Cordyceps has gotten a bad rap over the last few years due to the recent HBO show The Last of Us, where we see the mushroom turn people into zombies. But that's not the REAL Cordyceps mushroom. The real Cordyceps has a plethora of health benefits and is all about energy, not extinction.
Used for centuries in traditional herbal medicine, Cordyceps can offer us a range of health boosts such as improving energy production, anti-inflammatory properties, and potentially even sexual health benefits.
What is Cordyceps?
There are two types of Cordyceps mushroom, and at first glance they are very similar. Cordyceps Militaris and Cordyceps Sinesis both provide us with the same health benefits, and are essentially the same mushroom, but where they come from differs. Cordyceps Sinesis was used for many years as it is naturally sourced. The parasitic mushroom enters the body of the Hepialus moth and grows from there, meaning it is not vegan and is VERY difficult to source. This scarcity has meant that it has been dubbed ‘Himalayan Gold’ due to its super high price tag, and it is typically not used in supplements. The Cordyceps Militaris is the result of decades of research into manual cultivation, making it vegan friendly and much more accessible, hence why we have used it in our Energise Bar.
The Cordyceps mushroom gained a lot of publicity in the 90s, after runners at the Chinese National games in Beijing smashed their records and it was revealed that they had been taking Cordyceps mushrooms. This is a prime example of the benefits that Cordyceps Militaris can bring to our health, boosting stamina and lung capacity for not only Olympic level athletes, but every day people like you and me.
Due to the proven benefits of Cordyceps, and the recent development of manual cultivation, it is now used in many supplements worldwide such as powders, pills or in a more tasty form - chocolate!
How Does Cordyceps Work?
Fighting Abnormal Cell Growth
The main bioactive substance in Cordyceps is Cordyceptin. Many studies have looked into this substance and its effects on the body. They have found that Cordyceptin disrupts a process called polyadenylation, a process that makes proteins. But why is that relevant? Well, slowing down polyadenylation can slow down the growth of harmful cells such as cancer. This is supported by Cordyceptin's ability to reduce mTOR signaling, a process linked to uncontrolled cell growth also seen in cancers. This has led researchers to an interest in Cordyceps as a natural cancer fighting compound, though more research needs to be done to evaluate its true efficiency.
Energy boost
Cordyceptin also activates AMPK, which is an enzyme that regulates our energy levels within our cells, helping them to work more efficiently and resulting in naturally boosted energy levels.
Studies into the effects of Cordyceps on exercise have demonstrated positive results; one study compared Cordyceps with a placebo, and found that after 3 weeks, Cordyceps had a demonstrably positive effect on the participants VO2 max, time to exhaustion and ventilatory threshold. In short, this study showed that those who consistently took Cordyceps supplements found that their bodies were able to use more oxygen, they could consistently exercise for longer without stopping, and could push harder before they started to breathe heavily. These effects can be truly beneficial for those looking to start a new fitness routine, boost their athletic performance or increase stamina naturally. Check out our article on how Cordyceps mushrooms can boost your workout for more information about our Energise bar!
Anti Inflammatory Properties
Recent studies have been looking into the anti-inflammatory properties of Cordyceps, branding it a potential ‘new class of anti-inflammatory agents’. The research has shown benefits for a range of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease.
How can Cordyceps help my asthma?
Asthma is a condition caused by inflammation of the breathing tubes that take air to our lungs. While asthma should always be treated in collaboration with your doctor, you may also be interested in discussing with them the benefits of additional herbal treatments such as Cordyceps. Cordyceps can help relieve asthma symptoms by reducing overall inflammation in the body, but of course, before adding cordyceps supplements such as Yumy Energise to your treatment plan, always discuss this with your doctor first.
How can Cordyceps help Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune condition that attacks the body’s tissues and can be very painful. This inflammation can be dangerous, affecting other parts of the body, and can be very physically disabling. Rheumatoid arthritis is usually treated in conjunction with a medical professional, who will typically offer Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and potentially steroids for pain relief. Research has shown however that adding supplements such as Cordyceps can help ease Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms by lowering inflammation, leading to less pain for people suffering from this disease. However, please always consult a medical professional before adding supplements such as Yumy Energise to your treatment plan, as they will be able to best advise how this will affect you.
How can Cordyceps help Parkinsons Disease?
Parkinsons Disease is a condition in which the brain becomes damaged over many years. It can lead to a plethora of health issues such as tremors, muscle aches and stiffness, and many mental health problems such as depression. Inflammation has been linked to Parkinsons Disease, with those suffering from the condition seen to have higher levels of inflammation in their brain. Anti inflammatory treatment has proven to be beneficial in treating other conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s, so there is a great interest in researching how lowering inflammation in Parkinsons Disease can help to ease symptoms. Cordyceps Militaris could be used alongside medical treatment with the supervision of a medical professional, to help lower this inflammation, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life of those with the disease, and reducing painful symptoms.
How can Cordyceps improve my sexual health?
Though the link is yet to be fully explored, research has shown that Cordyceps could have potential sexual health benefits. One study looked into erectile dysfunction caused by diabetes and found that Cordyceps had measurable effects. After three weeks, the rats in the study showed improved sexual behaviour, increased testosterone and better erectile function. The study actually showed that Cordyceps was comparable to Viagra in some areas, meaning that Cordyceps could be a natural solution for erectile dysfunction in humans, though more research is needed to support these effects.
How Do I take Cordyceps?
Cordyceps is a mushroom - meaning that its flavour is earthy and umami, and this is not for everyone, especially if you don't like mushrooms! The mushroom can be available in a variety of forms, such as powers and pills, you can even make mushroom tea.
At Yumy we think that health should be delicious and sweet, not boring and plastic. That's why we did extensive testing to evaluate the best way to incorporate Cordyceps into our Energise bar, trialing different recipes and concentrations to create a bar that brings you all of the health benefits, while still tasting delicious! In fact, with our final recipe, we think that you can't even taste the mushrooms - all of the benefits of Cordyceps in a delicious Belgian chocolate bar. A totally Yumy treat! Our bars are also made with the finest ingredients, supporting the cocoa horizons programme to ensure that cocoa farmers are paid fairly for what they do.
Final Thoughts
Cordyceps is more than just a fascinating fungus, it's been studied for its potential to naturally boost endurance, support energy levels and promote overall wellbeing. Whether you're looking to power your workouts, or stay energised throughout the day, adding Cordyceps to your diet could be a game changer.
And the best part? You can enjoy the benefits of Cordyceps in a delicious chocolatey way with our Energise bar!
Ready to boost your energy naturally? Try our Yumy Energise bar, infused with Cordyceps and let us know what you think!
