The Role of Ritual: Why Drinking Mushrooms Daily Can Improve Your Mental Wellbeing
Drinking mushrooms first thing in the morning? If you know, you know.
We’ve all been there. Our alarm goes off and we hit snooze without a second thought – or worse: we sleep through the sound entirely. What was supposed to be a luxurious hour-long morning routine slips past and now we’re eating and drinking on the go, totally thrown off for the day.
This, friends, is the importance of a solid morning routine. Small mindful rituals in the morning set the tone for the rest of our day. These moments of pause to collect ourselves before facing the day and interacting with others can impact how we show up in the world.
First Thing’s First: A Brief History of the Morning Routine
Human beings crave routine. At its most basic, a routine is one less thing to plan out in our day, saving us precious creative energy (and thus, energy!)
Morning routines have anchored civilizations since antiquity. Ancient Egyptians began their days with rituals that honored specific deities1 (particularly the sun god, Ra). If you’re a yogini and kick your morning off with a sun salutation, you’re channeling this tradition. These ceremonies were often followed by cleansing, prayer, and offerings of food to gods and goddesses – all in favor of maintaining cosmic balance.
(So: shower, gratitude journaling, and breakfast – did we get that right?)
In ancient India, dinacharya is an Ayurvedic tradition that emphasizes the importance of structure in the morning. It includes practices still cultivated today, like oral hygiene, meditation, and physical exercise, promoting both physical and spiritual wellbeing.
It’s important to note that the goal of a morning routine is not perfection, but structure. Your morning routine is not a beauty ideal, but an opportunity for a more balanced way of living.
The Global Morning Routine: Drinks Across Cultures
No morning routine is complete, however, without a warm beverage. Of course, the most popular morning routine drink is coffee. While the buzz of caffeine makes some unpleasantly jittery, many can’t function without it.
Coffee has deep roots across many cultures. In Italy, for instance, if you’re a coffee drinker you’re likely not brewing a pot on your countertop (unless it’s a moka pot) but pulling a shot of espresso – or starting the day with an espresso sipped quickly at a local bar amongst the company strangers.
In Turkey, coffee plays a pivotal role in social customs. The tradition of brewing Turkish coffee dates back to the 15th century. It’s been so influential that it was inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list by UNESCO.2
The Best Morning Routine Drinks (That Aren’t Just Coffee)
The best drinks to enjoy first thing in the morning rehydrate the body, provide a gentle uplift from caffeine or other active ingredients, and support digestion. Here are some of our favorites that soothe the body without upsetting the stomach or nervous system (in no order):
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Warm water with lemon
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Tea (Herbal, green, or black; depending on your caffeine tolerance)
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Coffee, blended functional mushrooms (to balance out the caffeine intake)
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Bone broth
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Green smoothies
How to Bring Ritual To Your Morning Routine Drink
If we want to operate from a place of love – and not fear or ego – allowing yourself to pause and reflect first thing in the morning can help you get there. Rituals anchor us to something larger than ourselves, mitigating anxiety and setting positive intentions for the day ahead.
When it comes to introducing any wellness habit into your life, consistency is key. Bringing ritual to your morning routine can help the habit feel more spiritually fulfilling. If you’re a night owl naturally and hoping to become an early riser, manage expectations and allow your body to adjust to the new routine slowly.
We recommend these four steps for cultivating a new ritual or boosting an existing one. Each can be used morning, noon, or night.
- Set the stage. Do you have a favorite chair you like to sit in each morning that catches the light just so? Do you warm up by the radiators in the wintertime? Do you prefer to crawl back into bed for one last moment of coziness? Snuggle a pet? Whatever it is, return to the same place each day so that your body and mind know what to expect.
- Brew with intention. Whether your morning routine drink is making a pour-over coffee, whisking up a mug of Cocoa Chai, or steeping herbal tea, use the same equipment every day and show it the love and care you would if it were a pet or a plant. Wash and dry your carafe, frother, or mug after use so that they’re ready for you the following morning. (And while you’re at it, have a glass of water. Because: hydration.)
- Pair with self-reflection. A 10-minute meditation (try this while your water boils if you’re using an electric kettle), journaling about the day prior, reading a chapter in a novel, or setting a single, vivid intention for the day ahead are all good options. Avoid texting, emailing, reading the news, or any other task that takes the focus away from you.
Close with ease. Give yourself time to enter and exit the ritual. It can be helpful to set a timer so that you can fully relax in the moment. When the timer is up, make sure you give yourself a few minutes to stretch and put your mug/brewing equipment away before moving into the next activity.
Why Drink Mushrooms First Thing In The Morning?
It will come as no surprise that one of our favorite ways to kick off the day is by drinking mushrooms. (Warm water with a squeeze of lemon is always advisable before welcoming in the energizing effects of a coffee + mushroom blend or a mushroom latte).
Drinking mushrooms as a part of your morning wellness ritual not only gives you the gratification of having a moment to pause and collect your thoughts before facing the world, but it’s also an easy, automatic way of getting into the habit of incorporating functional mushrooms into your diet – improving mental clarity, reducing stress, and enhancing overall mental well-being. Read on to learn why this ritual is such a powerful start to your day.
The Mental Health Benefits of Drinking Mushrooms
Aside from the less-tangible benefits of drinking mushrooms in the morning (these beverages simply taste and feel good going down), there are three key benefits to your morning mushroom brew:
Improved Focus and Clarity
Our founder (and certified Chinese herbalist), Maria, chose to include lion’s mane mushroom in our six-mushroom formula because of the cognitive support it provides. By promoting neurogenesis (growth of new neurons) and synaptic connections, lion's mane supports improved cognitive function, memory, and focus.
Scientists have studied how two bioactive compounds – hericenones, found in the fruiting body, and erinacine found in the mycelia – can help reduce neurodegeneration due to poor diet, lack of sleep, and prolonged stress.
Stress Reduction
Many functional mushrooms have adaptogenic qualities, but cordyceps in particular help reduce stress. Cordyceps regulate the production of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. By supporting the adrenal glands and regulating the production of this stress hormone, cordyceps may help reduce feelings of anxiety.
Mood Balance
Some days you’re high, some days you’re low. Mood imbalance can be caused by many different factors, but inflammation in the body plays a role. The anti-inflammatory properties of the chaga mushroom indirectly support mood and brain function. Chaga contains a remarkable concentration of betulinic acid, a compound derived from birch trees that is known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
Which Are The Best Drinks With Mushrooms To Consider?
If you’re looking to switch up your morning beverage, mushrooms are here for you. We’ve waxed poetic about functional mushrooms on our blog before, but we’ll repeat it for the crowd in the back row: Functional mushrooms are mushrooms that have been studied for their health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
Coffees blended with functional mushrooms, instant mushroom lattes, and ready-to-drink beverages that require no mixing are designed to make incorporating functional mushrooms daily super simple.
In Conclusion:
- Morning routines are as old as time, and historically involved prayer, offerings, cleansing, and meditation rituals.
- Rituals can be built around beverages, coffee being one of the most popular.
- Drinking mushrooms first thing in the morning – either as a coffee blend, or instant latte – can help improve mental clarity and focus, reduce stress, and balance your mood before your day has even begun.
- Functional mushroom beverages combine mindfulness, health, and simplicity to help people start their day grounded and focused.
- Rituals can make your morning routine drinks feel more spiritually nourishing.
