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Few facts about mushroom

Few facts about mushroom

  • Mushroom extracts are available in both pills and powder forms. Most of these are hot water extracts obtained from fruiting body or mycelia. The product will contain active compound in the form of glyconutrients that is responsible for its medicinal properties.
  • General recommendation is, it is better to eat mushroom in cooked form. While picking up mushroom make sure they are suited for you and not poisonous in anyway.
  • Eat organically grown mushroom as they contain no pesticide or added chemicals and grown under proper conditions. For the growth mushroom absorb nutrient from the atmosphere too.
  • Mushrooms also provide dietary fiber and that acts as prebiotic elements for the growth of probiotic microbes in our gut that is critical for digestive system.
  • In Chinese medicines mushrooms are considered as tonics as they are useful across for humans.
  • People who have gout should not eat mushrooms or should be careful of their choice. Because they are high in purines.
  • Most fatal mushroom in the world is Amanita phalloides or Death cap mushroom
  • Mycoremediation is a process where mushrooms are used to break down and clean toxic chemicals in the environment.
  • Mushroom contain Vitamin D!

Image: Modified image of magic mushroom


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: December 8, 2017
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Shimeji and Turkey Tail Mushroom

Shimeji Mushroom and Turkey Tail mushroom

Shimeji Mushroom: Are edible mushroom native to East Asia. It is also available in Northern Europe. It is a difficult cultivate mushroom.

  • Adding Shimeji increases taste of soups and is a good garnishing ingredient.
  • It is known to have other medicinal properties.
  • Good for asthma and breathing problems.
  • It contains beta-glucans the compound that fights against cancer tumor.
  • It is good for controlling blood sugar level.
  • Shimeji is also rich in umami (oo-mammy) tasting compounds such as guanylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid. (Umami is a savory taste practiced in Japan)

Turkey Tail mushroom: Trametes versicolor is the common name for Turkey Tail mushroom. It is also known as cloud mushroom or Coriolis. It contains two complex polysaccharides namely PSK and PSP. Because of the two compounds Turkey Tail mushroom is gaining lot of attention.

  • It is also an edible mushroom. But the importance for this fungus in medicinal field is gained more obvious.
  • As per a clinical study by NIH funded project, it improves immune system of women who suffer from stage I-III breast cancer.
  • It also controls infection growth of Aspergillus niger, Candidada albicans, E. coli, herpes, Streptococcus pneumonia. It is also good for people who suffer from chronic fatigue condition.

Image credit: Indofungi.com, https://www.milkwood.net/ (Get more information on Turkey tail mushroom here)


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Chanterelle Mushroom

Chanterelle Mushroom

This mushroom looks like mini trumpet and has pleasant aromatic nature. It shines like a golden flower from distance and available in many parts of tropical countries. It is also known as egg mushroom or golden chanterelle. When in season there is a high demand for Chanterelle mushroom and is one of the prime verities of mushroom that is cultivated widely.

It is also a popular mushroom with culinary experts in Europe, United States and Asian countries. The beautiful appearance of the golden looking mushroom makes it bit pricy.  When buying these mushrooms, one should look for fragrance and golden color. Do not buy chanterelle mushroom if it turned black or dark.

  • It is good ingredient for dishes and contains good medicinal value:
  • Anti-inflammatory property is due to ergosterol
  • It has Anti-microbial property
  • It contains Vitamin C, D and potassium
  • They are excellent source of riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin and vitamin B complex
  • It also known to improve liver function.
  • Helps in platelet recovery and accumulation.

Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2007-08-05_Omphalotus_illudens_(Schwein.)Bresinsky%26_Besl_1018098506.jpg

Jason Hollinger / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Oysters Mushroom

Oysters Mushroom

Oyster mushrooms are known for their beautiful appearance. Pleurotus ostreatus is one of the famous oyster mushroom available in the market.

Studies have shown following properties and use of oyster mushroom:

  • It contains a compound called Statin. These drugs are used to reduce bad or LDL cholesterol. It stimulates the receptor of liver to clear this cholesterol that clogs the arteries.
  • Like previous mushroom types it also exhibited anti-tumor property. This is because of beta D-glucan polysaccharides in oysters. The beta D-glucan compound isolated from the oyster mushroom is called pleuran, which is responsible for its anti-cancer property (as shown in laboratory animals)
  • It also known to stimulate immune system to fight the cancer.

Image credit: https://www.liveseybrosmushrooms.co.uk/ (for mushroom supply and recipes)


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Maitake Mushroom

Maitake Mushroom

It is a popular mushroom used for food in Asia from many centuries. While harvesting this mushroom one need to be careful as many other poisonous mushrooms resemble Maitake mushroom.

Apart from culinary uses, Maitake mushroom has following benefits for humans: Lot of work on the properties of this mushroom is carried out in the lab on certain animals.

  • Anti-cancer property – Half a cup of this mushroom can prevent breast cancer development. Research says it finds the abnormal cells and causes their self-destruction.
  • It is useful for cancer patient who go through a lot of suffering after chemotherapy and radiation. It reduces side effect of these treatments.
  • Used for HIV/AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • Good for hepatitis, hay fever, diabetes, high blood pressure, reducing bad cholesterol and weight reduction.
  • Good for controlling polycystic ovarian syndrome and reduces infertility in women.

Image credit & reference: https://www.mushroomcouncil.com/, growyourpantry.com


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Reishi Mushroom

Reishi Mushroom

Also known as Ganoderma lucidum, is one of the common mushroom that is available in wood and everywhere! It looks like a large white and brown wood flower. It is also known as “spirit plant” and mushroom of immortality.

It has been in use in Asian countries for its various medicinal properties. It contains ganoderic, a terpenoid which is being used to treat leukemia, lung and other cancers.

Consuming few ounces of this mushroom helps in various ways. One can also use Reishi mushroom extract to get its benefits.

  • Antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties
  • It is anti-inflammatory agent
  • Helps in bringing down bad cholesterol
  • Reduces blood pressure
  • Reduces prostate related urinary conditions in men
  • Anti-cancer properties
  • Building immune system response. Relieves cough and breathing issues
  • Anti-aging effect
  • It is also recommended for insomnia, dizziness and palpitations.

In Chinese medicine reishi has a prominent place – it is known to open all the meridians in the body and it is one of the unique character that no other herbs or mushroom has.

Image credit & Reference:  https://liquidfungi.com/


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitake Mushroom

It is a popular culinary mushroom used in various types of dishes.

It has unique flavor and considered as meaty mushroom.

Health benefits of Shiitake mushroom include: Some of the work carried out by Japanese scientist on mice (tumor) resulted in positive response for this type of mushroom.

  • It is known to contain lentinan which is an anti-tumor compound. Lentinan is useful in stomach cancer treatment.
  • It also good for liver health and reduces stomach ailments like hyperacidity, gallstones, ulcers etc.
  • It helps in absorption of vitamin D and consumption of 5 ounces of this mushroom per day helps in fighting infection.
  • Shiitake mushroom has following properties – antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal.
  • It helps in blood sugar stabilization, reduces platelet aggregation and atherosclerosis.
  • Eritadenine compound present in this mushroom helps to reduce cholesterol.

Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiitake_mushrooms_1.jpg

Robin / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Chaga Mushroom

Chaga Mushroom

Chaga also known as Inonotus Obliquus in science world. It is sometimes referred as “king of medicinal mushroom”. Its popularity is due to its tea called “chaga tea”.

This chaga mushroom is known to present in Russia in abundance and all the medicinal property work is carried out in Russia.

And it has been used in folk medicine for various ailments across northern Europe.

It has following properties:

  • It helps in battling sun damage,
  • It helps in removal of certain parasites, anti-viral, detoxifying (blood and liver), bronchitis, improving circulation,
  • Chemotherapy & radiation therapy protection.
  • immune-boosting/modulation and antioxidant properties.
  • It helps in soothing body pain, nerve pain and supports blood vessels integrity!
  • It is also good for gastrointestinal health
  • Controls blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
  • It has antioxidant properties due to presence of phytosterol, botulin and betulinic acid.
  • Helps in auto immune diseases.

Image credit & reference: https://arizonahealthspot.org/ 


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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