinal mushrooms in mushroom tea contain adaptogens and other compounds that may provide a variety of health benefits, including boosting your immune system, balancing blood sugar, and improving digestion.
  • While generally safe, research is still limited on the effects of mushrooms in mushroom teas. Because teas are regulated differently from other foods, use caution when choosing mushroom tea products.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Łysakowska P et al. Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production: A Review. Molecules. July 14, 2023.
  2. Adaptogens. Cleveland Clinic. February 10, 2022.
  3. Singh A et al. Mushrooms as Nutritional Powerhouses: A Review of Their Bioactive Compounds, Health Benefits, and Value-Added Products. Foods. February 22, 2025.
  4. Oxidative Stress. Cleveland Clinic. February 29, 2024.
  5. Sharpe E et al. Comparison of antioxidant activity and extraction techniques for commercially and laboratory prepared extracts from six mushroom species. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. March 23, 2021.
  6. Mushrooms. The Nutrition Source.
  7. Vitamin D: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. June 27, 2025.
  8. Prebiotics, probiotics and the microbes in your gut: Key to your digestive health. Mayo Clinic Press. April 25, 2025.
  9. Venturella G et al. Medicinal Mushrooms: Bioactive Compounds, Use, and Clinical Trials. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. January 10, 2021.
  10. Dietary Supplements. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. October 1, 2024.
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Justin Laube

Justin Laube, MD

Medical Reviewer

Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, and trauma healing.

He graduated with a bachelor's in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He completed his three-year residency training in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles on the primary care track and a two-year fellowship in integrative East-West primary care at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine.

He is currently taking a multiyear personal and professional sabbatical to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, disease, and the processes of healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions. He is working on a book distilling the insights from his sabbatical, teaching, and leading retreats on trauma, integrative health, mindfulness, and well-being for health professionals, students, and the community.

Previously, Dr. Laube was an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he provided primary care and integrative East-West medical consultations. As part of the faculty, he completed a medical education fellowship and received a certificate in innovation in curriculum design and evaluation. He was the fellowship director at the Center for East-West Medicine and led courses for physician fellows, residents, and medical students.

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