Mushrooms have been consumed for centuries and millennia in the past due to their many perceived benefits to man. And to date, mushrooms are consumed for these same benefits. Nutritionally, mushrooms contain protein, energy, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, copper, vitamin D, niacin, Vitamin C, and vitamin B, among others. Spiritually, (psilocybin) mushrooms are believed to bring about awareness and elevate consciousness. Some also take mushrooms for medicinal purposes as is common in Asian nations such as Korea and Japan.
Overall, the benefits of mushrooms can be broken down as follows:
Helps with heart health
Mushrooms are great for a healthy, lean diet. As a healthy low-fat vegan food product, it is believed that mushrooms are a great food item for boosting general health, and heart health especially. One direct way that mushrooms also boost hearty health is by lowering cholesterol levels. The existence of beta glucans in mushrooms further drives this point – seeing how these nutritional fibers have been studied and seen to help lower bad cholesterol.
Anti-cancer properties
Cancer is a huge pandemic in itself all across the world. A great deal of people who consume mushrooms, and especially those who take medicinal mushrooms, believe that they can help with fighting cancer. This belief is mainly driven by the scientific finding of various antioxidants in mushrooms. Antioxidants such as selenium and choline – for example, which have been located in mushrooms are believed to help fight different types of cancer such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
Helps with diabetes
Due to their ability to lower body cholesterol, as well as due to their lean, low-fat nutritional make-up it is a no-brainer that mushrooms are great for blood sugar levels. Just like vegetables and nuts or other high-fiber foods, mushrooms can help scale back diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes. The goal is to make mushrooms a staple in your diet every week and possibly use them to replace high-fat food alternatives on your plate.
Anti-depression properties
Depression is a serious mental health issue plaguing the world. Today, depressions affects tens of millions of Americans every year and hundreds of millions globally. Although research into the effects of mushrooms on mental disorders was curtailed by their classification as a schedule one drug, scientists have long suspected that this wild fungi species can help manage depression. Recent research has only confirmed the same. In 2018 the FDA approved the study of magic mushrooms for research and therapy of treatment-resistant depression, and later for major depressive disorder.
Great antioxidant
As mentioned earlier, mushrooms have been found to contain a great deal of antioxidants. And these antioxidants have been seen to help fight infections and diseases – including cancer. Another antioxidant found in mushrooms is vitamin C which is great for boosting body immunity and further improving health.
Can help with other addictive habits
Substance abuse is a real issue in the modern world. And even though in some circles mushrooms might be perceived as a drug, it has been seen through scientific research that they can actually help stop or slow down addiction. The john Hopkins University in one study found that mushrooms may have the potential to help with nicotine addiction as well as addiction to other substances.
Note: It is also important to note here that even psychedelic mushrooms are not addictive.
Can help even out stress and anxiety
When taken either for spiritual, recreational, or as a new age medicine, mushrooms have always been reported to induce a sense of calm and relaxation among users. It is these properties that have led the FDA to approve psilocybin therapy for depression. In the same way, mushrooms can also help with anxiety and stress. In fact, this is a top reason why recreational users consume magic mushrooms.
Good for focus, coordination & muscle movement
If you want to be sharper at work or to concentrate better, mushrooms can help. The vitamin B contained in mushrooms as well as choline is believed to help with focus, coordination and muscle movement through the development of a healthy brain. Try taking mushroom tea or adding mushroom to your juice to see results. If you are into sporting activities or fitness, try taking mushrooms as part of your diet. Older persons who happen to be at a higher risk of neural degeneration would also greatly benefit from doing the same.
Good for weight loss and lean dieting
Looking to lose weight and stay lean. Well, you can only stay lean by eating lean foods such as mushroom! And you can only lose weight by taking low-fat food. And yes, mushrooms are great for that too! They are also high in dietary fiber and contain an array of healthy nutrients. And unlike many other items you will come across on your food planner, these ones you can grow right in your backyard or you can forage for them in the woods. Replace your fatty meats and high-carb foods with mushrooms and enjoy a leaner, stronger body.
Good for spiritual introspection & growth
When European missionaries toured Latin America and discovered the prevalent use of psychedelic mushrooms, especially in Mexico, they thought that they gave users demonic powers. The users, however, believed that magic mushrooms allowed them to get closer to the spiritual world. Throughout the world, and in the US, it has been observed that psychedelic mushrooms bring about a heightened sense of spiritualism. Connected to this are heightened senses of belonging, being closer to nature, and being empathetic. This is why psilocybin mushrooms are commonly used for spiritual introspection and meditation.
Conclusion
The important thing to note from the above benefits is that mushrooms have qualities linked to health, spiritualism, and medicine. So quite clearly, mushrooms are not just a food item. They are also a delicacy, and a psychedelic, as well as a new age medicine all rolled into one. And this is the more reason why you should know more about mushrooms and make them a part of your menu. That way you can enjoy all their benefits and live a healthier, more wholesome lifestyle.