Adaptogen Mushrooms

What do you think of when you hear the word mushroom? Many immediately associate the word with the mind altering substance psilocybin, while others imagine the culinary type that gets sautéed or grilled with a great meal. So what are adaptogen mushrooms and why have we been hearing so much about them recently? 

Adaptogen mushrooms have been utilized in ancient Eastern cultures for thousands of years to fight disease, improve cognition, and increase endurance. As western society catches up to this ancient wisdom, many brands and products have made their way onto the scene utilizing these incredible natural compounds. So what are adaptogens and how do they work? 

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane is a mushroom that earned it’s name based on it’s appearance. It's true latin name is "Hericium Erinaceus," but we'll stick with Lion's Mane as it's a big shaggy mushroom that literally looks like a lion’s mane.

Lion’s Mane can help the brain produce more of an insulin type protein called Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) that regenerates neurons in the brain. As we age, it's typical to experience some sort of cognitive decline. Brain fog, difficulty focusing, memory loss, and on the extreme end, Alzheimers and dementia. New studies show that your risk of getting Alzheimers nearly doubles every 5 years. Lion's Mane can help slow the processes of nerve damage that cause this, and keep the connection between our brain cells healthy, strong, and functional.

For a normal functioning brain, lion’s mane can work wonders for clarity of thought, memory, and focus. On a day to day basis, our thoughts can get scattered or repetitive. We’ve all felt stuck in a rut, or like our lives are playing out the same patterns over and over again. Lion’s Mane can give your brain the extra little boost it needs to get out of negative thought loop patterns, focus on your objectives today, and promote long term brain health down the road.

In addition to the cerebral benefits, Lion's Mane has also been shown to aid the body physically, especially in the gut. Lion's Mane can help promote weight loss by improving lipid metabolism, and improve gut health by protecting the digestive tract from ulcers. 

Cordyceps

In 1993, a women’s track team from China broke three separate records in the 10,000m, 3,000m, and 1,500m events. 3 world records in a single year raised a lot of eyebrows and the team was drug tested shortly after. The coach spoke out in the media regarding the claims and credited the supplementation of Cordyceps for the incredible performances displayed by his athletes.

Cordyceps are adaptogen mushrooms that have tremendous benefits for physical performance and endurance. No, these are not the same Cordyceps from "The Last of Us," that infect humans and lead to our collective demise. Quite the opposite actually, these Cordyceps improve the human condition, and have the power to maximize our energy and output levels.

Cordyceps can help the body produce more of a molecule called ATP. ATP is responsible for pumping energy and oxygen to the muscles and lungs during exercise. Cordyceps can help us utilize available oxygen more efficiently and distribute energy evenly throughout the body.

When exercising, t’s difficult to push through that moment when you’re feeling completely out of breath. You use up valuable energy by even just trying to get enough oxygen into your system. Cordyceps aid your ability to control your breathing and use it efficiently as you continue your workout. 

It’s become common practice to get overly caffeinated before exercise. Energy drinks will pack in 300-400mg of caffeine per serving, which ultimately leads to a racing heart, itchy skin, way too much energy to harness, and a crash shortly after the workout session. The ideal state for athletic performance is an alert mind and a flexible and adaptive body. When we consume too much caffeine, our muscles can become tense, and our movement rigid. The combination of lion’s mane and cordyceps can light up your mind, strengthen the mind/body connection, and provide smooth, efficient energy, that can help you move fluidly through space.