WHAT IS IT? NOT HUMAN PLANT OR ANIMAL
If ITS NOT HUMAN, PLANT OR ANIMAL BUT IS NECESSARY FOR THE UNIVERSE? WHAT IS IT? SHORT ANSWER MUSHROOMS
The surprising world of mushrooms! Whilst there’s still so much more for science to discover about the fascinating members of the fungi family we do know the following facts about one of the kingdom’s most recognisable members: the mushroom.
MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms are part of the fungi family, which is an entire kingdom of its own, separate from plants. The fungi kingdom consists of mushrooms, lichen, yeast, plant rusts, moulds, and smut. Mushrooms are the fruit body of fungi, living a short life-span to produce spores so that the fungus can spread.
According to scientists, fungi cells are surprisingly similar to human cells. It’s estimated that fungi split from animals about 1.538 billion years ago - 9 million years later than plants did. And unlike plants, which can photosynthesise, animals and fungi are both reliant on external food sources for energy.
Fungi also contain a substance called chitin in their cell walls, which also occurs in the external skeletons of insects, spiders and other arthropods.
Mushrooms are one small part of a network that allows trees to communicate
Underneath an individual mushroom is a vast network that can spread for acres. It consists of thin threads known as mycelium which connect different plants in a forest.
They have a mutually beneficial relationship with fungi, as plants provide fungi with carbon-rich sugars, and in return fungi provide plants with nutrients taken from the soil.
These mycelial networks allow plants and fungi to not only exchange goods between each other, but also help different plants in the forest to communicate. Older and larger trees use the network to nurture seedlings by transferring carbon to them and helping them survive.
But it’s not all altruistic: the network can also be used by trees to sabotage their neighbours by “stealing”’ carbon, or releasing harmful chemicals to their rivals
Medicinal Mushroom Benefits
Mushrooms are a low-calorie food and pack a nutritional punch. Loaded with many health-boosting vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they’ve long been recognized as an important part of any diet. Mushrooms exposed to ultraviolet light are a good source of Zinc & vitamin D, an important component for bone and immune health. Recent research demonstrates mushrooms can prevent or cure cancer.
Cremini mushrooms are an excellent source of zinc, which is an important nutrient for the immune system and is also needed for ensuring optimal growth in infants and children.
Even before the success of the hit Netflix documentary, Fantastic Fungi, mushrooms have been the celebrated hero ingredient within the wellness community. The savory superfood is not only packed with flavor, it is also loaded with vitamins that help promote immunity and enhance bone strength. Functional mushrooms are also now often used for regulating mood as well as sleep, boosting digestive health, and improving skin radiance. Mixed with smoothies, healthy parfaits or taken as tinctures, these healing chanterelles are easy to integrate into everyday rituals that support healthier lifestyles.
Every variant from the fungi family offers its unique set of benefits. Reishi is familiar in the field of Asian healing traditions. It supports the body’s natural ability to fight viruses and destroys cancer cells. Regular intake of Reishi has also rendered impressive results in managing stress, enhancing mood, and improving one’s quality of sleep. I’ve not stopped taking my Reishi tinctures since it was first introduced as a delicious topper to vegan breakfast parfaits and chia bowls.
Further exploration of the functional mushroom spectrum revealed other potent varieties that mark striking improvements in overall quality of life. Cordyceps is a type of mushroom that continues to gain traction among athletic or active individuals. It boosts metabolic rates and helps with muscle recovery, especially following a killer workout. A shot of cordyceps before exercise or sport also supports the body as it regulates oxygen.
Tonics or teas infused with Chaga do wonders in fighting inflammation. It’s been found to not only help fight cancer, but also lower blood sugar levels. Lion’s Mane, which has very recently become my very own secret weapon on days when the do-list seems endless, supports productivity, focus, mood, and overall brain function. It blends beautifully with a cup of organic cacao, which is a healthier alternative to coffee. Studies have also shown that this mushroom variant helps in prevention of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
TOP FOUR TYPES OF MUSHROOMS RECCONMENDED BY DR. BERG
- REISHI.....SLEEP AND ANXIETY
- LION'S MANE..... BRAIN AND COGNITIVE FACTORS
- SHITAKE..... BLOOD PRESSURE & IMMUNE SYSTEM
- TURKEY-TAIL .....IMMUNE SYSTEM AND ANTI CANCER
CULINARY MUSHROOMS Hearty meat-like mushrooms are an economical and nutritious way to enhance any meal. Mushrooms are low in calories (one cup of raw sliced mushrooms has about 20 calories) and high in vitamins and minerals. A source of potassium, mushrooms can provide selenium and copper, depending on the variety. N0t only are mushrooms delicious they can add tasty and nutritional benefits to any meal.
DISCOVER MUSHROOM RECEIPES: Mouthwatering mushroom recipes, from classic mushroom risotto and creamy stroganoff to mushroom soups, wellingtons and pies. Here is a quick mushroom receipe to start off the New Year: Mushroom Carbonara. Rustle up this healthy veggie carbonara with chestnut and baby button mushrooms in 30 minutes. Zentraveler says yum, yum!
Speaking on behalf of the fungi, the most overlooked and misrepresented organisms in the web of life. In 2006, Peter McCoy founded Radical Mycology, a grassroots organization that provides accessible information on mushroom cultivation and mycoremediation. Peter has taught the importance of human-fungal-ecological relations to environmental, social, food, and water rights organizations around the world and he regularly teaches mycology courses across North America.
His unique approach to working with fungi for global resilience has been featured in various media outlets, including Grist, Vice, and the documentary film Fungiphilia Rising. A ceaselessly curious autodidact, artist, social organizer, mushroom cultivator, and educator, Peter lives in Portland, OR, his hometown in the heart of the mycotopic bioregion of Cascadia.
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: Animals (including humans) are more closely related to mushrooms than plants.
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Mushroom spores?
ZENTRAVELER SAYS: ITS ALL IN ZEE MUSHROOM? Add mushrooms weekly for tasty food diners plus nutrition and medicinal properities.
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