Nutritionist @ London Nootropics
Whether we’re going for a run, to the gym or just feeling fatigued, we’re often looking for a quick energy boost. This is how London Nootropics started, co-founders Shez & Zain were adding different natural ingredients to coffee to give them a boost before the gym, as an alternative to chemical-laced pre-workout drinks.
We often get asked which adaptogens are great for energy, first let’s touch on coffee & caffeine. Caffeine works by blocking our adenosine receptors (which make us drowsy) and coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, with 2 billion cups consumed every day! However, coffee on it’s own can result in a crash as caffeine is absorbed quickly in the body and for this reason people often look for alternatives to replace coffee for energy. Adaptogens can help give us sustained energy levels without a crash and adaptogenic coffee can give us the best of both – adaptogens minimise any caffeine side-effects as they can help us balance our cortisol levels.
Cordyceps are known to support energy and stamina and are great to give us a natural energy boost. They can increase aerobic capacity, oxygen flow to muscles & resistance to fatigue. They’re also known to boost ATP, our energy molecule. Like many medicinal mushrooms, they have lots of other health benefits too and are known for their strong antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. They’re perfect for a natural pre-workout energy boost, the Chinese olympic team broke 3 world records at the 1993 national games in China whilst taking cordyceps! A study in 2020, found that cordycepin, the active compound in cordyceps, can help to reset the body block after jet lag. We use a pure 10:1 fruiting body dual-extract of cordyceps with 0.379% cordycepin & 25.4% beta-glucans (the active compounds noted are for our latest batch of medicinal mushrooms, each batch is unique and has a slightly different amount of active compounds).
This mighty adaptogen has been used for thousands of years in the East, and is known to increase blood flow & oxygenation of cells. Research has been conducted on Siberian ginseng for its effects on reducing a wide range of fatigue conditions including chronic fatigue and muscular tiredness when exercising. The active compounds in Siberian ginseng are eleutherosides, it’s less potent than Korean ginseng, safe for long term use and often used to relieve stress and adrenal fatigue. It pairs perfectly with Cordyceps for vitality and strength and is recognised for its ability to help you adapt to physical & mental stressors and increase endurance.
Rhodiola is an adaptogen known for its effects on helping the body deal with stressors, improving cognitive function and physical performance. One of the most popular uses is for increasing energy, endurance and muscle recovery, great for those wanting a natural way to increase athletic performance. The first Soviet astronauts were given rhodiola for its physical & mental benefits when venturing into the unknown and the Sherpa people take rhodiola when climbing the Himalayas.
Rhodiola can increase stamina and endurance by increasing red blood cell count and lowering oxidative damage. Red blood cells carry oxygen to muscles which can improve physical performance and help to delay fatigue. Rhodiola stimulates red blood cell production by boosting erythropoietin (EPO). Its also been shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits that support the rapid recovery of muscles and has been found to increase levels of endurance due to its ability to increase the production of ATP, needed for cellular energy. This makes Rhodiola ideal as a natural remedy to help with physical performance and recovery from workouts.
We use RhodioLife® in our Flow blend, a patented Rhodiola Rosea extract which has been clinically studied for sports & cognitive health. It’s wildcrafted in the pristine Altai Mountains in Siberia, standardized to 3% Rosavins and 1% Salidroside and is sports grade BSCG certified drug-free.
Whether going running, cycling or undertaking any other physical activity, adaptogens can be a great way to boost our energy levels naturally and give us sustained energy levels throughout the day. Our Mojo blend with cordyceps mushroom & ginseng is designed for physical endurance, strength and vitality. Perfect for a natural boost before a workout or when feeling fatigued. Our Flow blend has lion’s mane mushroom and rhodiola, designed for mental clarity & focus it can also give us a natural energy boost with the benefits of rhodiola on physical performance.
Our vision is to make the highest-quality adaptogens easily accessible, convenient & delicious, helping more people benefit from their balancing properties and find their flow.
Try our mushroom coffee blends!
