{"id":8002,"date":"2018-10-25T20:08:59","date_gmt":"2018-10-25T20:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=8002"},"modified":"2018-10-30T17:17:28","modified_gmt":"2018-10-30T17:17:28","slug":"food-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/fall-2018\/food-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Food"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ode to the Mushroom<\/h3>\n

W<\/span>hat is neither a fruit, vegetable, nor animal but is widely consumed around the world and found in the vegetable section of the grocery store? Well, it\u2019s actually a fungus, which earns its own category\u2026<\/p>\n

The mushroom!<\/p>\n

Revered by many foodies, an acquired taste, or never to taste by others, mushrooms come in many shapes, sizes, and flavors. There are thousands of mushrooms in the world but only a small number are edible.<\/p>\n

Mushrooms, always in season, are grown year-round in every state of the U.S. Pennsylvania leads the way with some 60 percent of the total production. The daring pick them wild, but most go for the cultivated mushroom. So, unless you really know your fungi, you might not want to pick your own to avoid food poisoning.<\/p>\n

Thousands of Years in the Making<\/h4>\n

Mushrooms have grown and have been eaten for thousands of years. They date back more than 13,000 years ago when discovered in archaeological sites in South America. Continuing on through culinary history, the Greeks and Romans used mushrooms in their fare. The Romans are said to have had \u201cfood tasters\u201d to make sure the mushrooms weren\u2019t poisonous.<\/p>\n

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A selection of edible mushrooms including: Portabello, Shitake, wild mushroom, Grey Oyster, Yellow Oyster, Eryngi and Black Poplar. Photo: Deposit Photos<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Mushroom Varieties<\/h4>\n

Most people are familiar with white button; the deeper, earthier flavored crimini; the meat-like, deep-flavored portabella; and the umbrella-shaped cap, rich and woodsy shiitake.<\/p>\n

But to become a real mushroom expert, you might want to try the delicate gray, pale yellow, pink, or even blue oyster; the spindly stemmed, mild-flavored and -crunch enoki used frequently in Asian cuisine; the petite, mild, sweet, and nutty beech that are harvested in bouquets; and the petal-like, woodsy flavored maitake, also known as \u201chen of the woods.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toadstool Health<\/h4>\n

Mushrooms are loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, are fat-free, contain zero grams of cholesterol, and are low in calories.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re a good source of three different B vitamins: riboflavin, which plays a role in cellular function, energy production, growth, development, and metabolism; niacin, which promotes healthy skin and supports digestive and nervous system functions; and pantothenic acid, which is important for metabolism and the production of hormones.<\/p>\n

Mushrooms are also heralded for being the only source of vitamin D in the produce section. Vitamin D is important for helping to build and maintain strong bones, which is especially critical as you age.<\/p>\n

Cancer-Fighting Properties Being Discovered<\/h4>\n

The City of Hope cancer center is conducting research that shows powder made from white button mushrooms seems to lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men who were previously treated for prostate cancer. It\u2019s also finding that breast cancer patients may be helped by consuming a mushroom-based extract.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Mushroom Council<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Can Mushrooms Help You Lose Weight?<\/h4>\n

With a similar texture to meat, mushrooms are hearty, filling, and satisfying. But unlike meat, mushrooms are a low-calorie, fat-free, and cholesterol-free food. And that makes them a great alternative for those looking to manage their weight.<\/p>\n

Mushrooms Versus Supplements<\/h4>\n

Some clinical trials have demonstrated that the vitamin D present in mushrooms is bioavailable and as equally effective in raising and maintaining a healthy adult\u2019s vitamin D status as taking a supplement that contains vitamin D is. Although, the results aren\u2019t conclusive. In fact, a 2012 study in dermato-endocrinology showed that 25 adults who consumed 2,000 IU of vitamin D from white button mushroom extract daily for a three-month period were able to raise and maintain their vitamin D 25(OH) levels similar to healthy adults who consumed 2,000 IU of supplements containing vitamin D2 or D3.<\/p>\n

Medicinal Value<\/h4>\n

Magic or psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocybin, a compound that causes hallucinations. There are a few hundred varieties of these in the world. But the possession of them in the U.S. is illegal.<\/p>\n

These mushrooms didn\u2019t grow purely for the enjoyment of humans. Some scientists feel that these mushrooms developed their capability to ward off predatory insects.<\/p>\n

Lewis Carroll must have had some knowledge of these mushrooms when he penned his Alice in Wonderlan<\/em>d books. He described Alice growing and shrinking whenever she ate one side of the toadstool.<\/p>\n

Jefferson Airplane supported Carroll\u2019s thinking as they sang:<\/p>\n

Go ask Alice,\nWhen she\u2019s 10 feet tall\u2026\nWhen the men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go,\nAnd you\u2019ve just had some kind of mushroom,\nAnd your mind is moving low,\nGo ask Alice.\nI think she\u2019ll know\u2026<\/p>\n

A Visit to the Mushroom Capital of the World<\/h4>\n

If you want to totally immerse yourself in mushroom lore, take a trip to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, dubbed the \u201cMushroom Capital of the World.\u201d Over a million pounds of mushrooms are said to be produced a day there. There\u2019s a mushroom museum called The Mushroom Cap on State Street and some of the local mushroom houses open their doors to visitors.<\/p>\n

Locals celebrate the mushroom at the annual Mushroom Festival, which is complete with a parade and blocks of food booths. There\u2019s even the National Fried Mushroom Eating Championship, akin to the Wing Bowl; a 5K run; and a 2-mile fun walk.<\/p>\n

New Year\u2019s Eve is rung in by a giant mushroom drop rather than a ball drop.<\/p>\n

One mushroom farm is Phillips Mushroom Farm<\/a>.\u00a0 It has a museum, regular cooking demos, and an everything-mushroom gift shop.<\/p>\n

A recent mushroom soup demo there was led by Natalie Jenks of Natalie\u2019s Fine Foods<\/a>.\u00a0 Her Maitake and Roasted Corn Soup With Poblanos and Crispy Maitake recipe combines fresh corn, the unique maitake mushroom, and seasonings for a wonderful fall soup.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Wild About Mushroom Recipes<\/h4>\n

Mushrooms are the perfect ingredient for recipes that make you feel like fall has finally arrived. Here are two mouthwatering mushroom recipes:<\/p>\n

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\u2022 Easy Mushroom Soup.\n\u2022 Broiled Top Sirloin Steak With Saut\u00e9ed Maitake and Shiitake Mushrooms.<\/p>\n

To learn more about mushrooms, which includes health information and recipes, visit the Mushroom Council<\/a> website.<\/p>\n

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