Marvelous Mushrooms

 

Marvelous Mushrooms

A very good friend of mine recently made a very special group of ladies the best mushroom risotto ever! A mushroom is a marvelous vegetable, and can elevate any dish.

 

Button mushrooms, Portobello mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, porcini mushrooms… The list is so varied, each with its own unique taste, property and health benefits. Some people prefer the mild, smooth taste of a button mushroom while others like myself prefer the “meaty,” robust, intense taste of mushrooms that are darker in colour.

 

Our first taste of a truffle was in the Netherlands. It was during a cheese tasting that we could experience the taste of cheese with specks of truffle in. The taste was wonderful, but almost familiar. My husband’s first reaction was, “It tastes like droe wors!” A proudly South African dried meat sausage with spices. I once heard a quote about the truffle being the Mozart of mushrooms. Isn’t that a lovely description!? We’ve had truffle infused olive oil during an olive tasting in Cape Town, South Africa before. But truffle specked cheese was next level for us!

Back home I found a “truffle pesto” at a very affordable price. I think it has more cheese, cashews and olive oil in and about 1% truffle. But it was definitely a step closer to tasting the true truffle. I’m probably unleashing the foodie in you, right!

Let’s get back from foodie heaven into the bare ground…

Ganoderma Lucidum, also known as the “king of herbs”, is seen as the powerhouse of mushrooms. This is a large, dark mushroom with a glossy exterior and a woody texture. The latin word lucidus means “shiny” or “brilliant and refers to the varnished appearance of the surface of the mushroom.

For thousands of years, Ganoderma lucidum has been recognized by practitioners of traditional Asian medicine as the highest ranked mushroom for its potency. In China, the Ganoderma lucidum is also called Lingzhi, whereas Japan the name is Reishi or Mannentake. This mushroom has been used for over 2000 years and was documented in ancient scripts.

Their long brown stems and orange-coloured caps make them a spectacular sight, but because these grow on wood in heavily forested areas, they can be hard to see.

The different components of the Ganoderma mushroom that are used for different benefits are the spores (seeds ready to pollinate), the Mycelium (baby or early harvest) and the lucidum or cap part of the mushroom. This is also known as the mature mushroom and is usually harvested at its peak of maturity, around 8 months of age.

While the mushroom themselves can be eaten fresh, it is also common to use powdered forms of the mushroom or extracts that contain these specific molecules.

Now for my favourite part, the health benefits:

·    Reishi can affect the genes in white blood cells, which are very important for your immune system.

·    May alter inflammation levels.

·    Increases the activity of white blood cells also called natural killer cells.

·    These natural killer cells fight infection and cancer in the body.

·    Improves lymphocyte function, and is an excellent addition for athletes that are exposed to stressful conditions.

·    Improves overall vitality and vigor in both male and female.

Another fantastic beneficial mushroom is the Cordyceps Synensis and -Militaris mushroom. These long slender stemmed mushrooms have been used for centuries to treat fatigue, sickness, kidney disease, low sex drive, aging, asthma and depression. It also helps with improved liver function as well as athletic performance.

Supplements and products containing the Ganoderma lucidum or Red Reishi and Cordyceps extract have become increasingly popular due to their many health benefits.

The actual mushroom is not freely available in the fruit and vegetable section of your local grocery store. That is why it is put in capsule or powder form so that everyone can access it and enjoy the benefits.

There is however not enough reliable information about the safety of taking cordyceps if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

With mushrooms being kept for emperors, kings and only the elite few in ancient times, why not tap into the full benefits where you can also be able to experience the vigor and vitality that was once reserved for royalty.

Look out for my next blog where I’ll be sharing a bit more on this interesting topic!

You can have a peak at some products containing these mushrooms so long…

healthbaristajaco.organogold.com

Blessings.

Lizelle