Cordyceps Mushroom - Explore the Health Benefits and Buy Cordyceps Online

Cordyceps is a rare combination of a caterpillar and fungus which can be found and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to primarily treat fatigue, lung and kidney disease, and low sex drive. Nowadays there have been studies done on Cordyceps' ability to increase athletic performance and endurance with some rather positive results. Let’s explore where this medicinal mushroom can be found and what it can potentially do for you as a supplement for a healthier lifestyle!

Where do Cordyceps Fungi Grow?

Interestingly enough, Cordyceps fungi are not like your typical mushroom; they are found in the high mountain regions of China growing on other insects, mostly caterpillars, by slowly invading the host’s body and replacing its tissue by extending mycelium around the insect’s body. The remains of the host and this fungus have traditionally been hand-picked, dried, and used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various ailments. It is said that the first people who discovered Cordyceps health benefits, noticed that animals who ate it, became stronger and more resilient, and so, it was put to the test in supporting the human body too.

Cordyceps Health Benefits

Cordyceps to Increase Athletic Performance

So far there have been a few human studies done to test Cordyceps impact on athletic performance, and it was found that there was a noticeable improvement in participants who received Cordyceps mushroom, while those who received a placebo pill, showed low improvement or no improvement at all. It is thought that Cordyceps might deliver more energy to the muscles by increasing the body’s production of the molecule adenosine triphosphate, as well as help the body utilize oxygen more efficiently and increase blood flow, which all helps to increase athletic performance. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done on mice showed that after 3 weeks of administration, mice who were given the Cordyceps supplement showed a 30-70% increase in endurance.

Anti-Aging Properties

Another Cordyceps health benefit may come from the high anti-oxidant content found in this insect-loving fungus. Anti-oxidants are essential molecules that neutralize free radicals, protect our cells from damage, and therefore, prevent disease and slow down ageing. Several studies done with mice showed improved memory and sexual function in aged mice; another study found that the Cordyceps mushroom extended the lives of fruit flies. Although it is unknown if the effects on humans would show similar results, the high anti-oxidant content and traditional use in Chinese medicine give promising hopes that it would indeed give similar benefits to humans as well.

Potential Anti-Tumor Effects

Multiple studies conducted with mice show that Cordyceps fungi have anti-tumor effects on lymphoma, melanoma, and lung cancer. In test-tube studies, Cordyceps have been shown to inhibit the growth of many types of human cancer cells, including lung, colon, skin, and liver cancers. These results have created an increased interest in Cordyceps’ potential health benefits, which means, more future studies could be conducted to find out more data about Cordyceps’ potential anti-tumor effects in humans. Cordyceps fungi also seem to be very helpful with leukopenia – a condition that develops as a side effect of cancer treatment. Using this medicinal mushroom as a support for cancer therapy actually reversed leukopenia in many patients.

Cordyceps Militaris vs Sinensis

There are two species of Cordyceps available – Cordyceps Militaris and Cordyceps Sinensis. The difference between the cultivation and harvesting methods between these two can be quite dramatic. Let’s dive into this to reach an understanding of what would most likely suit your needs and preferences.

The difference between Cordyceps Militaris and Sinensis

While Cordyceps Sinensis occurs naturally on the bodies of insects in high altitude places in Asia and is sold at $30,000-40,000 per kilogram in China, it cannot be easily grown to produce a fruiting body in a laboratory setting. Cordyceps Militaris, on the other hand, has been successfully produced commercially in laboratories all over the world and is currently valued at only around $12 per kilogram in China. Both of these species seem to hold similar value in terms of their medicinal compounds, while Cordyceps Militaris can at times hold even higher concentrations of the valuable bioactive compounds as it can be grown in a controlled environment and tested frequently.

What might be important for some people to consider, is that Cordyceps Sinensis occurs when this parasitic mushroom infects and mummifies an insect, therefore making this supplement not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. Cordyceps Militaris, on the other hand, can be fully cultivated in a laboratory setting without an insect body necessary, therefore, the species of Cordyceps Militaris can be suitable for both vegans and vegetarians.

As you can see, the difference between Cordyceps Militaris and Cordyceps Sinensis can be quite drastic. In our Next Level store, we offer both variations to offer freedom of choice. You also get an option between liquid and capsule forms to best suit your needs and preferences. We have also written an article about different ways how to take Cordyceps Mushroom!

Check out our Cordyceps capsules or Cordyceps liquid products below!