Lion's mane mushrooms
Nature’s Brain Booster: Lion’s Mane Health Benefits
Lion’s mane mushrooms (Hericium Erinaceus) are delicious edible and medicinal mushrooms best known for their ability to help improve brain function, boost immunity, and promote digestive health.
Instead of gills, these unusual-looking mushrooms have teeth or needles that hang downwards as they mature, giving them a shaggy look and the name lion’s mane.
Lion’s Mane Mushrooms Health Benefits
Enhancing Brain Function
One of the reasons that lion’s mane is so beneficial for the brain is its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. The function of this barrier is to protect sensitive brain tissue from potentially harmful toxins in the blood. It plays a vital role in protecting the brain, but unfortunately, while preventing toxins from getting to the brain, it also blocks many beneficial compounds.
Fortunately, two important compounds in lion’s mane, hericenones and erinacines, can cross this barrier. Once inside the brain, they help stimulate nerve growth factors (NGFs) that protect the brain from injuries and aid neurogenesis, which is the formation of new neurons in the brain.
Improving Focus and Memory
For centuries, Buddhist monks have used lion’s mane mushrooms to help them achieve greater cognitive focus and clarity, but studies to back up these claims are lacking.
Scientists believe lion’s mane helps to improve focus and mental clarity by increasing connectivity and transmission speeds in nerve cells.
Alleviating Anxiety and Depression
Lion’s mane may also help to reduce anxiety and depression, and scientists believe this benefit results from its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to increase dopamine levels and stimulate nerve growth.
Scientists have linked lion’s mane to increased nerve growth in the brain, including in the hippocampus, which is sensitive to stress and responsible for regulating our mood.
Boosting the Immune System
A 2010 study suggests that lion’s mane may assist by reducing the signaling in one of the main inflammatory pathways in the body, decreasing that body’s inflammatory response.
But this is not the only way lion’s mane helps to boost the immune system. Like other medicinal mushrooms, the polysaccharides in lion’s mane help to regulate the gut microbiome, which has a significant effect on the immune system
Chestnut mushrooms
What Are Chestnut Mushrooms?
Chestnut mushrooms (Pholiota adiposa), also called cinnamon caps and fat Pholiota, are known as numerisugitake mushrooms in Japan.
Chestnut mushrooms are unique, as when cooked correctly, both the cap and stem maintain a lovely firm texture.
While normal mushrooms like white, brown, button or cremini mushrooms become soft when cooked and can even become limp and soggy if not cooked properly.
Chestnut mushrooms have long, crisp stems, much longer than cremini or button mushroom stems, and the entire mushroom, including the stem, is edible.
What do Chestnut Mushrooms taste like?
Chestnut mushrooms taste similar to shiitake mushrooms but milder, with a distinct nutty umami flavor that gives them their name.
Their mild earthy flavor has a slightly peppery finish, and people often describe them as buttery and nutty.
But, it’s their crunchy texture, fabulous color and long edible stems that add new dimensions to mushroom dishes. They’re often the reason that people choose to cook with chestnut mushrooms.
Where and when do Chestnut Mushrooms grow?
You will often find wild chestnut mushrooms growing in clusters low down on dead or dying beech trunks, stumps and large fallen branches.
But, while commonly on beech, they can also be found on poplars, oaks and other broadleaf hardwoods.
Interestingly, chestnut mushrooms can grow on both living and dead trees as they’re both saprotrophic and parasitic, but they tend to grow better on dead and decaying wood.
They’re found in the wild in northern and central Europe and occasionally throughout Britain and Ireland during the fall, winter and early spring.
Health benefits of Chestnut Mushrooms
Like most other edible mushrooms, chestnut mushrooms are packed full of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals and proteins.
This Food Composition Database has a detailed breakdown of all the amino acids, minerals and vitamins found in a 100g serving of chestnut mushrooms known as Numerisugitake in Japan.
Chestnut mushrooms are not only a good source of protein and other nutrients, but they also have antimicrobial and anti-tumor properties and contain lectins that help prevent the spread of certain cancer cells.
They also contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidative compounds that help treat inflammation and boost the immune system.
Snow White Oysters
What are Snow White Oyster Mushrooms?
Snow Oysters (Pleurotus ostreatus) are a popular, fleshy, firm oyster variety. In the wild, they can often be found growing on dying maple trees. They have sweeter flavor and aroma than other oysters and hold their shape and texture when cooked.
What do Snow White Oyster Mushrooms taste like?
White oyster mushrooms pack a big umami punch with every mouthful. More subtle in flavour than pink oyster mushrooms but with a thicker and meatier texture. Ideal for soups, stir-fries and deep-frying.
White oyster mushrooms are used in Czech, Polish, and Slovak contemporary cuisine in soups and stews in a similar fashion to meat, as well as breaded to become a vegetarian alternative to meat in Polish dishes.
The white oyster mushroom is a delicacy in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisine. It is frequently served on its own, in soups, stuffed, or in stir-fry recipes with soy sauce. The mushroom's taste has been described as mild with a slight smell similar to anise.
Snow White Oyster Mushroom health benefits
Like other oyster mushrooms, Snow White Oysters have plenty of health benefits:
- Rich in Protein: Supports muscle growth, repair, and overall body function.
- High in Fiber: Promotes digestive health and regulates bowel movements.
- Source of Vitamin D: Supports bone health and enhances immune function.
- Antioxidant Properties: Helps combat free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
- Good Source of B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12): Essential for energy production, metabolism, and nervous system function.
- Boosts Immunity: Supports the body's defense against infections and diseases.
- Anti-inflammatory Effects: Helps reduce inflammation and may alleviate symptoms of inflammatory conditions.
- Contains Potassium: Helps regulate blood pressure, and supports heart health.
Pink Oysters
What do Pink Oyster Mushrooms look like?
The pink oyster mushroom has the same shape and structure as other oyster mushrooms. They’ve got that distinctive shelf-like or fan-shaped oyster cap.
Pink oysters are small to medium in size. Their caps typically range from 2 to 5 centimeters (0.79 to 1.97 inches) in diameter.
These mushrooms will often grow in big clusters.
Both the top of the cap and underside of the mushroom (including gills) are all pink.
What do Pink Oyster Mushrooms taste like?
When cooked, they have a mild flavor similar to most other oyster mushrooms. Although compared to button mushrooms, they’ve got a much deeper and more rich flavor.
Some people say that the pink oyster mushroom taste has a slight seafood flavor.
If you cook them up until they’re brown and a bit crunchy, pink oysters even make a great vegetarian substitute for bacon.
Where and when do Pink Oyster Mushrooms grow?
Pink oysters are a warm temperature mushroom. They prefer to grow in tropical climates and high humidity.
They’re most commonly found on tropical hardwood trees in Mexico, Indonesia or other locations with similar climates.
In the tropics, pink oysters can be found growing during the warmer months from April to September.
Health benefits of Pink Oyster Mushrooms
Along with being full of flavor, pink oysters also contain a lot of nutrition while being low in calories.
Pink oysters are high in protein and fiber, while low in sugar and carbs.
They’ve also been specifically studied for their antibiotic and antibacterial properties.
You also get all of the benefits from eating pink oyster mushrooms that you’d get from other varieties of oyster mushrooms:
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Cholesterol lowering
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Contain antioxidants
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High in iron, zinc, potassium and selenium
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High in vitamins B1, B3, B5 and B12 (great meat alternative)
Yellow Oysters
What are Yellow Oyster Mushrooms?
Yellow oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus), often also called golden oyster mushrooms, are edible gourmet mushrooms in the Pleurotaceae family.
They’re one of the smaller varieties of oyster mushrooms and also one of the most colorful.
Yellow oyster are not suited to long-distance transportation as they have a short shelf life, and their fragile caps are easily damaged during harvesting, handling and transportation.
What do Yellow Oyster Mushrooms taste like?
Yellow oyster mushrooms have complex flavors that people describe differently, but all agree they’re delicious.
Some people describe the taste of yellow oysters as being sweet with a mild citrus, cinnamon-like flavor, but many others experience a subtle, nutty taste similar to cashews or almonds.
When yellow oysters are raw, some people think they smell like fresh watermelon, and the aroma of cooked yellow oysters reminds others of aged red wine.
Their texture varies, depending on how long they’re cooked, and can be crisp, meaty and chewy or smooth and velvety.
Where and when do Yellow Oyster Mushrooms grow?
Native to the hardwood forests of northern China, Japan and eastern Russia, yellow oyster mushrooms are now also found in the wild throughout Europe and North America.
You’ll find them growing on several hardwood trees like oak, beech, maple and cherry but elm trees are their preferred hosts.
You’ll often find them in late summer and fall in the wild but sometimes come across them from spring to early winter, depending on the weather conditions.
Yellow Oyster Mushroom health benefits
Yellow oyster mushrooms are not only beautiful and delicious, they’re also nutrient-dense. And although not commonly thought of as medicinal mushrooms, they provide many health benefits.
A study that explored the composition of yellow oyster mushrooms showed that, like other mushrooms, yellow oysters are high in protein 22.10% and fiber 20.78% and low in fat 1.32%.
They’re also a good source of potassium, other minerals, vitamin B and essential amino acids.
Studies also show that compounds in yellow oyster mushrooms may help with managing weight loss and cholesterol levels and have antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.
Blue Oysters
What are Blue Oyster Mushrooms?
The blue oyster mushroom is a subspecies of oyster mushrooms. Its scientific name is Pleurotus ostreatus var. Columbinus.
Like other types of oyster mushrooms, the blue oyster is edible and widely used in the culinary world. Their caps are thick and meaty and are enjoyed in meals around the world.
The caps of blue oyster mushrooms can range in color from blue to a grayish color. It largely depends on the conditions that they’re grown in. Temperature particularly plays a part.
What do Blue Oyster Mushrooms taste like?
You’ll get different opinions on what blue oyster mushrooms taste like, depending on who you ask.
Blue oyster mushrooms definitely have a meaty or savory flavor, like many mushrooms. They’ve also got a slightly chewy texture that makes them feel a little similar to meat.
We’ve heard other people describe blue oysters as having a very mild subtle licorice or anise flavor. The term “woodsy” is also commonly used.
Where and when do Blue Oyster Mushrooms grow?
Blue oyster mushrooms thrive in regions with cooler temperatures.
They most commonly grow in the spring and autumn.
They’re reported to have first been found in Europe. But today, blue oyster mushrooms can be found in North America, Europe and Asia.
They’re particularly common in the wild within the northern hemisphere.
You can find blue oysters growing on rotting, dead or dying wood. They have a preference for deciduous hardwood trees like beech and oak, although they will grow on others as well.
Blue Oyster Mushroom health benefits
All oyster mushrooms varieties have been shown to:
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Lower blood pressure
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Help lower high cholesterol
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Boost the immune system
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Have potential anti-cancer benefits
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Act as an anti-inflammatory
King Oysters
What are King Oyster Mushrooms?
A king oyster mushroom is a delicious edible mushroom with a thick stem and thin, flat cap. Often the stem is nearly as wide as the cap.
Although king oysters and other oysters are part of the same genus or family, Pleurotus, they’re different species.
King oysters grow individually and have defined, thick, white stems and small tan-colored caps.
But, their appearance can vary substantially depending on how they’re grown.
When cultivated indoors with less fresh air and low light, king oysters grow tall, fat stems with tiny caps.
But in the wild, with lots of fresh air and light, they have smaller stems and larger caps and look more like Pleurotus ostreatus oyster mushrooms.
What do King Oyster Mushrooms taste like?
While everyone agrees that king oyster mushrooms are unique, delicious and intensely umami, people describe their taste differently.
To most, they taste earthy, woody and slightly nutty, while others describe them as savory and meaty with seafood-like flavors.
King oyster mushrooms have a meaty texture and, depending on how you cook them, can sometimes taste like mild-flavored meats.
Because they retain their texture well when cooked, vegans often use them as a substitute for scallops, and when crispy fried with a crunchy coating, they taste similar to chicken.
But, to appreciate their mushroomy flavor, it’s best to saute them. Like other oyster mushrooms, sauteeing brings out their unique earthy flavors.
Where and when do King Oyster Mushrooms grow?
King oyster mushrooms are widely cultivated, but if you want to find king oysters growing in the wild, you’ll have to visit the Mediterranean regions of Southern Europe, Russia, Central Asia and North Africa.
There you’ll find king oyster mushrooms growing on the roots of dead or decaying deciduous trees.
Unlike other oyster mushrooms, king oysters are not only saprotrophic, meaning they feed on dead and dying organic matter, but sometimes also slightly parasitic on the roots of herbaceous plants.
King Oyster Mushroom health benefits
King oyster mushrooms are not only delicious, but they’re also full of beneficial nutrients and medicinal compounds.
Like other oyster mushrooms, king oysters are fat-free, low in cholesterol and sodium, high in protein and fiber and low in carbs making them valuable as part of a keto diet.
They’re a good source of riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, copper, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, iron, magnesium, zinc and manganese.
King oysters are also full of antioxidants and, even when cooked, contain large amounts of the amino acid L- ergothioneine, a potent antioxidant.
The beneficial compounds in king oysters help humans maintain good health by activating our immune systems, and studies show they have potential anticancer and antiviral benefits.