Cordyceps

The scientifically proven health benefits of cordyceps mushrooms on the entire body are vast, from increasing immune function to helping balance blood sugar. As adaptogens, cordyceps also help our body manage overall stress response and increase energy. 

Recently, the mushroom community has been all over cordyceps mushrooms – and for very good reason! Also referred to as caterpillar fungus, cordyceps have been a part of traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for centuries. Cordyceps are a combination of a larva or caterpillar (of a moth and butterfly species typically) and a fungus which can be found at high altitudes in the Himalayan mountains. Cordyceps spores, which are indeed parasitic, land on insects and proceed to consume the organism from the inside. Once summer hits, the fungus itself begins to grow from the caterpillar’s head.

The final product is cordyceps which is quite distinct in their natural form, resembling slim orange fingers. Cordyceps have been used as a type of medicinal adaptogenic mushroom in ancient medicine and recent years because of their numerous health benefits.

We have since learned to cultivate them and do not need to scale the mountains to find it. Phew! 

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What Are the Two Types of Cordyceps?

Cordyceps sinensis mushrooms, , is one part caterpillar and one part stroma. The stroma, which allows for the sporing of the fungus, is the upper part of the mushroom and tends to be black or dark brown ( or yellow if it's fresh) . The other type of cordyceps mushroom is the Cordyceps militaris. This one is distinguished by its club-shaped head and solid orange hue.

While both types of mushrooms are different, they each have been found to provide the same benefits. They have the same bio-active compounds, and one study revealed that both cordyceps varieties have the highest amino acids ( think protein) compared to other mushrooms such as Shiitake and Oyster.

Health Benefits

Cordyceps can either increase your energy or decrease fatigue

Amazing right?  Yes, this special mushroom has been found to improve exercise performance, help boost energy and promote less exhaustion. One 2009 study featured in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that the healthy elderly adults that took Cordyceps sinensis supplements over a 12-week period had better breath-by-breath analysis results than those who had taken placebos. Those subjects were also able to maintain their overall wellness. Another 2015 study had similar findings with rodents, in which the rodents that consumed Cordyceps militaris supplements had less fatigue or reached fatigue later than those rodents that didn’t consume cordyceps. The rats were able to perform challenging tasks for a longer period of time.

Taking cordyceps mushrooms can be particularly helpful for those with active lifestyles who want to push their exercise routine to a new level. Having more energy and delayed fatigue will allow you to reach those activity goals! It is quite common now to hear of athletes using cordy's to boost their performance. 

Manage Stress
Many of us could use stress relief, and cordyceps mushrooms can help! Cordyceps are known as adaptogens, which is a special class of herbs that can help support our adrenal glands. Did you know that the adrenal glands are key regulators of our bodies energy levels, including physical and mental performance?  Which means by helping to support our adrenal glands, cordyceps can balance our stress hormones such as cortisol. Balanced hormones are most important to managing stress-so next time you are feeling stressed, try some cordyceps mushrooms!

Balance Blood Sugar Levels
In the top three causes of death in the western world is heart disease, and many heart diseases stem from unhealthy blood sugar levels. By helping manage those levels, cordyceps can help prevent the development of certain heart diseases and conditions, too. This is all thanks to the cordycepic acid (D-mannitol cordycepin) and 3’-deoxyadenosine. They are active molecules found in cordyceps that contribute to insulin regulation. Several studies have proven this to be true. Therefore cordyceps can be quite helpful for individuals with diabetes.

Support your Immune System

A healthy and strong immune system is vital to help you fight illnesses and dis-ease– its function is to defend the body from infection and external invasion. Cordyceps mushrooms benefit immune function because they contain cyclosporine, modified nucleosides, and polysaccharides. These important molecules, combined with the high antioxidant levels in mushrooms, help to lower inflammation and enhance defense mechanisms within the body.

Also of note, Cordyceps  can possibly help in neurite outgrowth stimulation, meaning it may benefit cognitive function as well!

Combine it with Lions Mane and your brain will get a well deserved boost!

Support Healthy Liver and Kidneys
Cordyceps benefit our digestive system, including helping those suffering from damaged livers. By helping digestive function, Cordyceps have been linked to improved energy metabolism and reduced oxidative stress. One eight-week study, done on mice where the mice took oral cordyceps supplements, indicators of liver disease, heart damage, and disorders related to metabolism were all improved. The results were significant – which is so very exciting for anyone dealing with those issues. 
liver, pancreatic, esophageal, rectal & gallbladder.

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May Protect Against Cancer

Cordyceps are high in antioxidants, which can be a strong defense against cancer. A study found that a compound found in cordyceps could be helpful in promoting resistance to cancer and potentially even help to prevent the spread of tumor cells. And there is even some evidence that cordyceps could help combat symptoms caused by chemotherapy. In a 2008 study, researchers found that Cordyceps sinensis was able to reverse some serious side effects in mice from Taxol-induced leukopenia. 

Pair this with Turkey Tail, another known cancer killer, and you'll have a dynamic duo!