CORDYCEPS: Nature’s Remarkable Energy and Immunity Booster.

To Summarize: Clinical studies have found associations between Cordyceps supplementation and improved learning and memory, reduced fatigue, improved endurance during exercise, less muscle damage and stress and decreased oxidative stress. 

Cordyceps are a unique genus of fungi including over 400 species. Traditionally found in the high-altitude regions of China, Tibet, and Nepal, Cordyceps have been used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for centuries. They have garnered global attention for its wide array of health benefits. These benefits include:

• Enhancing athletic performance 
• Increasing energy levels
• Boosting immune function
• Possessing anti-aging properties.

This article highlights five studies whose findings support these claims.

STUDY 1: Learning and Memory.

• This rodent study was designed to explore the anti-ageing properties of Cordyceps sinensis extract in aged and castrated mice, focusing on cognitive functions, sexual activity, and antioxidative effects. 

• The experiment administered Cordyceps sinensis extract at dosages of 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 g/kg to the mice over a period of 6 weeks. 

KEY FINDINGS:

• The findings indicated significant improvements in learning and memory in aged mice receiving 2.0 and 4.0 g/kg doses.
• Particularly, mice treated with the highest dose (4.0 g/kg) showed well-preserved cellular structure in the hippocampus, suggesting a protective effect of the extract against cellular damage associated with aging.
• Additionally, the study observed enhanced sexual function in castrated mice. 
• The extract also increased the activity of antioxidative enzymes, highlighting its potential antioxidative properties.
• Furthermore, a decrease in the activity of monoamine oxidase was noted, indicating a beneficial impact on brain function and a possible preventive effect against age-related cognitive decline.

STUDY 2: Fatigue.

• This rodent study aimed to assess the anti-fatigue effects of Cordyceps militaris on mice. 
• The study was structured to compare the efficacy of Cordyceps militaris when combined with extruded products of cereal grains against the effects of the extruded products alone and a control group receiving distilled water. The extruded products of cereal grains refer to food items derived from cereal grains (like wheat or corn) that have been processed under heat and pressure to enhance digestibility and nutritional value.
• The mice were divided into three groups and administered varying dosages of 5, 10, and 20 g/kg of Cordyceps militaris combined with the extruded cereal grain products, the extruded cereal grain products alone, and distilled water for a duration of 30 days. 

KEY FINDINGS:.

• The supplementation with Cordyceps militaris was found to significantly reduce fatigue in mice, enhance their exercise endurance, lower muscle damage and stress, and decrease oxidative stress levels. Oxidative stress, characterized by an excess of free radicals that can harm cells, is a key contributor to fatigue. Cordyceps militaris helps combat this condition by reducing free radical presence, thereby protecting cells from damage, which results in increased energy levels and reduced fatigue.

STUDY 3: Endurance.

• This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effects of Cordyceps militaris supplementation on high-intensity exercise performance in healthy adults. 
• The study involved 28 recreationally active adults aged 18-35 years, with a subset of 10 participants continuing into a second phase for an additional two weeks, totaling up to three weeks of intervention. 
• Participants were administered a daily dose of 4 g of a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris, divided into three capsules of 1.3 g each, or a placebo consisting of 4 g of maltodextrin.

KEY FINDINGS:

• After one week of supplementation, the study did not observe significant improvements in exercise performance between the Cordyceps militaris group and the placebo group. However, extending the supplementation to three weeks revealed notable improvements in maximal oxygen consumption among the participants who received Cordyceps militaris. 
• This increase in VO2max indicates an enhanced aerobic capacity, suggesting that the body’s ability to utilize oxygen during endurance activities was improved. 
• Additionally, there were indications of improvements in the ventilatory threshold and time to exhaustion, implying that participants could sustain higher exercise intensities for longer periods, which is a key component of improved endurance performance.

Follow link to review further studies in greater detail: 

https://www.nfsupplements.co.uk/pages/scientific-studies-database-by-natural-foundation

CORDYCEPS MAY BE SUITABLE FOR YOU IF…

• You want to strengthen your immune system

• You’re prone to inflammation

• You have high blood sugar or cholesterol levels

• You want to improve your cognitive and reproductive health