- June 5, 2022
What Are The Benefits Of Cordyceps Mushrooms?
Ever heard of the Cordyceps mushroom? If not, you’ve come to the right place! The cordyceps mushroom is a type of functional mushroom that is used as a popular performance enhancement ingredient. As such, you will often find that functional mushrooms are promoted in diets for men and women who want to improve their workouts.*
Cordyseps has many other important benefits, as well, including the potential to improve longevity and fight off tumors. This makes it of special interest to a wide range of people, not just gym junkies.*
This article goes in-depth into the history of cordyceps mushroom in functional medicine, its benefits, its side effects, and how to consume them safely.
Cordyceps Mushrooms History
Cordyceps mushrooms, or Cordyceps sinensis, have been in the human consciousness as a form of functional medicine for thousands of years. They appear in ancient Chinese and Tibetan medicine books, and are still used in modern times for dozens of different ailments.
This type of fungus is a parasite and grows on top of caterpillars high in the mountainous regions of China. The natural form of cordyceps mushrooms is expensive, so the type you’ll typically find in supplements today is lab-grown.
Cordyceps Mushrooms Benefits*
A study of folk healers in Sikkim, India published in 2011, took a hard look at whether or not cordyceps mushrooms truly helped heal the local villagers’ illnesses. The study found that the fungus does seem to be effective for improving human health in several ways, including erectile dysfunction, malignant tumors, and diseases of the liver and kidneys.
Below is a more comprehensive list of the potential health benefits of cordyceps mushrooms.
1. May Enhance Exercise Performance
Multiple scientific studies show that consuming cordyceps mushrooms enhances exercise performance and improves fitness in human adults. The reason for this is thought to be the fungus’s ability to increase the body’s amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP helps convert oxygen into energy for muscles.
2. May Increase Longevity And Improve Sex Drive
Studies of cordyceps mushrooms’ effect on older animals have shown significant evidence of prolonging life and improving vitality. The animals in these studies developed higher levels of antioxidants, which destroy free radicals that damage and age cells. They also exhibited higher sex drives and improved memory.
3. May Slow Tumor Growth
Cordyceps mushrooms have been shown to slow down the growth of several different types of cancer cells in mice test subjects. They also appear to improve or even eradicate certain side effects of cancer treatments.
Other important potential benefits of consuming cordyceps mushrooms include: improved type 2 diabetes, improved heart health, and lowered inflammation.
Cordyceps Mushrooms Side Effects*
How To Consume Cordyceps Mushrooms
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and/or Health Canada. Functional mushroom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.