CORDYCEPS
Mushrooms really are having their moment! I’m not talking about your supermarket staples; chestnut, button and shiitake. There are some new (or very very old!) guys in town. Meet Lions Mane, Reishi and Cordyceps.
Its Cordyceps, the caterpillar fungus that we’re interested in. This guy is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to performance and hormones. In fact, Cordyceps Sinesis is thought to have been the secret weapon for the unexpected success of the Chinese olympic team in 1996!
These tiny fungi have a savoury, unami flavour and a taste that is similar to that of the chestnut mushroom. They are super rare in the wind so are typically cultivated in green houses (similar to most of the UKs mushrooms) so that we can gain from their amazing health benefits.
Alongside their hormone balancing and performance boosting capabilities, cordyceps are great for heart health, immune support, blood sugar balance, cognitive function and even anti-aging support!
Cordyceps Mushrooms for Performance
There is so much science that shows the benefits of cordyceps in performance:
It improves the way the body utilises oxygen and therefore increases performance, especially at higher altitudes. Participants in this study were supplemented with 3g of a synthetic cordyceps strain called CS-4. There was a 7% increase in Vo2 Max in the study group compared to no increase in the placebo. [1]
Increases tolerance to High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), when supplemented at both high and low dosages [2]
It reduces the impact of physical fatigue by accelerating the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is vital in energy production pathways in the body. [3]
Cordyceps for Hormonal Balance:
Cordyceps has adaptogenic properties. This means that is able to help the body manage stress and restore balance after stressful situations.
It is able to assist with the optimal function of progesterone, oestrogen and cortisol whilst further supporting hormonal health due to its phytoestrogenic properties and its ability to support adrenal glands.
Research, although anecdotal, suggests that cordyceps can also help to regulate menstrual cycles and improve sleep [4]
If you’re intrigued by cordyceps and want to explore introducing it into your day to day, some great sources of Cordyceps are:
Dirtea - Cordyceps Mushroom Powder
Indigo Herbs - Cordyceps CS-4 Powder
London Nootropics - Mojo Coffee
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110835/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5236007/
