3-23-2016

The emperor’s new groove

Native to Tibet and southern China, Cordyceps mushrooms have been used for thousands of years. In ancient China they were highly prized and used exclusively in the Emperor’s palace; more recently they made international headlines for the benefits that they offer athletes (notably when Olympic Chinese runners attributed them to their world record breaking performances in 1993).

Cordyceps have a wide range of chemical components and compounds that make them particularly valuable. These amazing mushrooms are known to support heart health, maintain healthy cholesterol levels in those whose levels are already normal, and provide support to the respiratory system.

Fast facts:

  • Codyceps are commonly called Caterpillar fungus, tochukas (Japanese), dong chong xia cao (Chinese: summer grass, winter worm).
  • During the Ming Dynasty, the physicians of the emperor’s court studied the Cordyceps fungus, and using their own experience and knowledge, improved its usage.
  • There are more than 680 species of Cordyceps but the most well-known is Cordyceps sinensis.
  • The generic name Cordyceps is derived from the Greek word kordyle, meaning “club”, and the Latin stem -ceps, meaning “head”.

Walk this way

Walking is a simple and easy way to start living a healthier lifestyle. The benefits that you receive when you take a walk each day are numerous; getting up and going out has been shown to help increase memory, improve circulation, lift your spirit, protect from heart disease, and more. Studies have shown that walking for just two minutes of each hour can increase your lifespan by 33%. So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of the coming warm months, take a break, and go for a walk.

Easy peasy

Eating well doesn’t have to be hard. We love finding easy, healthy, and delicious recipes that don’t take forever to make. Check out this Pea Pesto Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Arugula from Minimalist Baker for a recipe that takes the cake as far as taste, time, and healthiness.

Sometimes you will never know the value of something, until it becomes a memory.

– Dr. Seuss

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.