Mushrooms are well regarded as a culinary delight. We devour them in salads, in sautees, and they even make their way into pastas and stir fry. Farmers send dogs and pigs out to dig up rare truffles and chefs pay a hefty price for those little delights. When we think of mushrooms, we think of food. However, mushrooms have been used throughout time for not only food, but medicinal purposes, as well.
In 1991, hikers in the Alps discovered the remains of a man dating back 5,300 years ago. And can you guess what was on him? Mushrooms! Ancient Egyptians believed that mushrooms lead to immortality and could only be used by royalty. Mushrooms have been used for centuries in Russia, China, Greece, Mexico and Latin America for food, medicinal purposes, or simply for rituals.
Mushrooms have been used to support health. Beta-Glucans are associated with numerous potential health benefits from helping to minimize infections to helping to fight cancer, from helping to lower cholesterol levels and helping blood sugar levels to immune support. Maitake mushrooms are one of the richest sources of Beta-Glucans which are also found in Shiitake, Shimeji, Enokitake, and Reiki mushrooms.
So, next time you reach for a cup of OJ to help kick a cold, think about adding some mushrooms to your omelet.
