Mushrooms have been consumed for millinea due to their nutritional and health benefits. Mushrooms are a source of protein and fibre and contain many nutrients including: folate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, selenium, iodine, copper and zinc. Mushrooms have also been used in the traditional medicines of Asia, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, the Mediterranean and America for their multitude of health benefits.
Medicinal Mushrooms are a group of mushrooms that have been valued for their immune boosting, gut supporting and brain boosting qualities. Some of the most well known and studied Medicinal Mushrooms include: Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidium), Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), Shitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) and Lions Mane (Hericium erinaceus). Modern science is catching up with ancient healing traditions and there are over 60,000 research papers that have been published on Medicinal Mushrooms on the PubMed website!
Reishi and Turkey tail mushrooms are well known for their immune enhancing qualities and for excelling at supporting oncology patients in recovering from fatigue and immune suppression as a result of their treatments. Two particular compounds (beta glucans and triterpenes) are found in large quantities in Reishi and Turkey tail mushrooms and these compounds stimulate the bodies own healing response and inhibit the growth of tumour cells.
Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most accessible edible Medicinal Mushrooms as they can be added to cooking and have immune enhancing qualities because of their beta glucan content. Lions Mane has become increasingly popular for it's neurological impact. Lions Mane has nootropic and neuroprotective qualities which means that it boosts brain health and has protective qualities for the brain. It is now recommended for it's supportive role in conditions such as ADHD, dementia, depression and neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
So, if you're interested in the amazing potential of mushrooms you can add more to your cooking, even button mushrooms have numerous health benefits. Or if you would like a more potent source of medicinal compounds, you can add Medicinal Mushrooms such as Reishi, Turkey tail and Lions mane to your health regime in the form of liquid extracts (which I add to herb tonics) or powders and capsules containing these mushrooms.
