Cordyceps militaris: The key to a healthier life.: Cordyceps & ATP, the energy currency.

Ever wondered what provides us with energy? Well of course its food, but how is it utilized? How does the food we gulp down enable complicated machines such as ourselves and other organisms to live and function? Kindly allow me brief is down substantially.

We all are familiar with the process of digestion where food is broken down into smaller and smaller bits until all that remains are nutrients, which are then absorbed by the body tissues, the long curly weird intestines. It is then transported to different cells & tissues of the body, where it is assimilated. Now the nutrients are used for the various functions it was taken in for. Amino acids, which are constituents of proteins are used as building material or for enzymatic purposes, fats are store houses, and the Carbs, are generally digested to get the energy, all of these take part in various metabolic pathways. But how does carbs produce energy? Sugars are generally broken down into bio-molecules called pyruvate and a few energy storing molecules called ATP, and after this, is where a specialized and complex cellular organelle, mitochondria, comes in.

Mitochondria are the power-houses of cells, all the energy we use to walk, talk, work, think, even to yawn are produced in these very special components of the cell. The energy released, through some complicated reactions, is stored in molecules called ATP or Adenosine triphosphate. Whenever the body requires energy the bonds of these ATP molecules are broken down, this releases the energy required to sustain us. Mitochondria are the site for the end cycle called Electron Transport Chain (ETC)/ oxidative phosphorylation etc & it produces the maximum number of ATP compared to all metabolic cycles related to cellular respiration, although all cycles are interdependent. One molecule of glucose can be used to produce about 30-32 ATP molecules.

But every cell that undergoes oxidative metabolism also generates ROS or Reactive Oxidant Species, particularly in the mitochondria. Although ROS play a few necessary roles in the body, accumulation is toxic. This is similar to how engines decay over time. Accumulation of such ROS has been regarded as one of the major causes of aging. These ROS damage DNA, protein and other bio macro-molecules. Cells however have in place a ROS fighting anti-oxidant system. There are basically enzymatic and non-enzymatic anti-oxidants in the body, anti-oxidants work together in a synergistic manner to produce an optimum result; which means every component of anti-oxidant defense system should work properly. In today's age of pollution, and as harmful chemicals in the environment are at an alarming rise, it comes as no wonder our anti-oxidant systems are growing weaker and free-radicals are winning the war. Accumulation of ROS brings forth many diseases ranging from cancer, diabetes, cardio-vascular problems, abnormal immunity, neuro-degenerative diseases etc; along with that the amount of ROS is inversely proportional to proper cellular respiration and energy generation which leads to weakness and fatigue. As you see its all so related...

**Now, what has Cordyceps got to do with it?**

Cordyceps has been tested for its highly proclaimed benefits, and it has awed people all around. Studies reveal that there was an amazing 18.4% increase in liver ATP produced in mice after consumption of Cordyceps, this in part maybe because of its high adenosine content, however its effectiveness has not been clearly understood yet. But that's really a lot... Cordyceps increases ATP production when the body is under stress which would otherwise lead to fatigue. This property increases the endurance of people who consume Cordyceps. Moreover Cordyceps also reduces the lactic acid of muscles under stress, lactic acid is produced under anaerobic conditions (when body isn't getting sufficient oxygen and has to work in low oxygen levels), this lactic acid causes muscle cramps, pain and wears them out. Cordyceps along with reducing lactic acid, increases bloods oxygen carrying capacity, due to which anaerobic respiration is pushed to minimal and so is lactic acid production. On a test on mice, it was shown that mice on Cordyceps had an increase in swimming time by an astounding 88%.

'No wonder those Chinese athletes in the 1993 Olympics broke all the long distance running World records, their coach revealed they were on Cordyceps diet'...

Moreover, Cordyceps also increases insulin production as well as insulin receptivity of cells. Combined with the increased oxygen carrying capacity of blood, it produces an amazing effect. The metabolism of glucose in blood increases rapidly and this provides more pyruvate for the mitochondria, which overall leads to more energy production in a short duration. But its long term effect is diabetes control, with more insulin production as well as increase in insulin receptivity, Cordyceps effectively works on both Type I & Type II diabetes.

Cordyceps also have high amounts of anti-oxidants such as Carotenoids, Super-oxide dimutase (SOD) etc. These anti-oxidants prove to be efficient ROS removal mechanism and work in a synergistic manner with our own cellular anti-oxidant defenses, greatly boosting their performance. This removal of ROS enhances cellular respiration but more importantly contributes towards longevity, prevention of cancers, auto-immune disorders, neuron-degenerative diseases, etc. It is a very effective anti-aging mushroom.

This is how Cordyceps works on providing energy, enhances ATP production, reduces fatigue, protects cells, mitochondria, DNA etc as well as prevent various diseases. It is the additive that maximizes your engines capacity, reduces decay and increases longevity. As we always say, invest in your health because health is your true wealth... "Let nature be thy medicine, let nature be thy healer."