9 Benefits of Cordyceps - Performance Enhancing Shrooms

If you’ve stayed up-to-date in the world of adaptogens and superfoods, mushrooms have no doubt crossed your path. Particular types of mushrooms offer an array of health and wellness benefits... one of these amazing fungi is cordyceps. 

A popular mushroom for multiple foods and a potent adaptogen, cordyceps are both healthy and tasty.

In this article, we’ll go over nine benefits of consuming cordyceps regularly and how it can benefit your athletic performance. 

Let’s talk about some ‘shrooms!

9 BENEFITS OF CORDYCEPS -- BACKED BY SCIENCE

Unsurprisingly -- an ingredient that has long been known to have adaptogenic qualities and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine has a slew of advantages.

Adaptogens are “non-toxic plants that are marked as helping the body resist stressors of all kinds, whether physical, chemical or biological”. That means cordyceps mushrooms can offer a ton of benefits to our bodies in multiple ways.

Here are just a handful of incredible effects these mushrooms can offer you:

1. BOOSTS ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

The biggest boost cordyceps gives our body is an increase in molecular ATP...the energy transport vehicles for our muscles.

Cordyceps improve our ability to provide energy to our muscles while working out.

Not only that but earlier we mentioned that they also enhance our ability to use oxygen, relieving the lungs and pushing more oxygen through the bloodstream.

Plus, VO2 max - a measurement of overall fitness - has been researched with the aid of cordyceps. 

A study found that VO2 max increased by 7% after the research period for those who took cordyceps versus participants that received a placebo. 

2. REDUCED INFLAMMATION

Inflammation is how your body fights off disease and outside threats.

However, too much inflammation can affect your daily functioning and worst yet...training schedule.

With this cordyceps, you can decrease excessive inflammation.

They do this by suppressing proteins in the body that heighten inflammation. In fact, it could actually be used as an anti-inflammatory supplement. 

3. STRENGTHENS IMMUNE SYSTEM

Cordyceps can optimize the number of killer blood cells in your body (a type of white blood cell). These bad boys protect your whole body from being attacked by bacteria or viruses.

Polysaccharides in the mushroom are also known to aid in immune system defenses.

4. IMPROVED RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

First recognized by Yak herders in Tibet, cordyceps assist cells in oxygen utilization allowing your lungs to function more efficiently.

In fact, your entire respiratory system is better off when you ingest cordyceps.

Multiple studies have shown its powerful effect on certain human afflictions, such as asthma, bronchitis, coughs, and emphysema.

5. ANTI-AGING PROPERTIES + LONGEVITY 

Reduced fatigue, additional strength, and extra libido -- all benefits you could reap by adding cordyceps to your daily regime. 

Cordyceps mushrooms give you the nutritional epitome of the Fountain of Youth. Traditionally used as a tonic for promoting vitality and longevity, cordyceps are packed with antioxidants. 

In turn -- these antioxidants help neutralize free radicals which are known to be key contributors to aging and degenerative disease.  

In one study focusing on longevity, cordyceps were shown to extend the lifespan of fruit flies after daily oral consumption.

6. ANTI-TUMOR PROPERTIES

Researchers believe that one of the benefits of cordyceps is its potential anti-tumor properties. 

Research has shown that cordyceps can potentially slow down the growth of tumors -- which has been proven in both mice studies and human test tube studies.

Interestingly enough, cordyceps has also shown to reverse the adverse effects of various cancer therapy on mice, such as Leukopenia -- a decrease in disease fighting cells caused by chemotherapy.

7. MANAGE TYPE 2 DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes occurs when you spike your blood sugar too often -- resulting in insulin resistance.

Naturally, cordyceps contain a special type of sugar that helps manage diabetes. By consuming cordyceps, you can ensure your body responds to your natural insulin.

Cordyceps mimic insulin and keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range, especially decreasing it from high levels. 

8. IMPROVED SEXUAL HEALTH

Fun fact - cordyceps is also known as “Himalayan Viagra.” 

Turns out...cordyceps prompts testosterone to be released.

This has many benefits... especially in the gym (we’ll get to that). However, it also helps in the bedroom. Cordyceps increases blood circulation, which effectively enhances erectile function, virility, and stamina.

As for the ladies, cordyceps allows for a better biosynthesis of cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone.

9. IMPROVED HEART HEALTH

If you have an unhealthy heart, cordyceps mushrooms might be your saving grace.

Have arrhythmia? China has been using cordyceps as arrhythmia treatment for years. 

Bad cholesterol? This fungus has the power to lower your LDL. 

Higher risk for heart disease? Cordyceps decreases triglyceride levels...a type of fat in your blood. 

Essentially, cordyceps can keep your heart strong for a long time.

BOTTOM LINE 

Hopefully, now you know why yak herders in Tibet held cordyceps in such high regard. They are a potent form of fungi that could boost your athletic performance. Get some cordyceps into your nutrition protocol as quickly as possible!

COMMON QUESTIONS + ANSWERS

Q: WHAT ARE CORDYCEPS?

A: Used in traditional Chinese Medicine traditions for centuries, Cordyceps is a type of fungi with over 400 different species found all over the world. 

Q: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CORDYCEPS?

A: Here are nine benefits of regular cordyceps consumption. 

1. Anti-Aging + Longevity 
2. Anti-Tumor Properties
3. Manages Type 2 Diabetes 
4. Improves Heart Health
5. Strengthens Immune System 
6. Improves Respiratory System
7. Improves Sexual Health 
8. Reduces Inflammation
9. Boosts Athletic Performance

Q: WHEN TO TAKE CORDYCEPS

A: We recommend taking cordyceps in the morning to jumpstart your day as well as 10-15 minutes prior to training and exercise in order to reap the cardiovascular and respiratory benefits associated with cordyceps. 

Q: WHICH ATH PRODUCTS HAS CORDYCEPS?

A: Our Shrooms contains 400mg of Cordyceps to help boost athletic performance, delay fatigue, improve mental focus and clarity, and increase the production of ATP.