Cordyceps militaris is a common mushroom that is used in health food supplements. It is rich in nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus. Cordyceps can be used as alternative sources of these minerals in the human diet.
Cordyceps are Safe to eat
Cordyceps have been used for thousands of years for their medicinal properties. Their health benefits include reducing the effects of fatigue, regulating the immune system, anti-aging, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer. Studies have shown that the incorporation of cordyceps in a diet improves exercise performance.
Cordyceps Can Turn Insects into Zombies
Cordyceps is a mushroom that will consume live insects from the inside out. They are parasitic fungi that will infect their host body, spread their mycelium network throughout, and eventually fruit mushroom bodies. The insect host will slowly die from the invasion of the mycelium. It is believed that the mycelium will direct the insect to a better spot for the mycelium to continue to grow and expand their network.
Cordyceps are the mushroom featured in the video game and HBO show The Last of Us.
Sources
Dworecka-Kaszak B. Cordyceps fungi as natural killers, new hopes for medicine and biological control factors. Ann Parasitol. 2014;60(3):151-8. PMID: 25281812.
Eunhyun Choi, Junsang Oh & Gi-Ho Sung (2020) Beneficial Effect of Cordyceps militaris on Exercise Performance via Promoting Cellular Energy Production, Mycobiology, 48:6, 512-517, DOI: 10.1080/12298093.2020.1831135
Jędrejko, K., Kała, K., Sułkowska-Ziaja, K., Pytko-Polończyk, J., & Muszyńska, B. (2022). Effect of Cordyceps Spp. and Cordycepin on Functions of Bones and Teeth and Related Processes: A Review. Molecules, 27(23), 8170. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27238170
Liu, Y., Guo, Z.-J., & Zhou, X.-W. (2022). Chinese Cordyceps: Bioactive Components, Antitumor Effects and Underlying Mechanism—A Review. Molecules, 27(19), 6576. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27196576
