Cordyceps for improving energy levels
Cordyceps are a group of parasitic fungi which lives off insects or other fungi. They generally tend to attack the host and sprout long tissues outside of its body. The remains are then collected, dried and used for their medicinal properties, prominently in South Eastern Asia.
I have been using Host Defense – Cordyceps mushrooms from amazon.ca (affiliate link), for the last 2 months after hearing about it from a friend and also on the Joe Rogan Podcast, and have had modest but noticeable increases in energy and vitality.
Two of the species of Cordyceps in particular- the Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris have been found to have various health benefits. Research is still ongoing to understand the full potential of these species of fungi.
Here are some of the Benefits
1) Boosts your Energy Levels
These fungi are reported to increase the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) count in our body. ATP is responsible for delivering oxygen to our skeletal muscles, and also stores the energy we require to do just about anything. Thus, cordyceps improve the exercise performance of your body if you are a teenager or an adult. However, trained athletes have shown no additional improvements when treated with the same.
2) Keeps you Young
Experiments conducted on aged rats show that the antioxidants present in cordyceps improve their brain and sexual activity. However, there is no conclusive evidence to show it works similarly on humans.
3) Could prove to be effective against cancers and tumors
The ability of cordyceps to fight cancerous cells have generated buzz among scientists all around the globe. When experiments were performed in a test tube, cordyceps inhibited the growth of many cancerous cells such as skin, liver, colon and lung. In addition, cordyceps have also proved to counter the side effects of cancer treatment.
4) Fight against Type 2 Diabetes
We all are aware of the fatal effect of diabetes, where the human body either stops responding to insulin or doesn’t produce enough of it. Cordyceps can mimic the effects of insulin in the body, thus keeping the blood sugar levels in check. Several studies suggest that cordyceps can protect us against kidney damage, a side effect of type 2 Diabetes.
5) Keeps your heart healthy
Cordyceps have been proven effective against arrhythmia, a cardiac condition where the heart beats either too rapidly or too slowly. Further, cordyceps reportedly decreases the amount of bad cholesterol (LDL) in our body and keeps our arteries from getting clogged up. It also reduces the amount of Triglycerides in the body, which are a major cause of heart diseases.
6) Fights off Inflammation
Research has shown us that when cordyceps are exposed to human tissues, they suppress the proteins responsible for the inflammation. Hence,they can be used as a supplement with drugs that may cause inflammation as a side effect.
Potential Downsides and Considerations
Although there are various benefits to Cordyceps, there are certain things you must keep in mind regarding their use.
No proper clinical trials have been conducted on humans, hence, there is no hard evidence to prove the medicinal values of Cordyceps. This species, especially, Cordyceps sinensis are very hard to produce on a large scale and very expensive.
Also, too much exposure to Cordyceps may result in the growth of prostate cancer cells. Although further research is required to find a proper correlation, it is better to be careful when using Cordyceps.
What is the best brand ?
if one decides to take supplements he or she should check out whether the company is legitimate or not and also strictly adhere to the guidelines set for the product.
Once of the pioneers of popularizing mushroom based supplements is John Stamets who runs a company called Host Defense.
Which produces a high quality codyceps supplment. You can buy a 30 day supply on amazon.ca (I will receive a small commission).
There are some other brands available online, however this is the one I personally trust, even though it is a bit more expensive than the others, I think it is worthwhile.
