6 benefits of cordyceps based on science

Cordyceps is well known in Traditional Medicine especially in China and has been used for centuries to treat many health ailments. Although mushrooms are promising in many fields, there is still very little research on their effects on humans. Therefore, more research is needed before experts can make any recommendations.

Cordyceps, a genus of parasitic fungi, grows on the larvae of insects. When these parasitic fungi attack the host, they replace its tissue and sprout long, slender stems that grow outside the host's body. The remains of insects and fungi have been hand-picked, dried, and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to treat fatigue, illness, or kidney and libido-boosting cordyceps. low sex. Supplements and products containing cordyceps extract are becoming increasingly popular due to their many known health benefits.
Of the more than 400 species of Cordyceps found, two have become the focus of health research: Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris. However, most of the results of these studies are limited to animal or laboratory studies, so health professionals cannot currently draw conclusions about their effects on humans. . However, their potential health benefits are very promising.

2.1. Cordyceps can increase exercise performance Cordyceps is known for helping the body increase the production of the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is needed to provide energy for muscles, to Improves the way the body uses oxygen, especially during exercise.
Researchers examined the effects of cordyceps on exercise capacity in 30 healthy older adults using stationary bicycles. Participants will take 3 grams per day of a synthetic cordyceps strain called CS-4 or a placebo pill for six weeks. At the end of the study, VO2 max was increased by 7% in the participants taking CS-4, while participants taking the placebo pill had no change. VO2 max is a measurement used to determine fitness levels.
In a similar study, 20 healthy older adults were given 1 gram of CS-4 or a placebo pill for 12 weeks.
While the researchers found no change in VO2 max in either study group, the participants given CS-4 had improved exercise performance.
Or study examining the effects of a parasitic mushroom mixture containing cordyceps on exercise performance in young adults. After three weeks, the participants' VO2 max was increased by 11% compared to placebo.
However, current research shows that cordyceps is not effective in improving exercise performance in trained athletes.
2.2. Anti-aging properties Elderly people often use Cordyceps to reduce fatigue and increase strength and libido. The researchers suggest that the antioxidant content of cordyceps may explain their anti-aging potential.
Some studies have found that cordyceps can increase antioxidants to help improve memory and sexual function. Antioxidants include molecules that fight cell damage by neutralizing free radicals, which can contribute to disease and aging.

Another study found that cordyceps extended the lifespan of fruit flies, further reinforcing the belief that they have anti-aging benefits.
However, there is still no scientific evidence that cordyceps has the same anti-aging benefits in humans.
2.3. Potential Anti-tumor Effects The potential of Cordyceps to slow the growth of tumors has generated considerable interest in recent years. The researchers believe that cordyceps may exert anti-tumor effects in a number of ways as shown in test-tube results: Cordyceps has been shown to inhibit the growth of many types of human cancer cells, including lung, colon, skin, and liver cancers.
Studies using cordyceps performed in mice have shown anti-tumor effects on lymphoma, melanoma and lung cancer. Cordyceps can also reverse side effects associated with cancer treatment. One of these side effects: Leukopenia.
Need to clearly distinguish between cancerous leukemia, leukopenia is a condition in which the number of white blood cells (white blood cells) decreases, which reduces the body's ability to protect and increases the risk of infection.
Impact of cordyceps on mice with leukopenia following radiation and treatment with Taxol, a common chemotherapeutic drug.
Furthermore, Cordyceps also reversed leukopenia. This suggests that cordyceps may help reduce complications associated with some cancer treatments. However, it's important to note that these studies were done in animals and test tubes, not humans.
The impact of Cordyceps on leukopenia and tumor growth in humans is unknown, so medical professionals cannot currently draw conclusions.
2.4. Cordyceps helps manage type 2 diabetes Diabetes mellitus, a disease in which the body does not produce or respond to the hormone insulin, which normally transports glucose into your cells to generate energy.
When the body doesn't produce enough of the insulin it needs or responds well to it, glucose can't get into the cells, so it stays in the blood. Over time, too much glucose in the blood can cause serious health problems. Therefore, for people with diabetes is to make sure their blood sugar is well controlled.
Cordyceps can keep blood sugar levels balanced and healthy by mimicking the action of insulin. In several studies in diabetic rats, Cordyceps was shown to lower blood sugar levels.
Some research evidence has found that cordyceps may also protect against kidney disease, a common complication of diabetes. In a review of 22 studies involving 1,746 people with chronic kidney disease, subjects given cordyceps supplements had improved kidney function.
The authors of the review stated that many of the studies were of low quality. Therefore, no conclusions can be drawn about the effect of Cordyceps on renal function in people with chronic kidney disease.
2.5. Possible Cardiovascular Health Benefits Cordyceps used to treat arrhythmias approved in China, a condition where the heart rate is too slow, too fast, or irregular. Research shows that Cordyceps significantly reduces heart injury in subjects with chronic kidney disease. Heart damage from chronic kidney disease is thought to increase the risk of heart failure, so reducing these damage may help avoid this outcome.

The researchers attributed the findings to the cardiovascular benefits of Cordyceps adenosine. Cordyceps may also have beneficial effects on cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that cordyceps lowers LDL cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease by leading to cholesterol buildup in the arteries. Similarly, cordyceps has been shown to reduce triglyceride levels in rats.
Triglycerides, fats found in your blood. High levels are associated with a greater risk of heart disease. However, there is not enough evidence to determine whether cordyceps benefits heart health in humans.
2.6. May Help Fight Inflammation Using cordyceps is thought to help fight inflammation in the body. While some inflammation is good for the body, too much can lead to diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Research has shown that when human cells are exposed to cordyceps, special proteins that increase the inflammatory response in the body are inhibited.
Thanks to these potential effects, researchers believe that cordyceps could be used as a useful anti-inflammatory drug or supplement.
Cordyceps has been shown to reduce inflammation in the airways of mice, making them a potential therapy for asthma. However, the mushrooms appear to be less effective than commonly prescribed medications used to relieve pain in inflamed areas of the body.
Cordyceps can also promote its use locally. One study found it reduced skin inflammation when applied topically in rats, further demonstrating its anti-inflammatory properties. The potential anti-inflammatory properties of Cordyceps have not yet been observed in humans.

What are the health benefits of drinking cordyceps? Most use CS-4 cordyceps supplements. The dosage commonly used in human studies is 1,000–3,000 mg per day. This range is not associated with side effects and has been found to have certain health benefits.
Side effects and safety There have been no studies examining the safety of cordyceps in humans. However, a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine shows that they are not toxic. In fact, the Chinese government has approved Cordyceps CS-4 for hospital use and recognized it as a safe, natural medicine
Animal and laboratory studies show cordyceps Herbs have the potential to improve heart health and fight inflammation, cancer, diabetes and aging. However, many of these studies were of poor quality and the results were not scalable to humans. Furthermore, there have been human studies on the effects of Cordyceps on exercise performance. Mushrooms have been found to increase energy and oxygen use during exercise. Currently, there is no consensus on what dosage everyone should use to reap its potential health benefits, or how safe it is.

Reference source: healthline.com