Mushrooms – The Benefits

by Wally Bishop | Sep 12, 2023 | Mushrooms

Last week we introduced the basics of mushrooms. Today we want to talk about their benefits.

Mushrooms as a Superfood

Records show that mushrooms have been studied extensively for their health-promoting properties. The use of mushrooms for medicinal purposes goes back thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians called them their plant of immortality.

Almost every mushroom you find in your local store has many health benefits, even the white button mushroom is a powerful promoter of health.

Yes, mushrooms are a superfood and one of the most health-promoting foods on the planet! Likely 50% of edible mushrooms are considered functional foods. Functional food means that they have a potentially positive effect on health beyond the basic nutrition they provide.

They are low in calories and fat and are cholesterol-free. Mushrooms contain a moderate amount of fiber and over a dozen minerals and vitamins, including copper, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and a number of  B vitamins such as folate. Mushrooms exposed to sunshine can also contain Vitamin D, and some also contain B12 depending on the soil conditions they grow in.

Types of Mushrooms

Chanterelle Mushrooms

There are around 2,000 edible varieties of mushrooms, but only a handful are available at your local grocery store or market.

They include:

• white, or “button”
• brown cremini
• portobello
• shiitake
• oyster
• wood ear
• enoki

Seasonal varieties available at farmer’s markets and some grocery stores include:

• morel
• chanterelle

Countless scientific studies have revealed a variety of ways mushrooms can be useful in helping with adverse conditions and in improving overall health.

Potential Health Benefits

Amazingly, research has identified more than 200 conditions that may benefit from the consumption of mushrooms and more than 100 different positive health benefits they can produce for the body.

• Promotes healthy gut flora
• Enhances immune function
• Protects from neurological disease
• Anti-aging
• Aids in weight loss
• Help with diabetes
• Protect the liver
• Detoxes heavy metals
• Anti-cancer
• Heart protective
• Anti-inflammatory
• Make bones stronger
• Enhance digestion
• Anti-viral and antibacterial
• Help with Rheumatoid arthritis
• Anti-mutagenic

Ways to Consume More Mushrooms

There are so many great recipes for mushrooms! One of the things I like best about using mushrooms in recipes is that they can have the same texture as meats. I recently made a Creamy Mushroom Chowder (OMG, so delicious!) We used a combination of shiitake, cremini, and portobello mushrooms.

The portobellos gave it a dense meaty texture, which makes them a great replacement for giving dishes that meaty feel. Each type of mushroom has a unique flavor to add to the meal or recipe. If you would like my recipe for the Creamy Mushroom Chowder send me a message.

Enjoy your mushrooms as burgers, chowders, soups, grilled, sautéed or baked. They are versatile!

Vive Shake includes an extract of Lion’s Mane mushroom. To see how this whole-food, fiber-rich supplement can add to your wellness routine, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009.

Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

Mushrooms – The Basics

by Wally Bishop | Sep 5, 2023 | Mushrooms

I can’t remember when I first discovered mushrooms, but I remember the subtle, earthy flavor made me feel in some unique way connected to nature. It tasted wholesome and nurturing.

I had no clue of the medicinal value of what I was eating at a young age, I just knew I liked it! When they are cooking, I can smell the earthiness and yumminess, be it a stew, sautéed or grilled!

Please don’t eat mushrooms from your yard or forest without the advice of a professional trained in edible mushrooms, not all are edible. Some are very poisonous.

Mushrooms are types of fungi that not only offer great medicinal and nutritional value but also help support the earth, plants, water, air, and us. Mushrooms are not mold or yeast. However, to err on the side of caution, if you have candida overgrowth, discuss mushroom consumption with a qualified health professional.

World Wood Web!

Mycelia are tiny thread-like structures that make up mushrooms and fungi. While mushrooms might be the most familiar part of a fungus, most of their bodies are made up of a mass of thin threads known as mycelia.

We now know that these threads act as a kind of underground internet, linking the roots of different plants. Wow, did you get that? Mycelia acts as an underground communication network between plants of all kinds.

That tree in your garden is probably hooked up to a bush several yards away, thanks to mycelia. Because of this network of communication, each mycelium helps boost the immune system of plants and trees and helps transfer nutrients and water between plants connected to the underground network.

The largest living organism in the world is a 2,000-plus-year-old 2200-acre bed of mycelia in Oregon. It’s the World Wood Web!

Mushrooms Detoxify Soil

Mushrooms are also powerful detoxifiers of the soil in the ground. They can break down hydrocarbons in petrochemicals, turning them into harmless chemicals. Mushroom expert Paul Stamets describes how mycelium and mushrooms do this natural, very beneficial task. They also break down rock over and over, creating soil.

Next time, we’ll get into the health benefits of mushrooms and how you can better incorporate them into your diet. Vive Shake includes an extract of Lion’s Mane mushroom. To see how this whole-food, fiber-rich supplement can add to your wellness routine, contact us today at info@viveshake.com or 877-878-3009.

Vive Shake and the recommendations contained on this site and our blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. They are for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.