What Is Cordyceps Good For?

Angela Gioffre Nutritionist with 25 years of experience.

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Cordyceps may not look like the kind of mushroom you’d toss into a stir-fry, but this unusual fungus has captured global attention — from traditional healers in the Himalayas to today’s wellness communities. Originally discovered at high altitudes, growing on insects and caterpillars, most modern cordyceps used in foods and supplements is now sustainably cultivated without insects.

So, what makes cordyceps so special, and why are people increasingly including it in their diets?

Nature’s Energy Food

Cordyceps is often described as a natural “energy mushroom.” This is because it contains unique compounds that interact with how the body produces and uses energy at a cellular level. Most notable is cordycepin, a bioactive molecule being studied for its impact on energy metabolism. Alongside cordycepin, cordyceps also contains:

• Polysaccharides (β-glucans): Complex carbohydrates that act as functional fibre.

• Sterols and peptides: Supporting molecules that contribute to cordyceps’ nutritional profile.

• Antioxidants: Compounds that help defend against oxidative stress.

Together, these nutrients give cordyceps its reputation as a functional food that fuels stamina and vitality.

Supporting Performance and Recovery

Many people include cordyceps in their routine for its association with endurance, productivity, and resilience. Athletes often talk about how it helps them push harder and recover faster, while busy professionals value it for helping them sustain energy through long days. From a food perspective, cordyceps simply offers compounds that support how efficiently our cells generate and use energy — which is why it’s linked to performance.

Modern Uses

In Asia, cordyceps has long been simmered in soups and teas. Today, it’s more widely consumed as a wholefood powder in a capsule form. Taking it as a wholefood ensures you’re getting not just cordycepin, but also the full array of fibres, polysaccharides, and natural cofactors that work together.

Cordyceps is a fascinating functional food that bridges ancient tradition with modern wellness. Whether you’re looking for more sustained energy, better focus, or improved productivity, cordyceps offers a natural way to support your body’s performance — without stimulants, additives, or artificial boosts.

It’s not a quick fix — but as part of a wholefood, functional approach to nutrition, it may help you feel more energised, resilient, and ready to perform at your best.