7 Ways Cordyceps Benefits Athletes According to Experts

October 22, 2024 | by Silvana Jakupovic, ND

What are Cordyceps?

Cordyceps mushroom is a unique fungi that has been gaining popularity in recent years, especially among athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Known for its remarkable health benefits, Cordyceps has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to improve energy, stamina, and overall physical performance. With its natural adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, Cordyceps is believed to provide athletes a wide range of health benefits, including increased endurance, faster recovery, and improved immune function. In this blog post, we will explore the many Cordyceps benefits for athletes and how it can help them to reach their fitness goals.

What are the Types of Cordyceps Mushrooms?

Cordyceps mushrooms are a type of fungus that belong to the Cordyceps genus, and there are many different species within this category. Some of the most popular types of Cordyceps mushrooms for athletes include Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris. Cordyceps sinensis, also known as caterpillar fungus, is the most well-known species and is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Cordyceps militaris is another type of Cordyceps mushroom that is often used for its energy-boosting properties and is particularly effective for improving physical performance. Regardless of the mushroom types of Cordyceps used, athletes can benefit greatly from incorporating this powerful functional mushroom into their diets.

What are the Known Medical Cordyceps Benefits?

Cordyceps mushrooms are known to offer a wide range of medical benefits, making Cordyceps supplements an ideal choice for athletes looking to enhance their physical performance and overall health. Some of the most well-known medical Cordyceps benefits include improved immune function, increased energy and endurance, reduced inflammation, and enhanced cardiovascular health. Cordyceps mushrooms contain potent adaptogenic compounds, which help the body to adapt to physical and mental stress, as well as anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce inflammation and promote faster recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. Additionally, Cordyceps mushrooms have been shown to support healthy blood sugar levels and improve cardiovascular health by reducing LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the bloodstream. Overall, there are numerous benefits of Cordyceps that an athlete may experience from its use.

7 Cordyceps Benefits for Athletes

May Improve Endurance and Performance

As a natural exercise mimetic, Cordyceps has been shown to improve exercise performance by increasing blood flow, improving our body’s oxygen utilization, and acting as an antioxidant [1]. A study completed on Cordyceps sinensis’ effect on exercise endurance found that the mushroom increased endurance capacity in rats by activating several skeletal muscle metabolic regulators, along with endurance-promoting and antioxidant genes [2]. In addition to this, Cordyceps improved angiogenesis, and better glucose and lactate uptake in both exercised and non-exercised rats [2].  

Reduce Fatigue and Enhance Energy

Cordyceps has also been found to increase time to exhaustion and reduce fatigue during exercise. In one study, it was found that mice treated with Cordyceps had significantly prolonged exhaustive swimming times than the control groups [3]. Additionally, the study measured fatigue-related biochemical parameters and found that Cordyceps decreased concentrations of serum lactic acid, urea nitrogen, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde, while simultaneously increasing liver and muscle glycogen contents and the concentrations of several powerful antioxidants [3]. Overall, the study concluded that Cordyceps may have a powerful anti-fatigue effect if used as a functional food or medicine. 

Increase VO2 Max and Oxygen Intake

A study on 28 individuals taking a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps found that maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), time to exhaustion, and ventilatory thresholds significantly improved after 3 weeks of supplementation [1]. Treated individuals had higher oxygen levels available to them during exercise and their ventilatory threshold (this is the point in exercise where lactate begins to accumulate in the blood) was increased, meaning more oxygen was able to enter the body [1]. 

Stimulates the Production of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

Clinical trials have shown that Cordyceps results in many of the benefits mentioned because it upregulates energy-producing pathways in the body and increases ATP, which is an energy-carrying molecule found in our cells [1]. Additionally, due to its antioxidant capabilities, Cordyceps has been found to improve cellular and mitochondrial antioxidant statuses, leading to enhancement of ATP generation capacity [4].

May Reduce Muscle Damage and Enhance Recovery

With enhanced oxygen utilization and blood flow from the use of Cordyceps, lactate may be cleared more efficiently, and this is said to delay muscle fatigue and soreness [1]. Blood lactate concentration can be used as a predictor of muscle damage after exercise [5]. 

Boosts Immune Function and Reduces Inflammation

Cordyceps mushroom extracts have been found to reduce inflammation through various mechanisms. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression is expressed at high levels in inflammatory diseases and may lead to cellular injury; Cordyceps was found to decrease iNOS expression, thus decreasing levels of inflammation [6]. Additionally, Cordyceps was able to decrease inflammatory markers, while increasing anti-inflammatory ones [6]. 

One study found that oral administration of the fruiting body extract of Cordyceps can increase the level of IFN-y secretion by macrophages through IL-18, suggesting that it may be used as an immune activator or even an anti-tumor agent [6]. 

May Have Benefits for Lung Function and Respiratory Health

Cordyceps may also improve lung function and respiratory health in those who suffer from conditions such as COPD or asthma. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of Cordyceps on stabilized COPD patients found that it may be a promising treatment, or adjunct to treatment, in those with COPD and with no Cordyceps side effects [7]. The 15 studies on 1,238 patients illustrated that Cordyceps has potential benefits in improving lung function, exercise endurance, quality of life, and improvement of various symptoms in those with stable COPD [7]. These benefits are likely attributable to Cordyceps’ ability to prevent airway wall thickening and remodeling, as well as in reducing accumulation and production of inflammatory cells [8]. In this study, Cordyceps even illustrated rebalancing of the disturbed intracellular feedback mechanisms that occur in COPD involving SMADs (important transcription factors in COPD) [8,9].

A study completed on a group of individuals suffering from moderate-to-severe asthma compared the use of Cordyceps supplements, for 3 months, to a placebo and found some remarkable outcomes [10]. The participants were still allowed to use their inhalers and medications as needed, but the addition of Cordyceps to their treatment plans increased their overall quality of life as evaluated by the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). After 3 months, there was a significant improvement in their AQLQ scores, asthma symptoms, as well as their overall lung function [10]. Even more remarkable is that expression levels of several inflammatory markers in the serum were significantly decreased, while IgG (an antibody protecting against bacterial and viral infections) was increased compared to the control group [10]. 

What is the Best Time to Take Cordyceps for the Most Benefits?

While there is no established “best” time to take Cordyceps, it is often taken in the morning alongside coffee or as a coffee replacement due to its energy-producing and maintaining effects. What is most important is ensuring that individuals are taking Cordyceps consistently over time as research has shown that greater benefits result when taken this way, rather than just as needed. 

How to Take Cordyceps for Optimal Athletic Performance?

Add Mushroom Extract to Your Morning Coffee or Tea

Adding the contents of two capsules of Eversio Wellness’ Cordyceps product to a hot cup of coffee or tea makes for an easy addition to your daily morning routine! Mushroom coffee and mushroom tea are all the rage right now, and for good reason, especially when it prevents you from grabbing that second or third cup of coffee. 

Boost Your Smoothies with Mushroom Extract

One of my favourite ways to use mushrooms is adding them into your smoothies! If you’re like me, you like to put as much nutritious goodness into your smoothie as your blender can handle. Adding 2 capsules into your usual recipe provides your smoothies with the extra umph it probably needs. 

Take a look at all the mushrooms recipes Eversio Wellness has to offer here.

Where to Buy Cordyceps Mushroom Supplements?

A handful of athletes have raved about the benefits they’ve achieved from using Eversio Wellness’ Cordyceps product, such as the ones below written by two Rugby players:

Conner Mooneyham, the first ever #1 Major League Rugby collegiate draft selection

"As a professional athlete, using natural products is paramount and Energize Now is a game changer. Warrior gave me actual sustained energy throughout the day unlike a pre-workout or energy drink would! I’m grateful Eversio Ambassador Stacy Paetz chose me to try this product and I will be keeping this in my routine."

Nate Augspurger, Team USA Rugby

"Sustainable Energy without the Jitters! I am a coffee every morning athlete. Since taking a “non-addictive” approach with Eversio Wellness Cordyceps I have been less reliant on that boost in the morning. It feels like a more sustainable energy without any noticeable jitter or heart race like I may at times get from a strong espresso. In a pill form, it became a simple substitute in my daily routine. As an international athlete, supplementation is risky due to the strict guidelines for substance abuse, however, the Energize Now Cordyceps is natural mushroom extract and is not a cause for concern for world class competing athletes. I recommend this to anyone who is trying to keep that consistent energy and enthusiasm in their day."

Although the market for medicinal mushrooms is wide, it is important to be mindful of what is inside of the products you are buying. If you find the words “full spectrum,” “mycelial biomass,” or “extracellular compounds” on the label, this means the product is made from the grain substrate the mushrooms are grown on, and potentially the primordia and fruiting body, all combined and often not in extract form. Full spectrum is often advertised as a beneficial aspect of the product by some companies. Still, you’d need to consume much more of it to achieve the same benefits as you would from a product containing 100% fruiting body. 

Eversio Wellness carries 100% fruiting body-only mushroom extracts, and they consistently practice transparency to their consumers by sharing the COAs (Certificate of Analysis) of each product. The COAs reassure consumers that the percentage of compounds claimed to be in the products is scientifically confirmed through lab testing. Not only does the COA confirm the percentage of beneficial constituents, but it also tests the heavy metal and microbial contents so you can be sure that your mushroom product is safe. 

There’s no better time to buy mushrooms online in today's digital world! If you are interested in using medicinal mushrooms to support your health, take a look at the Cordyceps supplement that Eversio Wellness has to offer here.