Are you a fan of Hawaiian mushrooms and their various health benefits as dietary supplements? You may want to check out cordyceps. These are long mushrooms known for their finger-like body and a brown to orange color.
The use of these mushrooms as medicine started with the traditional medicine of the Chinese. However, it is now finding its way in the United States as a popular dietary supplement. It is said to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that can help the body stay healthy.
This article will run you through everything you need to know about cordyceps and their health benefits.
Where Do Cordyceps Mushroom Come From?
The most popular species of cordyceps is the cordyceps sinensis or Ophiocordyceps sinensis. This is the most popular species of cordyceps used for medicinal purposes.
However, there is a wide variety of cordyceps species. In fact, there are 400 species of this mushroom, and most of them are native to Bhutan, China, Korea, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. In China, wild cordyceps are priced at least $20,000 per kilogram.
The cordyceps used in most supplements are made from an engineered fungal culture with the biological characteristics of the Cordyceps sinensis. However, this fungal culture is not able to produce the mushroom itself.
The Uses of Cordyceps Mushrooms
There are various uses for cordyceps in alternative medicine. It is known to be a natural energy booster and has claims of protection against asthma, depression, diabetes, fatigue, high cholesterol, and other health problems.
Here are some of its known uses:
Cordycep Mushrooms Effect on Athletic Performance
While the research on the performance-enhancing effects of cordyceps yields mixed results, there are several claims to its impact on athletic performance. In 1993, Chinese track-and-field athletes broke multiple world records, and their coach attributed this result to cordyceps supplements. Cordyceps in itself is known to improve oxygen consumption which may improve performance.
How Cordycep Mushrooms May Help with Diabetes
In China, cordyceps is used as a traditional treatment for diabetes. While the research on this effect is non-conclusive, it suggests that the weight loss benefits of cordyceps can aid in controlling diabetes.
Cordyceps intake has also been seen to improve cholesterol profile associated with insulin sensitivity.
Improving Blood Pressure
It is believed that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of cordyceps can help reduce the risk or treat high blood pressure. This effect may be due to the compound cordycepin in the mushroom, which has a similar molecular composition as adenosine.
Adenosine is responsible for relaxing the blood vessels, improving circulation, and lowering blood pressure. Likewise, this anti-inflammatory effect has also been seen to help people with moderate to severe asthma.
Are There Side Effects to Cordyceps Mushrooms?
While use of cordyceps mushroom extract is considered safe. If you have allergies to yeast, it is best to steer clear of cordyceps as they may trigger this allergy. Try one of Malama’s other mushrooms. It is also best to avoid using cordyceps if you are taking diabetes medication, as you may experience extremely low blood sugar or hypoglycemia.
Conclusion
Cordyceps is a mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various ailments such as fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, and others. While there is not enough research to show conclusive results in the benefits of cordyceps use, the belief is that their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can offer a wide range of benefits.
Are you looking for healthy mushrooms in Hawaii and organic USA mushrooms? Malama Mushroom has a variety of mushroom extracts you can try. Grab some cordyceps mushroom extract to fuel your day today!