We love learning and teaching others about the fantastic properties of nature's gifts - which is why we're obsessed with mushrooms. "We will make you feel healthy, vibrant, and at peak performance." If you want to learn about the benefits of mushrooms, you've come to the right place! Buckle up and get ready to start your wellness journey! "We can heal the planet, we can build the future and our world is fantastic." DOWNLOAD FANTASTIC FUNGI HERE Download Fantastic Fungi via Google Drive OR COPY LINK BELOW INTO BROWSER https://drive.google.com/file/d/12BBhFFRcrYEHQhWTu_3icEoTXam8Stjb/view #fungi #mushrooms #blog #science #wellness #ireland #foraging #newblog #toadstools Posted by: Vadim
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Maintaining Mental Health
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Today we know that our mental health is as important as our physical health. During the pandemic, we saw a rise in the occurrence of depression or anxiety around the world. Here’s how adding mushrooms to your diet might help you cope with mental health illnesses.
How do mushrooms help reduce the risk of depression?
Latest studies have revealed that people who eat mushrooms more regularly tend to have a lower risk of depression. The studies found that mushrooms are rich in minerals such as potassium and the amino acid ergothioneine. They are both linked with reducing depression and anxiety. Ergothioneine can reduce oxidative stress, which plays an important role in preventing mental health disorders like depression.
However, this doesn’t mean that you need to consume mushrooms in high quantities. People who eat mushrooms in moderation have the same risk of depression as people who eat them in a larger quantity.
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For instance, shiitake is a hearty edible mushroom that contains nearly all of the amino acids that support healthy brain function, cellular activity, and structure.
Portobello mushrooms are notably high in potassium, which is an important mineral that helps maintain energy levels and resist brain fog.
Porcini mushrooms are naturally high in the antioxidant ergothioneine, which has been linked to reduced risk of cognitive decline and depression.
Reishi is an adaptogenic variety of mushroom (meaning it helps the body resist all sorts of stressors) that is rich in beta glucans and ganoderic acids, and has been shown to reduce symptoms of both depression and fatigue.
Finally, Lion’s mane is a medicinal mushroom that has powerful effects in supporting the nervous system and mental health. It has been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, memory loss and boost overall mental function.
Are Mushrooms Good for the Brain?
While the human mind is much more than the physical organ known as the brain, having a clear and well-functioning mind depends at least partly on a healthy brain. And it seems that most, if not all types of edible mushrooms, confer some brain benefit.
Here’s a video about a study that took place between 2011 and 2017 that looked at the association between mushroom consumption and mild cognitive impairment in 600 Chinese senior citizens. The study found, remarkably, that those seniors who consumed more than two standard portions of mushrooms weekly reduced mild cognitive impairment by half:
The nutrients and functional qualities of mushrooms also appear to be beneficial for modulating mood. Eating mushrooms not only reduces the risks of many diseases, including dementia, but can also improve the subjective quality of life.
Eat Mushrooms for Mental Health
Mushrooms are a versatile group of functional foods with many culinary applications and health benefits. The more we study them, the more we discover their potential to improve our lives. Across the board, mushrooms have demonstrated potential for positive impacts on mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
Eating mushrooms or drinking beverages that use mushroom powders can be a great way to utilise the power of fungi to support mental health naturally.
For those new to the field, identifying mushrooms may seem intimidating. But knowing just a few of the key characteristics to look for can go a long way in helping you learn how to identify the different mushroom species. Below are six key characteristics you should try to observe when identifying a mushroom: 01. Cap The cap is, usually, the first feature to catch the mushroom foragers eye. Sitting atop the mushroom’s stalk, caps vary tremendously in size, shape, and color , and each of these features may change as a mushroom grows and develops. The shape of a mushroom cap is unique from species to species, which is helpful for identification. 02. Mushroom Cap Undersides Beneath the cap of many common mushrooms, you’ll find either gills, pores, ridges, or teeth. These are the parts of a mushroom’s anatomy that produce and release spores. These parts of a mushroom are important for identification because many species look similar based on the appearance of their cap. The underside ...
Having fresh, hand-picked mushrooms available at your fingertips is much easier than most people initially think. All you need is a few materials and the right environment and you will be able to grow most of your favorite mushrooms all year-round. Mushrooms are not a one-size fits all type of organism to grow. The type of mushroom you are growing will determine what substrate is needed to cultivate the spores best. Most common mushrooms grown at home include: π Shiitake π White Button π Maitake π Oyster π Portobello The importance of the right growing substrate cannot be understated when attempting to grow mushrooms at home. Like plants, mushrooms have their preferences for their growing medium; if these preferences are not met, they might grow poorly. Shiitake mushrooms prefer to grow on hardwood sawdust or wood chip substrate and would not grow well in compost or manure-type substrate. Alternatively, straw works well for oyster mushrooms, and compost or manur...
Mushroom identification is not an easy task, even for experts, as there are hundreds of thousands of species of wild mushrooms. Some mushrooms are edible, a few can send you on a mystical journey, and several will try and kill you. So how are we supposed to tell them all apart? Experience, and careful practice, honed over many years, is the best way to really learn how to identify mushrooms. However, there are some helpful mushroom identification apps that can lend a hand along the way. It is not a good idea to leave the final decision of whether to eat mushrooms to an identification app. Still, they can be useful when you just want a general idea of what you are looking at. Many of these apps also rely on you being able to get a high-quality photo of the mushroom. So if you’re unable to do that, your results might not be accurate. Mushroom identification apps are convenient. And they are an excellent tool for novice mushroom foragers who want to orient themselves to t...
(Image: Dall-e-2) A n NCAD Graphic Design Student named Niamh Kinch has created an interactive project on Mushrooms in Ireland. She describes it here: " This project focuses on the power of fungi within Ireland’s green spaces. It aims to show the full potential of fungi in an Irish setting through a communication design lens. It explores the well-known uses of fungi while also diving into the lesser-known but extremely fascinating world of the fungi kingdom in an effort to shine a light on the remarkable uses of these organisms. We are fortunate enough to live in a lush, flourishing country full of forests, fields and parks, all teeming with an array of fungi, so why not utilise this amazing natural material? This project portrays fungi’s important role in our fight against climate change, while also taking a more fun approach through forest fungi hunts and outdoor activities. It aims to provide a balance between work and pleasure in the fungi kingdom and to get people...
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Great content, great blog!
π· We will continue to post valuable content for the readers.
All the best!
Sally J