Title: TikTok User Attempts to Eat Fungus Grown from His Own Blood and Skin
Publication Date: October 29, 2023
By Matthew Phelan, Senior Science Reporter For Dailymail.com
In a bizarre turn of events, a TikTok user known as @Southernspore has gained attention for growing and eating cordyceps fungus that was fed with his own blood and skin. Cordyceps, a fungus known for its zombie-like effects on insects, has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine and recently gained popularity due to its appearance in HBO’s hit video game-adaptation, The Last of Us.
The enterprising mushroom-lover showcased the process on TikTok, revealing the cordyceps’ filament-like structures known as “hyphae” growing on his own blood and skin. After chewing on the fungus, he described it as “strangely sweet” and claimed he would eat it again.
The TikTok user, whose real name is believed to be Jacob Riley Hood, expressed his interest in comparing the taste of his homemade cordyceps to traditionally grown ones. Hood used his own blood and ripped, calloused skin from his hands as the substrate for his “zombie mushrooms” to grow.
Hood’s TikTok video also featured a comparison to a regular mass of cordyceps grown on a less Halloween-appropriate substrate. He discussed the possibility of using animal blood, bone, and meat for future experiments, as they might be easier to obtain than extracting his own blood.
While cordyceps has gained attention for its health benefits, including its cancer-fighting effects, it is notorious for its spooky evolutionary history. The fungus has the ability to turn insects, such as ants, into zombies. However, experts assure that the chances of cordyceps infecting humans in a similar manner are extremely low.
Despite the potential risks, cordyceps has shown promise in medical research. The compound cordycepin, derived from the fungus, has demonstrated effectiveness as a cancer treatment. Additionally, cordyceps may help with fatigue, strength, sex drive, blood sugar regulation, and recovery from cancer treatments.
While the TikTok video created a buzz online, experts emphasize the importance of caution and responsible consumption when experimenting with unusual foods, especially those grown in unconventional ways. The fascination with cordyceps’ zombie-like properties continues to captivate people’s imaginations, but it should not overshadow the potential benefits that the fungus may offer to human health.
In conclusion, the TikTok user’s daring attempt to grow and consume cordyceps fungus cultivated from his own blood and skin has generated both intrigue and concern. While the taste was deemed surprisingly pleasant, experts warn about the potential risks and urge responsible consumption practices. Cordyceps remains a subject of fascination due to its historical use in Chinese medicine and its eerie connection to zombies in popular culture.
READ MORE: Here’s why mushrooms grow in a perfect ‘fairy circle’ – discovered by a woman who noticed the strange formation in her backyard
Reference:
– Dailymail.com – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10113389/TikTok-user-eats-flesh-eating-Cordyceps-fungus-brewed-BLOOD-SKIN.html