The Athlete’s Guide to Cordyceps: Benefits, Science, and Daily Use

For decades, athletes have searched for ways to improve oxygen efficiency, sustain energy output, and recover more effectively between training sessions. Recently, functional and adaptogenic mushrooms, particularly Cordyceps, have moved into the conversation, not so much as “performance enhancers,” but as nutritional tools that can support the body and mind during training.

Cordyceps for Sports Nutrition

Cordyceps has been part of traditional medicine for centuries, but today’s interest comes from research into how these fungi can support ATP production—the cellular fuel that keeps our muscles moving. Because ATP plays such a central role in energy output, recovery, and endurance, athletes are starting to pay close attention. Controlled trials suggest that Cordyceps may help the body use oxygen more efficiently during strenuous activity, which is a core reason it’s becoming a go-to supplement for athletes.

A study published by the Journal of Dietary Supplements found that individuals who consumed a daily dose of Cordyceps for three weeks showed improved oxygen intake and achieved a higher breathing threshold during exercise. In another study, published by Scientific Reports, researchers examined a compound called Cordycepin (found only in Cordyceps) for its effects on mitochondrial function: essentially, how well our cells convert food into energy. Findings suggest that Cordycepin can improve how our cells use oxygen, especially during demanding periods of physical exertion.

How Functional Mushrooms Support Athletic Performance

Athletic performance isn’t just about the moments spent on the bike, track, weight bench, or court—it’s about how well the body’s nervous system and immune system adapt to constant stress. This is where other adaptogenic mushrooms, like reishi, lion’s mane, chaga, himematsutake, and turkey tail enter the conversation. 

• Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum): Known for its immunomodulating effects, Reishi helps regulate inflammatory responses commonly triggered by intense training. In addition to beta glucans, it contains triterpenoids and antioxidant compounds that support recovery and overall physiological balance.
  
  

• Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus): Studied for its effects on cognitive function and nerve growth factor (NGF), which can support focus, reaction speed, and mental clarity—skills often overlooked in sports performance discussions.

• Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor): Known for its ability to support gut health. For athletes, this matters because training can disrupt the microbiome. Turkey Tail’s prebiotic activity helps maintain microbial balance while supporting recovery during high-stress training periods.

Why Athletes Are Incorporating Functional Mushrooms Into Their Diets

For athletes looking to expand their toolkit beyond conventional supplements, the science around these fungi is becoming harder to ignore. Many athletes have started to incorporate mushroom powders, capsules, teas, and other functional beverages into their routines because they offer consistent support. Importantly, fungi aren’t stimulants and don’t spike cortisol the way caffeine or other supplements do. Instead, their effects accumulate slowly over time, aligning more with how long-term training works. 

It’s also important to recognize that Cordyceps aren’t a fix-all or replacement for the fundamentals of training. Steady conditioning, a good diet, and proper sleep still do most of the heavy lifting. However, as research grows—especially around oxygen efficiency and recovery—adding Cordyceps (and other adaptogenic mushrooms) to a daily routine can support the bodily systems most affected by exercise.

Tips for Choosing the Right Adaptogenic Mushroom Powder

Look for mushroom powders that include both fruiting bodies and mycelium. Each contains distinct bioactive compounds that interact differently with the body. Research shows that the two structures provide complementary profiles of polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and metabolites, which can influence how well our bodies absorb these compounds. 

Madre Mushroom’s blends contain a balanced combination of six adaptogenic fungi (fruiting body and mycelium), sourced organically from certified farms in the United States. Explore our products here and discover how functional fungi might fit into your daily training routine.

References:

Benson, Kathleen F., Paul Stamets, Renee Davis, Regan Nally, Alex Taylor, Sonya Slater, and Gitte S. Jensen. “The Mycelium of the Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail) Mushroom and Its Fermented Substrate Each Show Potent and Complementary Immune Activating Properties in Vitro.” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 19 (2019): 342. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2681-7.

Berger, Ralf G., Sven Bordewick, Nina-Katharina Krahe, and Franziska Ersoy. “Mycelium vs. Fruiting Bodies of Edible Fungi—A Comparison of Metabolites.” Microorganisms 10, no. 7 (2022): 1379. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071379.

Cheng, Chunfang, Shasha Zhang, Chong Chen, Yanchun Gong, Kaizhi Ding, Guoyin Li, Wei Jiang, et al. “Cordycepin Combined with Antioxidant Effects Improves Fatigue Caused by Excessive Exercise.” Scientific Reports 15 (2025): 8141. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92790-3.

Choi, Eunhyun, Junsang Oh, and Gi-Ho Sung. “Beneficial Effect of Cordyceps militaris on Exercise Performance via Promoting Cellular Energy Production.” Mycobiology 48, no. 6 (2020): 512–517. https://doi.org/10.1080/12298093.2020.1831135.

Contato, Alex Graça, and Carlos Adam Conte-Junior. “Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus): A Neuroprotective Fungus with Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Potential—A Narrative Review.” Nutrients 17, no. 8 (2025): 1307. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081307.

Daoust, Julie, Jay Schmalz, Lieven Van Meulebroek, Jonas Ghyselinck, Lynn Verstrepen, and Massimo Marzorati. “Prebiotic Activity of Functional Whole Mushroom Powders in Short-Term in Vitro Colonic Simulations.” Journal of Functional Foods 130 (2025): 106912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2024.106912.

Dewi, Luthfia, Yu-Chieh Liao, Wei-Horng Jean, Kuo-Chin Huang, Chih-Yang Huang, Liang-Kung Chen, Andrew Nicholls, Li-Fan Lai, and Chia-Hua Kuo. “Cordyceps sinensis Accelerates Stem Cell Recruitment to Human Skeletal Muscle after Exercise.” Food & Function 15 (2024): 4010–4020. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO03770C.

Hirsch, Katie R., Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, Erica J. Roelofs, Eric T. Trexler, and Meredith G. Mock. “Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise after Acute and Chronic Supplementation.” Journal of Dietary Supplements 14, no. 1 (2016): 42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386.

Panossian, Alexander, and Georg Wikman. “Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress-Protective Activity.” Pharmaceuticals 3, no. 1 (2010): 188–224. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph3010188.

Wachtel-Galor, Sissi, John Yuen, John A. Buswell, and Iris F. F. Benzie. “Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom.” In Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects, 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2011.

Image credit:

Physical exercises recommended for Wednesday (recto) and Saturday (verso). Colour process print after Fougasse. Wellcome Collection. Source: Wellcome Collection.