The cordyceps mushroom is not a new discovery, but those who are involved in sports and especially those who follow coaches and trainers in the world of social networks, have recently come across it more and more. And in general, the use of mushrooms has become part of the conversation, not only among those who make sure to take medicinal plants, but also among sports enthusiasts.
The mushrooms are food. They also have virtues, thanks to which they sometimes receive the title of “superfood”, and in any case it is a special food. Nature, including mushrooms, provides substances that have a positive effect on our immune system and energy. This is a growing trend because people recognize the capabilities of the mushroom, and today it is possible to consume them in a variety of ways, for example in high-dose capsules.
However, the only form of extraction that really exhausts most of the active ingredients of the mushrooms is actually a powder, dry extract (dry extraction), since this is the way in which we will get the most active substances that are also well absorbed by the body, even more so than with liquid extraction, i.e. in drops.
Be it in powder, drops or capsules, the source of cordyceps may sound a little daunting. Its origins are in the spore that lands on the back of a caterpillar, penetrates it to enjoy the good conditions it provides (food and suitable moisture), until that spore digests the insect and grows from it. The use of cordyceps was common in Tibet and the Himalayas, as well as in Chinese medicine. It was a mushroom worth its weight in gold thanks to its virtues.
Improving performance, endurance and energy
Today, the western world knows how to grow it without the need for insects, and still enjoy the qualities. When talking about the use of cordyceps, it is customary to refer to the main variety – Cordyceps sinensis. Examining its use, although research is still limited, has shown improved performance, endurance and energy. For athletes for example, taking 3-4 grams per day for a few weeks has been found to significantly increase MDA VO2 Max, which describes the maximum amount of oxygen that the body is able to absorb, transfer to the cells and utilize during physical activity . It was also found to improve endurance during exertion and prolong the time to fatigue. In addition, cordyceps improves the rate of recovery after intense activity and contributes to production ATP, which is the main energy source of the muscle.
But you don’t have to be a sportsman or sportswoman, nor sports fans to enjoy the benefits of the mushroom. The evidence shows that it strengthens the immune system, since it was found to increase the activity of the immune cellsNatural Killers in the body It also contributes to the balance of inflammatory processes and has an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effect in mechanisms that include inhibition of abnormal cell division and apoptosis – controlled cell death. It also has an effect on metabolism, Balancing sugar levels, reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) and improving cognitive processes and memory.
For whom it is not recommended
Of course, this is not a miracle cure, and it should be combined with doctors’ recommendations and a proper health routine should be observed. Along with the benefits, cordyceps is not recommended for people with active autoimmune diseases, for patients taking immunosuppressive drugs, for pregnant or lactating women, Or for those who take aggressive blood thinners like Coumadin. Diabetics should also be careful, as it can increase the effectiveness of lowering sugar.
Tzipi Kadosh is a naturopath and clinical herbalist, director of the clinical herbalist course at the Ridman College of Integrative Medicine complementary and integrated