Medicinal Mushrooms :)
Dear reader,
I welcome you - let's dive in together to learn more about those medicinal mushrooms! On that note i'd also like to encourage you carry on your own research if this subject interests you! There is so much out there :D
An interesting fact I'd like to start with is that from what I've understood we are still unsure about where mushrooms come from. They are not a fruit nor a vegetable, they aren't roots nor leafy plants but they are sticky, sometimes compact and sometimes very fully living bodies. That work in harmony with each other to help everyone grow and can grow overnight! YUM. A majority of them are not too comfortable in the sun and rather go for humid and dark areas - some can ONLY grow in caves! How cool. Some even say that these 'fungus' are aliens O:).
"The ancient Egyptians believed eating mushrooms brought long life. And mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in cultures around the world, particularly in Asian countries.
Now, modern scientists are discovering some fascinating healing properties of mushrooms. And more than a hundred species of mushrooms are currently being studied across the world today for their potential health benefits." (Food Revolution Network)
Anyways, why do we consume them? Mushrooms are kind of known to be a complement for our macronutrient life (for almost everybody this is what we eat the most. Keeping breatharian/superconscious people out of the equation). They contribute to the level of amino acids, essential sugars, some minerals that are missing from our traditional menus. BUT MORE THAN THAT I want you to tap into your creativity and imagine a group of soldiers - These soldiers represent your immune system so when someone uninvited (diseases, virus) comes along they are present at the door of the castle to keep them out. This is obviously what would happen naturally if our system was not so overwhelmed already. The reality for most of us is that we constantly give so much work to our body, from drinking, to drugs, to stress, to eating too much, to lack of sleep, to caffein and back at stress!! and we end up having a system that is tried, our soldiers are tired, and when someone or something knocks at the door of the castle they are certainly not always able to see everything and everyone and sometimes, quite frequently for some people, intruders do get in. And most of the time we're not super happy with that. NOW IMAGINE - Medicinal mushrooms are like super soldiers and basically by ingesting these we are adding soldiers to our immunity. What is important for you to understand is that all food that boosts and help your immunity will make a change, yes, and in fact will be like love notes to your original soldiers. But medicinal mushrooms are known to be the ONLY FOOD available that gives you immunity instead of working on what you already have. It's important you understand the difference - to me, this is the whole magic of the mushroom explained without having to go in too many details scientifically. And (thank you Nature) Mushrooms are also known to support brain's health, increase the antioxidant activity, and as listed before regulate your blood sugar level.
If this hasn't convinced you yet to add these babies to your plate I don't know what will, but here's the top 4 I recommend to add into your diet:
Reshi - Think of reishi as nature’s Xanax. This favored fungus is one of the most popular medicinal mushrooms, and for good reason. Reishi may be able do it all: aid in weight lossTrusted Source (as seen in a mousestudy , keep the immune systemTrusted Source in check, and may even fiercely fight cancer cellsTrusted Source. What makes this mushroom unique, however, is its calming properties — all of which are thanks to the compound triterpene, which reishi has its fair share of. These mood-boosting compounds may alleviate anxiety, ease depression, and encourage better sleepTrusted Source, as seen in mice. But triterpenes’ positive effect on the nervous system doesn’t stop there. Reishi can promote healingTrusted Source and sharpen focus, too.)
Chaga - mushrooms are an antioxidant powerhouse, making them excellent contenders for fighting free radicals and inflammation. This dark black mushroom combats oxidative stress(which is linked to skin aging), may prevent or slow the growth of cancer, and has been found to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol.
Lion’s mane mushrooms contain compounds that stimulate the growth of brain cells and protect them from damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Rat studies have found that lion’s mane extract can speed up recovery time from nervous system injuries. They can help with cognition, memory, concentration.
Shiitake -If you’re already cooking with shiitake in your kitchen, keep it up. But this popular mushroom has benefits way beyond making that stir-fry extra tasty. These mushrooms are particularly good for the heart. Shiitakes have been shown to lower LDLTrusted Source in mice, and they contain compounds that inhibit the absorption and production of cholesterol in the liver. These nifty shrooms also contain phytonutrients, which aid in preventing plaque buildup and, as shown in a rat studyTrusted Source, maintain healthy blood pressure and circulation.
There you go guys, I hope this resonated with you - yes all the information above are sourced from these places:
Lot of reading and listening to David Avocado Wolf - from his UEXL courses to this youtube and talk on Gaia.com
Feel free to share with a friend in need of this info,
love to you
Illo