Q&A: What Is the Best Time to Take Cordyceps?

Most of us develop our daily routines with a focus on overall health and wellness. To support cardiac and respiratory health, we build in exercise, whether that means a trip to the gym or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator. We try to get adequate sleep and manage stress. We structure our diet around nutritious foods and fill in the gaps with dietary supplements.

One supplement that has become very popular, especially with athletes and exercise enthusiasts, is a functional mushroom called cordyceps. Considered a superfood, cordyceps provides simple nutrition and more. Like other functional mushroom species, besides the typical macro- and micronutrients, it contains a variety of bioactive ingredients that support the body’s healthy physiologic functioning and balance.

Perhaps you are interested in extra support for your workouts, but you have questions about the benefits of cordyceps. What type of support does it provide? What is the best time to take cordyceps? Where can I find it? Consider these answers to some frequently asked questions to access all the information you need to get started.

Where Does Cordyceps Come From?

There are many species of cordyceps, but two, in particular, are valued as superfoods. Classified as entomopathogenic fungi because they parasitize insect larvae, cordyceps is found on the Tibetan Plateau in China and in the Himalayan Mountains between China and India. It has been an important component of traditional medicine in these countries for centuries.

While overharvesting has made some cordyceps species endangered in the wild, fortunately, Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris have been successfully cultivated without an insect host. Comparison studies show that cultivated cordyceps contains similar amounts of bioactive compounds as the ones harvested in nature. There is some variation between compounds found in the mycelium and the fruiting body, so deriving cordyceps’ full benefit requires a supplement containing both.

What Type of Support Does Cordyceps Provide?

As a functional mushroom, cordyceps supports low-calorie nutrition. It provides essential amino acids, B vitamins, and minerals. Its superfood capacity is attributed to its many bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, sterols, and nucleosides.

Exercise is essential for cardiac and respiratory health. One of cordyceps’ primary benefits relates to energy support. Research conducted with young adults receiving a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris showed they experienced greater tolerance for high-intensity exercise after one week of supplementation and additional benefits after three. Studies with animals have revealed that supplementation with cordyceps may increase exercise endurance as well as shortening post-workout recovery.^‡

As an adaptogenic mushroom, cordyceps supports the body’s maintenance of homeostatic balance. The healthy functioning of our body’s many systems relies on its capacity to maintain balance. When stresses pull you off-center, cordyceps’ supports your body’s ability to regain equilibrium.^‡

Due to its polysaccharide content, cordyceps, like other functional mushrooms, supports the body’s natural immune response. In addition, its prebiotic fiber promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.^‡   

What Is the Best Time to Take Cordyceps?

Because functional mushrooms provide your body nutrition and foundational support, when you take them is less important than how often. The benefits of cordyceps are realized with regular use, so taking a daily dose is key to ensuring your body is supported. As previously stated, research has established that cordyceps’ support for exercise tolerance and endurance was evident in as little as one week of regular use.

How Can I Incorporate Cordyceps Into My Daily Routine?

Sometimes the best method for incorporating something new into your daily routine is to anchor it to a specific activity or time of day. So, the best time to take cordyceps may be in association with its intended purpose. For example, if you are choosing to supplement with cordyceps to support energy usage during exercise, maybe you include a scoop in your pre-workout meal. If you are hoping to support recovery after exercise, it might be good to add cordyceps mushroom powder to your post-workout protein smoothie. Though the time you take your functional mushroom supplement does not really make a difference, pairing it with the activity you hope to support will help to remind you to take it each day.

Where Can I Find Quality Cordyceps Products?

As you consider the best time to take cordyceps, you are probably also wondering where you can find a quality product that provides the recommended daily dose of cordyceps. Om Mushroom has multiple products to meet your needs. Cultivated by expert mycologists at our indoor farm in southern California, we have taken precautions to provide functional mushroom powder blends that meet strict purity standards.

For a cordyceps powder that is versatile enough to add to a post-workout smoothie or stir into a variety of recipes, try Om Cordyceps Organic Mushroom Powder blend. Just one teaspoonful each day provides 2g of high-quality functional mushroom supplement that captures the bioactive benefits of both fruiting body and mycelium. If you prefer your supplements in capsule form, Om has you covered. Just three vegan capsules, once a day, can help support energy, endurance, and promote cardiac and respiratory health.^‡ Om Fit Blend Organic Mushroom Powder blend combines the power of cordyceps with complementary species, lion’s mane, and reishi.

Choosing a product that fits your lifestyle and establishing a habit of regular consumption can help to quickly put cordyceps to work for you. By supporting your body’s natural physiologic functions and promoting its healthy balance, you can take advantage of the bioactive capacities that have made cordyceps a coveted component of Eastern Medicine for centuries. This superfood that has been so valued throughout history is now readily available to you.

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^‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Functional mushroom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.