Undoubtedly, more people are becoming familiar with the numerous health benefits of cordyceps. But, when to take cordyceps is still a matter of debate. Many people contend that eating cordyceps at different times of the day may have distinct advantages.
Cordyceps is better consumed in the morning for an energizing boost to your day. In addition, many studies say that by improving cellular function, Cordyceps also helps sleep.
Below we will explore the best time to take Cordyceps. So, keep reading to get the best out of this caterpillar fungus.
Let's get right down to it!
What Facilitated Cordyceps Rise to Fame?
For many of us in the modern world, Cordyceps Militaris and Sinensis have gained recognition as powerhouse supplements. This rare combination of a fungus and caterpillar, found in the Himalayan region at altitudes above 3,800 meters, is well known for supporting endurance, vitality, and stamina.
The naturally occurring compounds in cordyceps Sinensis improve the availability of oxygen present in our blood. As a result, it has gained a reputation for promoting lung capacity, healthy energy, and fertility.
Read More: Learn how cordyceps supplements improve libido and fertility in both men and women.
This fungus is for you if you're hunting for a secret tool to get through hectic days with the kids, a pre-or post-workout supplement, double shifts, back-to-back meetings, or both.
But, the question is, are the benefits offered by cordyceps time-dependent? If so, when should you take cordyceps powder to enjoy maximum performance from supplementing essential polysaccharides in this traditional Chinese medicine?
Read on to get answers to these unique questions!
The Best Time Of Day To Take Cordyceps
Cordyceps is one of the best mushrooms for enhancing your overall health. It works as a standalone supplement and is a fantastic addition to any supplement stack. Some of the most frequently posed queries are the best time to take cordyceps and the right amount for health benefits.
But, before you frantically look up "cordyceps Sinensis best time to take" or "cordyceps best time to take," we want to let you in on a little secret. No scientific evidence supports a specific time of day as the best to take cordyceps. Instead, it is more critical to let the benefit of the mushroom compound over time, allowing you to get the best out of it.
However, depending on the desired results, consuming cordyceps at a particular time may offer more pronounced effects.
Read More: What are the benefits of cordyceps for dogs?
Taking Cordyceps In The Morning
Cordyceps helps improve your daytime functioning. It can also give you extra support for your workouts. Adenosine triphosphate (AT), which is necessary for supplying muscle energy, is produced more frequently when the body consumes cordyceps. As a result, your body uses oxygen more efficiently during exercise or increases VO2 Max.
Read More: Learn why people use cordyceps pre-workout.
Using stationary cycles, 30 healthy adults participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (1) to examine the effects of cordyceps mushrooms on exercise capacity. Over six weeks, participants took either a placebo pill or 3 grams of Cordyceps CS-4 daily. In contrast to those who received the placebo tablets, individuals who took CS-4 experienced a 7% rise in V02 max after the trial.
To receive the energizing benefits of the mushroom, athletes and fitness enthusiasts can take Cordyceps:
- Before a demanding workout or competition.
- Take cordyceps capsules immediately after you wake up to get your day going.
- When you feel your energy waning in the afternoon, the traditional Chinese medicine cordyceps can recharge your batteries.
- Following exercise to promote recovery.
- Every day, to firmly establish its beneficial effects in your life.
Taking Cordyceps At Night
Cordyceps is a type of mushroom that can reduce your anxiety and boost your energy. It also helps to improve your blood flow in the body. Numerous research studies say that by improving the flow of oxygenated blood around your body, and better daytime functioning, Cordyceps can help you expend energy and flow into a more functional nighttime routine.
It is believed that the cordycepin molecule in cordyceps works through adenosine receptors to promote non-rapid eye movement. A study on rats (2) revealed that cordycepin decreased REM sleep, enhanced NREM sleep or deep sleep, and decreased sleep-wake cycles. It also lengthened the rodents' overall sleep duration.
Read More: See why more people take Lion's mane before bed.
So, is it ok to take cordyceps at night?
Experts believe that Cordyceps shouldn't be taken as a supplement before bedtime. However, given that it has a more energetic effect and can reverse what you desire if taken before night, people frequently include it in their pre-workout routine. Taking Cordyceps in the morning is recommended even if you want a restful night's sleep.
Read More: Should you take cordyceps before bed?
Who Should Not Take Cordyceps?
Just like cordyceps has numerous benefits, it is essential to note that cordyceps has some dangers. Therefore, while discussing the best time to take cordyceps, it is also ideal to discuss when it may be a good idea to stay away from wild cordyceps Sinensis and supplements.
If You Expect a Surgery
Researchers have investigated the effects of cordyceps on blood clotting. Various studies support that lab-grown and natural cordyceps Sinensis tend to lower the body's blood clotting capabilities.
A 2016 study (3) analyzed the platelet aggregation effects of cordyceps. The study concluded that some bioactive compounds in cordyceps inhibit platelet aggregation.
This research study suggests that taking cordyceps tea in the weeks leading to surgery could make platelet aggregation hard. This problem, in turn, could make blood clotting hard. The result could be a heavy loss of blood during the surgery.
Therefore, if you are currently using cordyceps for energy, seek professional medical advice on when to stop to make your surgery safer by reducing the risk of heavy bleeding.
If You Are Using Anti-diabetic Meds
If you know how much cordyceps to take (cordyceps dosage), the cordyceps supplements can improve immunity and the body's ability to fight diabetes. Numerous research studies have confirmed the anti-diabetic benefits of cordyceps mushrooms.
A research study conducted in 2015 (4) analyzed the effectiveness of cordyceps in managing type 2 diabetes. The study showed that cordyceps Sinensis reduced blood glucose levels and raised insulin sensitivity in diabetic mice.
A second research study conducted in 2016 (5) analyzed the effect of cordyceps on type 2 diabetes and compared the results with the effects of metformin, a common drug used for type II diabetes treatment. During the four weeks of cordyceps supplementation, the researchers tracked the mushroom's impacts on blood sugar and insulin levels. Like in the 2015 study, the mushroom improved blood glucose levels and reduced insulin resistance.
While the effects of cordyceps tincture on diabetes and high blood sugar levels are beneficial, the mushroom's effects can become harmful if combined with anti-diabetic meds. If you consume cordyceps Militaris with anti-diabetic meds, you could lower your blood sugar levels beyond the healthy range, putting you at risk of hypoglycemia.
When planning how to use the best cordyceps supplements for diabetes, talk to your doctor to ensure you are using the mushroom in a way that does not interact with your anti-diabetic meds dangerously.
If You Have Autoimmune Diseases
One of the reasons people take cultivated cordyceps Militaris is its ability to boost the immune system. The problem, however, is that autoimmune diseases are already a result of an overactive immune system.
Therefore, by taking Cordyceps powders, people with autoimmune diseases could increase their symptoms. Some of the most common autoimmune disorders include:
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Multiple sclerosis
Read More: See how Lion's mane fights multiple sclerosis.
If You Are Pregnant
While functional mushrooms are beneficial, they often can carry bioactive compounds too powerful for an unborn child. For this reason, during the period when women are pregnant, they are advised to stay away from most mushrooms.
Therefore, even if you are planning to use powdered cordyceps Militaris to fight fatigue or for its anti-inflammatory and brain health benefits, it would be a good idea to wait until after birth before using the cordyceps capsules.
Read More: Can pregnant women take Chaga mushroom?
Ways To Take Cordyceps Mushrooms
Although cordyceps Militaris and Sinensis were available as wild mushrooms in traditional Chinese medicine, today, the mushroom is available in various options. Cordyceps mushroom supplements include powders, capsules, teas, cordyceps extract, and tinctures.
Making cordyceps tea allows you to have it for breakfast, lunch, or to help you get through the mid-afternoon slump. Some people consume the fungus by sprinkling a few drops of the tincture or spoonful of cordyceps powders into their morning coffee, soup, porridge, or smoothie.
The hot water extract of Cordyceps is best for people taking workout supplements. It is prepared by simmering the fungi at various temperatures for hours to bring out all water-soluble components.
Then, the liquid supernatant is heated at low flame until a thick paste is achieved. This can be stored in a glass bottle for a couple of years as a medicine in the kitchen. The hot water extract makes cordyceps health benefits more bioavailable for the human body.
The capsule form works for those who would like to enjoy the cordyceps benefits on the go. The capsule form allows you the flexibility to take it anywhere since it does not need much preparation before use.
Cordyceps tea is an ideal option for people willing to spend some time in the kitchen to enjoy the bioactive compounds of the mushroom before a high-intensity exercise or before heading out to face a tough day. You can prepare the mushroom tea by boiling the cordyceps in water or adding a teaspoon of the mushroom powder to hot water.
FAQs
What Is The Best Time Of Day To Take Cordyceps?
Cordyceps is best consumed in the morning for its energizing effect, which can translate into a good night's sleep. However, the benefits of Cordyceps are realized with regular use, so taking the supplement consistently is more important than timing.
For any natural supplement—including Cordyceps medicinal mushrooms—to be beneficial, their active compounds must be concentrated in the body. Therefore, before you can experience the benefits of cordyceps on testosterone levels, athletic performance, exercise tolerance, and other therapeutic effects, you need to take natural or synthetic cordyceps extract for up to two weeks.
When Should You Not Take Cordyceps?
We recommend you avoid taking Cordyceps right before bedtime. The fungus is believed to increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, which is essential for delivering energy to the muscles. Unfortunately, this also means that it can keep you up at night.
Can I Take Cordyceps On An Empty Stomach
Taken with or without food, cordyceps supplements are flexible. However, many people prefer taking Cordyceps on an empty stomach. No evidence suggests that the effects differ when taken before, with, or after a meal.
Read More: Should you take Lion's mane mushroom with or without food?
Final Thoughts
If you are thinking about taking Cordyceps as a health supplement, you might wonder what the best time to take Cordyceps is. Take cordyceps mushrooms in the morning to boost your energy throughout the day.
But remember, how frequently you take cordyceps is more crucial than when. Therefore, using cordyceps mushrooms consistently will work better than being so strict about when you take the mushroom.
Have you ever used cordyceps mushrooms before? Which time of the day works best for you? We like to learn from long-term cordyceps users, so please share your experience in the comments below.
References
- Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial and assessment of fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) in enhancing aerobic capacity and respiratory function of the healthy elderly volunteers, (1)https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02836405
- Cordycepin Increases Nonrapid Eye Movement Sleep via Adenosine Receptors in Rats. (2)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23710239/
- Antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of cordycepin-enriched WIB-801CE from Cordyceps militaris ex vivo, in vivo, and in vitro, (3)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5142411/
- Hypoglycemic Activity through a Novel Combination of Fruiting Body and Mycelia of Cordyceps militaris in High-Fat Diet-Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Mice, (4)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4519550/
- Antidiabetic and Antinephritic Activities of Aqueous Extract of Cordyceps militaris Fruit Body in Diet-Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Sprague Dawley Rats, (5)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27274781/
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