Cordyceps mushrooms come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Though they are not technically mushrooms, they have the unique distinction of being entomopathogenic fungus, which means they thrive as parasites on insects in nature. Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps sinensis are two species that have gotten a lot of attention from the medical world and have been widely explored for their health and wellness benefits. Today, we will be diving deep into these benefits and seeing how this fungus can help us in our daily lives.

Heart Health

The benefits of Cordyceps are becoming more evident as more study on the fungi's influence on heart health emerges.Cordyceps is actually approved in China for the treatment of arrhythmia, a disorder in which the heartbeat is abnormally slow, rapid, or irregular. Cordyceps considerably reduced cardiac damage in rats with chronic renal failure, according to a study. Chronic kidney disease as a result of damage to the heart is known to raise the chance of heart failure, hence minimizing these injuries may help prevent this outcome. These results were attributable to Cordyceps' adenosine concentration, according to the researchers. Adenosine is a naturally occurring substance that protects the heart.

Anti Tumor

Cordyceps' ability to suppress tumor growth has sparked a lot of curiosity in recent years. The fungi may have anti-tumor properties in a variety of ways, according to the researchers. Cordyceps have been demonstrated in test tubes to prevent the growth of a variety of human cancer cells, including lung, colon, skin, and liver malignancies. Cordyceps has also been proven to have anti-tumor properties in animal studies on lymphoma, melanoma, and lung cancer. Cordyceps may also help to reverse the adverse effects of various cancer treatments. Leukopenia is one of these adverse effects.

Anti Aging

Cordyceps have long been used by the elderly to relieve weariness, increase strength, and increase sex desire. Its antioxidant concentration, according to researchers, may explain their anti-aging effect. Cordyceps increases antioxidants in aged rats, which helps to improve cognition and sexual function, according to several studies. Antioxidants are chemicals that protect cells from damage by neutralizing free radicals, which can cause disease and aging if left unchecked. Mice fed Cordyceps lived several months longer than mice given a placebo, according to one study. Cordyceps was discovered to extend the lifespan of fruit flies in another study, adding to the evidence that they have anti-aging properties.

Exercise performance

Cordyceps are thought to boost the body's generation of the chemical adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is necessary for muscle energy delivery. This may help your body utilize oxygen more efficiently, especially during activity. Researchers used a stationary bike to examine their effects on exercise capacity in 30 healthy older individuals in one trial. For six weeks, participants were given either 3 grams of a synthetic Cordyceps strain named CS-4 or a placebo tablet. Participants who took CS-4 experienced a 7% increase in VO2 max by the end of the research, while those who took the placebo pill had no change.

Sources