Whether you’re a professional athlete, gym bunny, or preparing for a fitness competition, you could probably do with a little boost. Reaching athletic goals takes a lot of hard work, physically and mentally.
Taking something to give an edge to feel more energized, push one more rep, or power through the final stages of a competition is a necessity for many. While there is no shortage of supplements for athletes, one is gaining significant momentum in the natural health space: cordyceps mushroom capsules.
Cordyceps are a type of functional mushroom long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat illnesses ranging from fatigue to high cholesterol. In the modern world, products like cordyceps capsules are becoming a go-to supplement for athletes.
In this article, we talk about how cordyceps mushroom capsules can support athletic performance and endurance.
What are Cordyceps Mushrooms?
Cordyceps are a type of fungus revered worldwide for their fascinating potential properties, especially their ability to boost energy, strength, and endurance.
Some may argue that cordyceps are not really a mushroom but rather a parasitic fungus because of the way they grow. In the wild, the fungus grows on insect larvae (often caterpillars), infecting and killing them. The fungus takes over and sprouts out of the insect’s body with its fruiting body in finger-like stems.
The problem with naturally grown cordyceps is that they’re very rare, making them expensive to produce commercially. Therefore, they’re typically lab-grown in a controlled environment with rice. Cordyceps found in the wild are known as cordyceps sinensis, while the lab-grown variety is called cordyceps militaris.
The cordyceps used in Western supplements like cordyceps mushroom capsules are of the militaris variety. They’re the same and just as effective as those grown naturally, but they’re more cost-effective to produce.
How Cordyceps Mushroom Capsules Can Boost Athletic Performance
The cordyceps mushroom is full of bioactive compounds, including adenosine, cordycepin, nucleotides, polysaccharides, and proteins, contributing to its beneficial effects.
Here are a few of the ways cordyceps mushroom capsules are beneficial in the fitness world.
Boosts Energy Levels
As reported in a 2016 study, cordyceps can help the body produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules. These are key to delivering energy to the muscles. This may increase oxygen intake and use in the body, especially during exercise.
This is significant because it means cordyceps can help combat muscle fatigue and help keep us fueled for longer. Unlike a sugar high, cordyceps won’t provide a short-term solution that will eventually cause you to crash and burn. Instead, they can provide a long-lasting supply of energy.
Improves Endurance and Stamina
The same study mentioned above also found that participants using cordyceps had a significant increase in VO2 max. This is a measurement of how much oxygen your body uses during exercise of increasing intensity.
By improving oxygen uptake, cordyceps mushroom capsules could increase one’s tolerance to high-intensity exercise. For the same reason, they can also prolong an athlete’s time to exhaustion, allowing them to train longer and harder before becoming fatigued.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Cordyceps mushrooms also have anti-inflammatory properties, which play right into the hands of athletes. Some physical discomfort and inflammation are inevitable when your body is continuously subjected to intense exercise and training, which can hamper an athlete’s performance.
Cordycepin, a key compound of cordyceps, can help fight inflammation by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide and protein kinases. While more research is needed on the subject, cordycepin seems to have a lot of potential in combating inflammation.
Why Choose Cordyceps Mushroom Capsules?
First and foremost, cordyceps mushrooms are a natural solution to your physical performance needs. There is no need to pump your body full of harmful chemicals and synthetic additives.
As for choosing capsules over other delivery formats, well, it doesn’t get more simple than popping a pill as you need. While capsules won’t be the preferred choice for everyone – some may prefer powder or gummies – they have many advantages.
Here’s why many people choose cordyceps mushroom capsules:
- Easy to use
- Contain a precise amount of cordyceps extract per capsule (easy to control dosage)
- Can carry in your gym bag
- Tasteless and discreet
Vidacap is a popular mushroom brand that sells cordyceps capsules. This company is renowned for supplying the market with high-quality, expertly crafted supplements.