Cordyceps vs. Caffeine: Why are we starting to swap our morning coffee for functional mushroom supplements?

Energy

For many athletes and recreational runners, a cup of morning coffee is an unwritten pre-workout ritual. Caffeine is a tried-and-tested classic, but more and more people in the sporting community are looking for a more sustainable alternative that won’t leave the body lacking in energy in the second half of the day. This is why medicinal mushrooms are coming to the fore, particularly Cordyceps sinensis (Chinese caterpillar fungus).

What is the key difference between the stimulation provided by caffeine and the benefits offered by this traditional mushroom?

Caffeine: A quick boost, but at the cost of a crash

Caffeine acts as a stimulant of the central nervous system. In the brain, it blocks adenosine receptors, which signal fatigue to the body. This gives the body a quick boost and a feeling of alertness, but it does not actually increase the energy capacity of the cells.

However, this form of stimulation also has some well-known limitations:

Nervousness and tremors (so-called ‘jitters’): Higher doses of caffeine can increase heart rate and cause inner tension.Caffeine crash: Once the effects have worn off, the accumulated adenosine binds to the receptors and fatigue returns with a vengeance. Development of tolerance: Over time, the body requires a higher dose to achieve the same feeling of alertness.

Cordyceps: Boosting energy from within

Cordyceps is not a stimulant in the true sense of the word. Rather than providing short-term stimulation of the nervous system, it acts as a natural nutritional support for cellular processes. It is traditionally classified as an adaptogen – a substance that can help the body cope better with both physical and mental stress.

1. Support for the production of cellular energy (ATP)

Cordyceps contains bioactive compounds (notably adenosine and cordycepin) which play a role in the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the body’s basic ‘fuel’, which is why cordyceps can help promote a more consistent sense of vitality without sudden fluctuations.

2. More efficient use of oxygen (VO₂ max)

Studies focusing on functional mushrooms suggest that regular consumption of cordyceps may support the transport and utilisation of oxygen in tissues. In endurance and aerobic sports, this may help to promote optimal ventilation and maintain a steady pace.

3. Steady energy without jitters

As cordyceps does not affect stress hormone levels in the same way as high doses of caffeine, it does not cause a feeling of restlessness, a racing heart or an afternoon energy slump.

Comparison: Caffeine vs. Cordyceps

Mechanism of action: Caffeine acts primarily as a stimulant of the central nervous system, where it inhibits the receptors that signal fatigue. Cordyceps, on the other hand, does not create an artificial stimulant, but acts as a nutritional support for cellular metabolism and the natural production of ATP.

Onset and nature of the energy boost: Coffee provides a rapid, noticeable boost in alertness within 30 to 45 minutes, though this is often accompanied by a spike in energy levels. Chinese caterpillar provides a gentler, more balanced sense of vitality, which develops fully particularly with long-term and regular use.

The risk of an energy crash: Once the effects of caffeine have worn off, a noticeable slump and a return of tiredness often follow. With cordyceps, there is no risk of this typical ‘caffeine crash’, as the body does not draw energy on credit.

Effects on the body during exercise: Higher doses of caffeine carry a risk of heart palpitations and nervousness. Cordyceps, on the other hand, helps to promote more efficient oxygen utilisation directly in the working muscles, enabling the body to maintain a steady pace without unnecessary internal agitation.

Cordyceps is not a miracle pill that can replace a good night’s sleep, a balanced diet and a proper training programme, but it is a suitable functional food supplement for anyone looking for a gentler way to support their stamina, vitality or recovery.

Unlike coffee, which you drink just before a run, cordyceps works best when incorporated into your diet on a long-term and regular basis. Whether in the morning with breakfast, or about an hour before physical activity.

Share the article with your friends

today • 4 min. read

What should you do if you’re running out of energy and coffee isn’t cutting it anymore?

The alarm goes off in the morning. My first thought isn’t of the new day, but of the espresso machine. At two in the afternoon, the familiar mental slump sets in, so a second – perhaps even a third – cup follows. But instead of a surge of fresh creativity and alertness, all that comes is a pounding heart, a slight trembling of the fingers and that strange combination where the body is tense but the brain remains shrouded in a thick fog.

Energy

The First of Vitamins - B1

Maybe it's burnout ... that's the current description of the state when we feel different. When the coffee we loved no longer works and in the afternoon we are overwhelmed by unbearable fatigue, when in the evening we have no strength for anything, neither for sports nor for friends. And certainly not for another day at work. A nutritionist would describe this state with further findings of our diet with the words - „ You have a lack of thiamine (B1), which is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system and the conversion of food into energy. Your diet is full of processed carbohydrates, but almost without B1. And when the body doesn't have enough thiamine, you can feel fatigue, forgetfulness, irritability, and even anxiety. And caffeine? It depletes thiamine in the body even more!“ We certainly wouldn't think that this state could be caused by a “triviality”. After all, many of us don't register thiamine, I admit it was also my case. This first of the discovered vitamins in 1912 was named by the Polish biochemist Funk with the term vita (necessary for life), amine (substances that contain nitrogen). Since then, it has gained more names, like aneurin, and for 25 years we have called it thiamine. It is essential, meaning it cannot be synthesized and must come from the diet. It sounds almost frightening that without it we wouldn't survive longer than a few days, at most weeks. This is because the body cannot store it for long and it is necessary to ensure its intake regularly, as it is irreplaceable for the proper functioning of the organism. On the contrary, its abundance helps improve concentration and memory. 

Cordyceps sinensis

500 mg | 130

€13.90 €13.90

Účinky

Supports immune system functionBoosts energy and enduranceSupports respiratory healthOffers antioxidant protectionProvides adaptogenic resistance to stress

Energy

Let Yourself Shine with B2

„Žltá iskra“, ktorá poháňa naše telo, je vitamín B2 – riboflavín (z latinského flavus „žltý“) , ktorý bol prvýkrát izolovaný z mlieka a pôvodne pomenovaný laktoflavín. Jeho jednoznačne lepšie ste si vedci vďaka jeho prirodzenej fluorescencii pod UV svetlom, čo im pomohlo pochopiť jeho rozšírenie v prírode. Pozornosť vedcov však nepritiahlo len jeho tajomné svetlo. Má schopnosť premieňať jedlo na životnú silu. Riboflavín, známy aj ako vitamín B2, nie je len pekná fluorescenčná molekula, ale je dôležitý aj v bunkovom metabolizme.  

Better concentration and a better memory? Try vitamin B12!

Vitamin B12 is the most complex vitamin (from a chemical point of view); it contains cobalt, which is essential for its activity. Also known as cyanocobalamin, it plays a part in the proper functioning of the body, and our bodies require it every day. Although we only need it in small amounts, its importance for red blood cell production and metabolism is enormous. Various studies suggest that it has a beneficial effect on our mood and memory, and supports brain function. Vitamin B12 is necessary for maintaining the proper functioning of the nervous system and the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Unlike other vitamins, B12 is synthesised in nature only by bacteria found in the digestive systems of animals. We therefore obtain it mainly from animal products, such as meat and dairy products. Its uniqueness also lies in its ability to be stored in the liver for many years, but a deficiency poses a risk not only to vegans and older people. A B12 deficiency does not manifest itself immediately (it can take up to a year). Fatigue is the first sign of a deficiency in this vitamin. Chronic fatigue, memory problems, tingling in the limbs or depression can be subtle warning signs. As vitamin B12 is essential for the production of myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibres, a deficiency can lead to neurological problems such as numbness and balance issues. If this deficiency is left untreated, it can lead to serious neurological disorders and anaemia; the deficiency also manifests itself through various haematological and psychiatric symptoms (including confusion and disorientation, atrophy, mood and behavioural changes, psychosis and cognitive problems, loss of concentration, insomnia and incontinence). In the past, pernicious anaemia was incurable. In 1926, two doctors discovered that eating raw liver could alleviate these symptoms – fatigue, memory loss and nerve damage. Two decades later, they succeeded in isolating the substance responsible for this effect, which turned out to be vitamin B12.

Cordyceps vs. Caffeine: Why are we starting to swap our morning coffee for functional mushroom supplements?

Similar articles