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A species of fungus called a cordyceps may be therapeutic in nature and offer a variety of health advantages. Although cordyceps has long been a mainstay in traditional Chinese medicine, the mushroom’s appeal has grown recently, and there are now several commercial medicines on the market.
Research suggests that cordyceps mushrooms have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer benefits, says Carrie Dennett, a registered dietitian nutritionist based in the Pacific Northwest and proprietor of Nutrition By Carrie. “Cordyceps is generally promoted as an energy booster,” she adds.
People frequently seek out cordyceps in search of a “health’magic bullet,'” according to her. However, supplements have a limited scope and cannot be considered a panacea.
Cordyceps: What Are They?
Among mushrooms, cordyceps is a fungus.
There are around 750 different species of cordyceps, and only a tiny number of them are known to provide therapeutic benefits, according to Dennett.
The two common species of commercially accessible cordyceps mushrooms are cordyceps sinensis and cordyceps militaris. Both species have been used for hundreds of years in traditional Chinese medicine, originally to rehydrate the kidney and calm the lungs, but it has only recently captured the attention of scientists as a way to enhance human health.
According to research, cordyceps has nutraceutical qualities, which combine “nutrition” with “pharmaceutical.” A food source or a product made from food that is said to provide medical or health benefits is referred to by this word. Nutraceuticals also include additional herbal products like ginger or turmeric as well as fortified dairy products like milk with vitamin D.
Benefits of Cordyceps Mushroom
Many health advantages are claimed for cordyceps.
According to Dennett, “it seems that they may enhance lung, liver, kidney, and immunological function, in addition to helping to decrease cholesterol.” The term “adaptogen” refers to a substance that aids the body in “adapting” to stress. Cordyceps is one such chemical.
Research suggests that adaptogens help lower your body’s stress hormone, cortisol, levels. This study also discovered that adaptogens can control an enzyme that is triggered by stress and is crucial for controlling cellular processes and immune system activation.
According to research, the major health advantages of cordyceps mushrooms include:
- Advantages that reduce inflammation.
- Benefits from cancer prevention.
- Advantages for blood sugar control.
- Benefits of athletic endurance.
- Assistance for the immune system.
Anti-inflammatory benefits
“Cordyceps mushrooms contain antioxidant properties, which help reduce inflammation in the body,” according to Nancy Mitchell, a registered nurse with more than 37 years in geriatric care. “Studies show that compounds in the mushrooms promote antioxidant activity in the body, which is needed to neutralize free radical damage to cells. These free radicals often target cells of the pancreas, heart and blood vessels, among others.”
Benefits of cancer prevention
At least one study showed that cordyceps sinensis methanol extract has cytotoxicity on cancer cell lines, which means it might kill cancer cells and stop them from proliferating and multiplying.
According to a different study, a cordyceps sinensis extract may suppress the growth of tumors and have potential as an adjuvant chemotherapeutic drug. In order to increase the efficacy of treatment, adjuvant chemotherapy is a sort of augmentation therapy that is frequently used in conjunction with a primary therapy.
Advantages of blood sugar control
It has been demonstrated that cordyceps can lower inflammation, help regulate blood sugar, and possibly enhance health.
According to Mitchell, cordyceps is frequently regarded as essential in the diet to prevent Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease because of its anti-inflammatory effects. This is due to the fact that there is a connection between inflammation and heightened insulin resistance in the body.
According to Mitchell, the hormone insulin is in charge of bringing blood glucose levels down and maintaining them within a safe range. “Type 2 diabetes and chronically high blood sugar are frequently caused by your cells not responding to insulin as effectively as they could.”
Other cells in the body, including as the kidneys and blood arteries, which both play crucial functions in the cardiovascular system, are known to be harmed by high blood glucose levels. A poor blood supply frequently causes heart disease.
Advantages of athletic endurance
According to a review of the literature in Frontiers, cordyceps has been used as a treatment for weakness and exhaustion. For instance, it might be administered to a patient to lessen the effects of altitude sickness.
Athletes have reported using cordyceps for its endurance-enhancing properties. Your body’s source of energy, ATP, increased, according to researchers. Adenosine triphosphate, also known as ATP, is a chemical that stores energy in your body’s cells and provides it to your body in brief bursts that are useable.
Immune System Assistance
In accordance with the Frontiers literature evaluation, cordyceps contains a number of substances that have immunostimulatory activity, which means they alter the body’s immune system response. Your body can resist illnesses and keep you healthy by improving its immunological response.
The majority of knowledge on cordyceps’ impact on the immune system really comes from research on cancer.
What the Cordyceps Research Says
It’s crucial to remember that most studies on cordyceps and other therapeutic mushrooms have been conducted on animals or in laboratories, according to Dennett.
Many of the health claims made concerning cordyceps need to be confirmed in human studies. People with conditions like diabetes or cardiovascular illness, for instance, may benefit from them the most, according to anecdotal evidence.
However, Dennett cautions, “it’s vital to remember that no supplement is the key to health.”
Consequences of cordyceps
There have been no significant side effects observed, and this fungus is usually regarded as safe to eat. Some consumers, however, can have a few unfavorable side effects.
Feder states that “some persons may develop moderate symptoms, such as nausea, loose feces, and/or upset stomach.”
Cordyceps risks
In some situations, it might not be safe to eat cordyceps.
Cordyceps should not be used by women during such times, according to Dennett, because there is not enough data to determine whether it is safe to do so.
Additionally, cordyceps shouldn’t be consumed by people who have certain medical issues. Anyone who suffers from an autoimmune condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, or celiac disease, should avoid ingesting cordyceps, according to Dennett, especially if they are taking immunosuppressant medicines.
Anyone who is planning surgery or on blood-thinning medication should avoid taking cordyceps because it may also raise the risk of bleeding when taken orally, the expert continues.
Consume Cordyceps mushrooms with caution
According to Dennett, every substance that has the potential to affect our bodies or how they work has the potential to be harmful.
She asserts that just because mushrooms and anything manufactured from them are “natural,” doesn’t mean they can’t be harmful.
Since naturally grown cordyceps are costly and difficult to find, the majority of what the typical consumer would purchase is developed in a laboratory.
Dennett asserts that “quality matters more than the precise formulation.”
The growing need for scrutiny is highlighted by the popularity of the therapeutic mushroom. As demand has expanded, so has mass manufacturing.
This has sparked some worries that we still have a lot to learn about all the substances present in this mushroom, including ones that could be hazardous, says Dennett.
The dietary supplement sector is not strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. According to Dennett, manufacturers are not obligated to demonstrate that their products are both effective and safe before selling them, thus it is up to the customer to find trusted brands.
How to Take Cordyceps
There are several ways to eat cordyceps, such as a powder, extract, tincture, or tablet. One common way to eat cordyceps is in mushroom coffee, but don’t worry—you’ll taste more coffee than mushrooms.
According to Dennett, high-quality cordyceps products should be dark brown, resemble dirt, and have an earthy, unpleasant scent.
She adds that on the other hand, “if the product smells slightly pleasant, is light in color, or bears the words ‘full spectrum,”mycelium,”myceliated brown rice,’ or’mycelial biomass,’ then it likely contains little of the mushroom cap and stem, which are the components that have potential advantages.”
Your best option is to speak with a licensed dietitian nutritionist who can advise you on how to pick a high-quality product and how to consume food safely.
