Cordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi that grows on the larvae of insects, sometimes called as the caterpillar fungus. It is an extremely rare combination of a caterpillar and a fungus. It is found at altitudes above 3800meters in the Himalayas and at other high-altitude regions.
Cordyceps mushroom has been used in ancient Tibetian medicine since 15th century. Cordyceps mushroom is popularly used in its powdered form and mixed with other medicinal condiments to treat a variety of ailments.
The Cordyceps mushroom price is about 2.25 Lakh/Kilogram, making it the most expensive mushroom in the world.
Here are a few health benefits of Cordyceps mushroom:
Managing Blood Sugar Levels
Studies have shown that Cordyceps can help in managing blood sugar levels in a safe range. It has a special type of sugar which can help treat diabetes which is a disease caused by excess sugar levels in the blood stream.
Cordyceps mimics the action of insulin and maintains a healthy level of blood sugar.
Balancing Cholesterol levels
Cordyceps reduces the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and increases the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels hence reducing the chances of heart ailments which are caused by imbalanced cholesterol levels.
Cordyceps have high levels of anti-aging compounds and antioxidants that can help rejuvenate the skin by reducing blemishes, wrinkles and dark spots.
Cordyceps has the potential to slow the growth of skin, lung, colon and liver cancer tumors. It also reverses the side effects associated with many forms of cancer therapy such as leucopenia.
Solves sexual dysfunction
Since several decades, Cordyceps have been used to treat sexual dysfunction by boosting the libido and sexual energy. This herbal supplement is added to diet to solve all the sexual performance related issues.
Boosts heart health
Cordyceps has the potential to boost cardiovascular health and reduces the chances of heart failure due to its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.
It is used in treating arrythemia, a condition in which the heartbeat is too slow, too fast or just irregular.
Prevents respiratory weakness
Cordyceps has the ability to increase the oxygen intake of the lungs which is highly beneficial for people suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis. By increasing the oxygen intake, respiratory weakness can be prevented and the internal organs can be run efficiently.
Strengthening of Immune system
Cordyceps halp in stimulating the Natural killer cells (NK Cells) of the human body and hence protect our body against a wide range of diseases which includes, fever, common cold, cancer and many others.
Regular use of Cordyceps has shown a significant increase in the kidney health leading to a toxic free healthy body.
As Cordyceps has the properties to reduce tumor size, it can be used to treat cancer. It shrinks the tumors and slows down the spread of cancerous tissues, giving the body enough time to fight it.
Increases energy levels
The most important properties of Cordyceps is that it boosts energy levels by increasing the intake of oxygen by lungs.
Because of this, the cellular energy production increases giving an extra dose of energy to athletes and sportsmen.
Too much inflammation in the body can lead to many ailments such as cancer and heart failure. Cordyceps prevents this by suppressing the inflammation causing proteins.
So, it can be used successfully as an anti-inflammatory drug or supplement.
Boost exercise performance
Cordyceps increase the production of the intracellular energy transfer molecule- Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecule hence increasing the potential to exercise better. When consumed by healthy adults, it is also found to increase their fitness levels.
These advantages of Cordyceps make it a healthy supplement for leading a healthy life.