Cordyceps

[Poser]

A search showed that Cordyceps have come up a handful of times on Rokslide, but no detailed discussion. After reading over and over that a number of mountaineers have been swearing by Cordycep supplementation -some even claiming that its almost the steroid equivalent for endurance performance, I started experimenting with it this winter and spring.

I started with 250 mg of 10:1 Cordyceps Extract in my coffee. After 4-5 days of using, I definitely started to perceive the effects just from a general energy standpoint early in the morning every day. I get up at 4 AM daily and get my works outs done early in the morning. This time of year, I'm also out backcountry skiing a fair amount, so I still have a focus on endurance. On the days that I hit the ski resort, I often still do a conditioning workout at 5:15 AM, so even those "fun" days make for some pretty long days out in the mountains. After about 45 days, I upped the daily doser to 500 mg of Cordyceps in my first cup of coffee. This is where I really started to notice the improved performance effects. I start sipping on coffee usually right at 4:15 AM and with 500 mg of Cordyceps, come 5:15, I'm ready to go -my body wants to move. I've had days where I got up pretty wrecked from the previous day: stood up out of bed and immediately decided that I needed to rest vs. getting back cout in the mountains -super low energy, heavy legs, tight and fatigued, brain fog... only to change my mind 50 minutes later, grab the splitboard, skins and pack and head back out for another 3,000-4,000 feet of uphill.


As we've moved into the Spring season where avalanche danger drops off and bigger, steep objects become reasonably safe, I thought I'd try a bit more of a dose on the bigger days out in the mountains, so ordered a box of Cordyceps based energy drinks. These have 1500 mg Lions Mane and 1250 mg Cordyceps with 85 grams of caffeine (about a cup of coffee worth of caffeine). I'll down can of this around mid morning. Its not dramatic by any stretch, but I totally perceive an energy and focus boost and I feel somewhat energized most of the rest of the day. Maybe even a slight body buzz. If nothing else, I find myself not having to fight nodding off on the drive back home. I do find them noticeably more effective downing the can vs. sipping on one for 20-30 minutes, at least that was my experience when I sipped on one at the gym to try out for the first time vs. downing one and getting moving again. They also seem to have more an a direct effective for sustained, sub maximal/ zone 2 output vs. benefits for higher intensity.

After experimenting with mushroom supplementation for about 3 months, I'm fairly sold on the performance benefits. I could live without it, but for the cost to performance ratio, its a perfectly reasonable tradeoff. Again, Its not anything dramatic, but its certainly perceivable. I'm rather curious if anyone would be interested in validating my experience with these mushrooms.

Here is the Cordyceps 10:1 Extract powder I've been using in coffee: https://nootropicsdepot.com/cordyce...al-mushroom-extract-powder/?searchid=13041670
They do have it in capsule form and its also available on Amazon.

Here is the energy drink: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HY2M2SV?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
I've been using the "Elixr" though they do have a dedicated pre workout version which I haven't tried.

If anyone has any Anecdotal experience, I'd be interested in hearing it.

 

[mtbraun]

Interesting, thanks for sharing. Did you happen to capture baseline data like resting HR, HRV, avg. HR during zone 2 activity, sleep data such as time in deep & REM sleep, etc.? I'd be curious in understanding how this supplement impacted those metrics.

 

[Poser]

Interesting, thanks for sharing. Did you happen to capture baseline data like resting HR, HRV, avg. HR during zone 2 activity, sleep data such as time in deep & REM sleep, etc.? I'd be curious in understanding how this supplement impacted those metrics.

No, I don't track anything except times on a weekly training hike as a gauge. -otherwise just rely on perception. I would certainly benefit from tracking such metrics, but there is also something to be said for relying on perception and building your "embodied cognition", physical intelligence or somatic understanding. I went through a phase some years back where I used a HR monitor etc, but seem to enjoy my (conditioning specific) training more just going with intuition. I do use more metrics for strength training, though.

There are plenty of studies out there that show promising results: lowered heart rate to the same submaximal intensity at eight weeks and improved aerobic performance at 12 weeks. There are also studies showing reduced inflammation, heart health and A1C levels.
Use Google scholar to search for peer reviewed studies.

However, my issues with almost all performance related studies are that they are simply too short.

 

[justinspicher]

If I can’t pronounce it, I’m probably not taking it.

On a more serious note, this is pretty interesting, would you say it’s a better alternative to T?

 

[Poser]

If I can’t pronounce it, I’m probably not taking it.

On a more serious note, this is pretty interesting, would you say it’s a better alternative to T?

Its just concentrated mushroom extract that is pronounced just as it is spelled.

I wouldn't compare it to supplemental Testosterone as T in any way except for the potential benefit of focus and mental clarity, but I've never used supplemental T so I can't speak to that directly. I would imagine the cognitive benefits from increased T are much more dramatic.

 

[FuddRucker]

I've tried shrooms supps before, and as with many others, I didn't experience any noticeable performance effects that couldn't be explained by placebo. It very well could work and I may have not been dosing enough. That said, I feel like most supps offer marginal benefits if at all and rarely warrant the cost.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts after more prolonged use.