#Lion's Mane Mushroom Canada

[nutratologysites]

[nutratology]

Discover the cognitive benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom – now available in Canada! Shop with confidence for premium Lion's Mane Mushroom atNutratology.com. Boost your cognitive health and embrace a sharper, more vibrant you

[smudgingpumpkins]

13.09.2023

Hericium americanum

-Commonly known as Bear's Head or Bear's Tooth-

Where: Northeastern US & Canada

Grows in deciduous/hardwood forests from living and decaying trees. Typically from oak and birchwood.

When: August-November

My friends and I found this little guy in September at Molly's Falls State Park, located in Cabot and Marshfield, Vermont.

There are many ways to consume this edible mushroom, but since we had been camping for weeks, due to our lack of resources we simply just intensely fried them in olive oil with salt and pepper seasoning. Nonetheless, it was super delicious!

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Appearance:

Bear's Head are relatively large mushrooms that grow 15-30 cm in diameter (6-11 inches) in compact clusters. It looks like thick, tufty, and smooth icicles or teeth that branch downwards. Bear's Head mushrooms are initially white in color when young and become more yellow as they age.

This mushroom releases spores through its "teeth," rather than gills or pores.

Taste:

The Bear's Tooth mushroom is known for having a tender, mild seafood-like taste, most akin to a slight crab or lobster flavor. It is best to pick these mushrooms while they are young and white because it becomes more bitter as the mushroom ages. When cooked, Bear's Tooth becomes brown in color.

This mushroom contains fiber, protein, antioxidants, and vitamin D!

You should ALWAYS cook wild mushrooms for the safest outcome, even if they are known to be edible. Bear's Head works well with sautéing, frying, and even baking.

I have heard that these mushrooms work really well as crab or lobster substitutes. Try them in crab cakes, seafood tacos, and soups! Its fishy, meaty flavor pairs well with butter, garlic, shallots, and lemon.

Medicinal Uses:

It is believed (by tribes in the northern parts of North America) that Bear's Head mushrooms, as well as other Hericium, can be utilized to treat bleeding wounds in their dried or powdered form, due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

There has been some research that shows that certain properties of Hericium can stimulate the synthesis of the NGF protein, which aids with improving memory and mood, and prevents brain cells from dying. This means that it can help prevent or combat Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

In Japan, clinical tests have shown that Hericium's antibacterial properties helped with the treatment of gastrointestinal issues such as stomach ulcers, chronic gastritis, Crohn's Disease, and esophageal cancer.

Of course, these mushrooms do not substitute medical attention and prescriptions. Further research is needed, and these studies only show that Hericium helps with treating symptoms--it is not a cure.

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** Bear's Head/Tooth is commonly confused to be synonymous with the Lion's Mane mushroom. However, these mushrooms are not the same species but are very closely related in the genus Hericium.

Bear's Head has longer branching fruiting bodies than the Lion's Mane. It looks more like melting candlewax whereas Lion's Mane looks more like a pom pom. The Coral Tooth Mushroom is also closely related, but as in the name, it has much shorter branches that look very much like corals.

Here is a good chart by the website Real Mushrooms:

[somush01]

Discover the Benefits of Mushroom Capsules in Canada

In recent years, the spotlight has shone brightly on the health benefits of mushrooms. For Canadians looking to boost their wellness routines, mushroom capsules have emerged as a convenient and effective supplement. Mushroom Capsules Canada If you're seeking a natural way to enhance your overall health, mushroom capsules offer an array of benefits that are worth exploring.

What Are Mushroom Capsules?

Mushroom capsules are dietary supplements that encapsulate powdered or extracted forms of medicinal mushrooms. These capsules provide a concentrated dose of the beneficial compounds found in mushrooms, making it easier to incorporate their health benefits into your daily routine.

Why Choose Mushroom Capsules?

Convenience: Mushroom capsules are an easy and hassle-free way to consume medicinal mushrooms. Unlike preparing mushroom-based teas or tinctures, capsules provide a straightforward method for daily supplementation.

Consistent Dosage: Capsules offer a consistent dosage of active compounds, ensuring that you receive a reliable amount of beneficial ingredients with each serving.

Enhanced Bioavailability: Many mushroom capsules are formulated to enhance the absorption and effectiveness of the active compounds, maximizing their health benefits.

Benefits of Mushroom Capsules

Immune Support: Mushrooms such as Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake are renowned for their immune-boosting properties. They contain beta-glucans and other compounds that can help strengthen the immune system.

Stress Relief and Cognitive Function: Lion’s Mane mushroom is celebrated for its potential to support cognitive function and alleviate stress. It may help enhance mental clarity and focus.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Certain mushrooms, including Chaga and Cordyceps, have anti-inflammatory properties that can support overall health and well-being.

Energy and Vitality: Mushrooms like Cordyceps are known for their potential to boost energy levels and combat fatigue, making them an excellent choice for those with active lifestyles.

Why Buy Mushroom Capsules in Canada?

For Canadians, sourcing high-quality mushroom capsules is crucial. Local suppliers like SoMush offer a range of premium mushroom supplements, ensuring you receive products that meet rigorous quality standards.

By choosing a reputable Canadian supplier, you can also benefit from:

Local Support: Enjoy the convenience of local customer service and support.

Freshness and Quality: Ensure that you receive fresh and well-preserved supplements.

Regulatory Compliance: Trust that the products adhere to Canadian health regulations and standards.

Conclusion

Incorporating mushroom capsules into your health regimen can offer numerous benefits, from immune support to enhanced cognitive function. Mushroom Capsules Canada For Canadian consumers, exploring local options like SoMush ensures you access high-quality products that support your wellness journey.

[los-plantalones]

Edible fungi in Regina Canada?

Great witch of the woods?

There are quite a few! I’m only going to list some of the ones that are easier to identify and I have eaten personally:

- Chanterelle (cantharellus)

- Lion’s Mane (hericium erinaceus)

- Morels (morchella)

- Giant Puffball (calvatia gigantea)

- Oysters (pleurotus ostreatus)

- Chicken of the woods (laetiporous sulphureus)

- Hen of the woods (grifola frondosa)

* Always forage responsibly and NEVER eat anything you aren’t sure of. Cross check multiple sources, take a lot of pictures for ID (there are a lot of more localized foraging groups on FB and reddit that are very helpful), and check your area for in-person foraging groups. Especially with mushrooms – when in doubt, throw it out!

[magicapproach]

5 Best Mushroom Gummy Supplements for Optimal Health in 2023

The health benefits of mushrooms include supporting the immune system and enhancing cognitive function. While traditional mushroom supplements often come in powders or capsules, mushroom gummies Canada has gained immense popularity for their convenience and taste. They are vegan-friendly and have a delicious berry flavor, making them a perfect stress-busting treat. Here, we round up the five best mushroom gummy supplements in 2023 that taste good and promise optimal health benefits.

Reishi Relaxation Gummies by Mushroom Wellness Co.

Key Ingredients: Reishi Mushroom Extract, Ashwagandha

Health Benefits: Stress Relief, Immune Support

Mushroom Wellness Co.'s Reishi Relaxation Gummies are a top pick for stress. Reishi mushrooms are well-known adaptogens that help the body adapt to stressors. Our Magic Mushroom Gummies help you coupled with Ashwagandha, another powerful adaptogen, these gummies work synergistically to promote relaxation and boost your immune system.

Lion's Mane Brain Boost Gummies by Fungi Focus

Key Ingredients: Lions' Mane mushroom dispensary, Ginkgo Biloba

Health Benefits: Cognitive Support, Mental Clarity

Lion's Mane Brain Boost Gummies by Fungi Focus are tough to match for individuals who need a mental edge. The Ginkgo Biloba supplement, renowned for boosting blood flow to the brain, complements the Lion's Mane fungus, which has demonstrated potential for enhancing cognitive abilities. These gummies are ideal for students, professionals, and anyone looking to improve mental clarity.

Chaga Immune Defense Gummies by Nature's Shield

Key Ingredients: Chaga Mushroom Extract, Vitamin C

Health Benefits: Immune System Boost, Antioxidant Protection

Chaga mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and traditionally improve immunity. Nature's Shield enhances the power of Chaga mushrooms with Vitamin C in their gummies, making it a potent combination for immune system support. It's ideal for those looking to fortify their defences, especially during the flu season.

Cordyceps Energy Blast Gummies by Mighty Mushroom

Key Ingredients: Cordyceps Mushroom Extract, Ginseng

Health Benefits: Increased Energy, Stamina

Mighty Mushroom's Cordyceps Energy Blast Gummies may be your go-to buy psychedelics magic mushrooms online in Canada if you lack vigour and strength. Cordyceps have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to boost energy and endurance. These gummies offer a natural lift without the jitters of caffeine when mixed with ginseng, another plant recognized for its energising benefits.

Shiitake Beauty Glow Gummies by GlamFungi

Key Ingredients: Shiitake Mushroom Extract, Collagen

Health Benefits: Skin Health, Anti-Aging

GlamFungi's Shiitake Beauty Glow Gummies promotes glowing skin for beauty enthusiasts. Shiitake mushrooms are high in antioxidants and can raise collagen production. When paired with collagen, these gummies promise a youthful, shining complexion and have the added benefit of promoting healthy hair and nails.

Conclusion

Mushroom gummy supplements offer an easy, palatable way to integrate the health benefits of mushrooms into your daily routine. There is a mushroom microdose chocolate that is suitable for you, regardless of whether you need to increase mental clarity, strengthen your immune system, manage stress, or even improve your beauty regimen. Before introducing new supplements to your diet, always get medical advice, especially if you have illnesses or are using other drugs.

[jonsonsmith]

lion's mane mushroom supplement

[prnlive]

Gary Null’s Show Notes

02 23 23 P

If you listen to Gary’s show, you know that he begins with the latest findings in natural approaches to health and nutrition. Starting this week, we will make some of those findings available each weekday to subscribers to the Gary Null Newsletter.

Study finds mushrooms magnify memory by boosting nerve growth

Fluoride exposure associated with hypothyroidism in pregnancy, study finds 

Fasting ramps up human metabolism, study shows

Study finds mushrooms magnify memory by boosting nerve growth

University of Queensland (Australia), February 10, 2023

Researchers from The University of Queensland have discovered the active compound from an edible mushroom that boosts nerve growth and enhances memory.

Professor Frederic Meunier from the Queensland Brain Institute said the team had identified new active compounds from the mushroom, Hericium erinaceus.

"Extracts from these so-called 'lion's mane' mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine in Asian countries for centuries, but we wanted to scientifically determine their potential effect on brain cells," Professor Meunier said.

"Pre-clinical testing found the lion's mane mushroom had a significant impact on the growth of brain cells and improving memory.

"Laboratory tests measured the neurotrophic effects of compounds isolated from Hericium erinaceus on cultured brain cells, and surprisingly we found that the active compounds promote neuron projections, extending and connecting to other neurons.

"Using super-resolution microscopy, we found the mushroom extract and its active components largely increase the size of growth cones, which are particularly important for brain cells to sense their environment and establish new connections with other neurons in the brain."

Co-author, UQ's Dr. Ramon Martinez-Marmol said the discovery had applications that could treat and protect against neurodegenerative cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Fluoride exposure associated with hypothyroidism in pregnancy, study finds

York University (Canada), February 10, 2023

New research out of York University found that fluoride exposure via drinking water may increase the risk of hypothyroidism in pregnant women. In a smaller subset of participants, the researchers found lower IQ scores between boys whose mothers had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism compared to boys whose mothers had normal thyroid levels.

Earlier research done by the same lab at York found an association between maternal fluoride exposure in pregnancy and lower IQ in boys, and this new research may explain these earlier findings, according to York neuropsychology Ph.D. student Meaghan Hall, lead author of this latest study.

"We know from the literature that there is a link between high levels of fluoride exposure and thyroid disruption and there's also an established connection between untreated hypothyroidism in pregnancy and adverse outcomes in children," says Hall. "Our latest study may provide a potential mechanism to explain links to lower IQs in boys born to mothers with higher fluoride exposure and is part of a growing body of evidence that suggests that prenatal fluoride exposure may be linked to worse cognitive outcomes for children."

The study, published in Science of the Total Environment, followed more than 1,500 women enrolled in the Maternal Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study, an ongoing, multi-year study led by Health Canada to investigate the impact of environmental chemicals on vulnerable populations, including pregnant people and infants. Women were recruited from 10 cities across Canada, seven of which have fluoridated drinking water.

The researchers only studied women who reported drinking tap water in pregnancy. The women were followed throughout pregnancy and their children were also followed after birth into early childhood.

In the study, a half-milligram-per liter increase in drinking-water fluoride levels, which may not sound like much, but is roughly the difference in exposure level between a fluoridated and non-fluoridated community, was associated with a 1.65 increase in odds of having a diagnosis or meeting criteria for hypothyroidism in pregnancy.

"This translates into a 65 percent increase in risk," says Christine Till, Hall's supervising professor, senior author on the study and a clinical neuropsychologist who heads up the Faculty of Health's Till Lab, which studies how various environmental exposures affect children's health. "The findings are concerning because hypothyroidism is a known cause of brain-based disorders in children," says Till.

Fluoride's ability to suppress the thyroid has been known since the 1930s when it was used to treat overactive thyroid, also known as hyperthyroidism.

The researchers measured exposure to fluoride from tap water and other dietary sources such as black tea, which is naturally high in fluoride. The researchers also measured urinary fluoride levels and found no link with hypothyroidism. The researchers say fluoride levels in tap water may be a more reliable indicator of long-term fluoride exposure than urinary levels, which might better correlate with short-term exposure, they say.

Fasting ramps up human metabolism, study shows

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, January 31, 2023

Fasting may help people lose weight, but new research suggests going without food may also boost human metabolic activity, generate antioxidants, and help reverse some effects of aging. Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) and Kyoto University identified 30 previously unreported substances whose quantity increases during fasting and indicate a variety of health benefits.

"We have been researching aging and metabolism for many years and decided to search for unknown health effects in human fasting," said Dr. Takayuki Teruya, first author of the paper and a technician in the OIST G0 Cell Unit, led by Prof. Mitsuhiro Yanagida. "Contrary to the original expectation, it turned out that fasting induced metabolic activation rather actively."

The study, published in Scientific Reports, presents an analysis of whole human blood, plasma, and red blood cells drawn from four fasting individuals. The researchers monitored changing levels of metabolites—substances formed during the chemical processes that grant organisms energy and allow them to grow. The results revealed 44 metabolites, including 30 that were previously unrecognized, that increased universally among subjects between 1.5- to 60-fold within just 58 hours of fasting.

In previous research, the G0 Cell Unit identified various metabolites whose quantities decline with age, including three known as leucine, isoleucine, and ophthalmic acid. In fasting individuals, these metabolites increase in level, suggesting a mechanism by which fasting could help increase longevity.

"These are very important metabolites for maintenance of muscle and antioxidant activity, respectively," said Teruya. "This result suggests the possibility of a rejuvenating effect by fasting, which was not known until now."

Fasting appears to elicit effects far beyond energy substitution. In their comprehensive analysis of human blood, the researchers noted both established fasting markers and many more. For example, they found a global increase in substances produced by the citric acid cycle, a process by which organisms release energy stored in the chemical bonds of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The marked increase suggests that, during fasting, the tiny powerhouses running every cell are thrown into overdrive.

Fasting also appeared to enhance the metabolism of purine and pyrimidine, chemical substances which play key roles in gene expression and protein synthesis. The finding suggests fasting may reprogram which proteins cells build at what time, thus altering their function. The change may promote homeostasis in cells, or serve to edit their gene expression in response to environmental influences.

When metabolized, purine and pyrimidine also boost the body's production of antioxidants. Several antioxidants, such as ergothioneine and carnosine, were found to increase significantly over the 58-hour study period. Antioxidants serve to protect cells from free radicals produced during metabolism. Products of a metabolic pathway called the "pentose phosphate pathway" also stay the harmful effects of oxidation, and were similarly seen to increase during fasting, but only in plasma.

The authors suggest that these antioxidative effects may stand as the body's principal response to fasting, as starvation can foster a dangerously oxidative internal environment. Their exploratory study provides the first evidence of antioxidants as a fasting marker. In addition, the study introduces the novel notion that fasting might boost production of several age-related metabolites, abundant in young people, but depleted in old.

 About Gary Null

An internationally renowned expert in the field of health and nutrition, Gary Null, Ph.D is the author of over 70 best-selling books on healthy living and the director of over 100 critically acclaimed full-feature documentary films on natural health, self-empowerment and the environment. He is the host of ‘The Progressive Commentary Hour” and “The Gary Null Show”, the country’s longest running nationally syndicated health radio talk show which can be heard daily on here on the Progressive Radio Network.

Throughout his career, Gary Null has made hundreds of radio and television broadcasts throughout the country as an environmentalist, consumer advocate, investigative reporter and nutrition educator. More than 28 different Gary Null television specials have appeared on PBS stations throughout the nation, inspiring and motivating millions of viewers. He originated and completed more than one hundred major investigations on health issues resulting in the use of material by 20/20 and 60 Minutes. Dr. Null started this network to provide his followers with a media outlet for health and advocacy. For more of Dr. Null’s Work visit the Gary Null’s Work Section or Blog.GaryNull.com In addition to the Progressive Radio Network, Dr. Null has a full line of all-natural home and healthcare products that can be purchased at his Online Store.

Find articles, videos, back radio broadcasts, books, and more at GaryNull.com.

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Disclaimer

While we have thoroughly researched the information we provide, and indicate its sources, information in this Gary Null Newsletter, and all Gary Null Newsletters, is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or other condition. Consult your medical professional before choosing any treatment or course of action. Gary Null Newsletters are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information it provides.

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[heritageartifacts]

In California, mushrooms (gastronomic or psychedelic) were an easy score. Maitakes were cooked and relished like steak. Golden chanterelles and yellowfoots sautéed with butter and shallots were buried under eggs poached exactly two minutes, the yolks spreading like wildfire across the wilted fungi. And my faves, morels in spring, foraged in the Sierras or purchased for crazy money, were spread onto pizza with blue-veined cheese or mounded atop a lemon-scented, butter-drenched scaloppini. Even on a small rural island in Canada, in the whitewash of winter, a neighbor grew Lion’s Mane, pink and blue oyster mushrooms, and little bouquets of enoki, which he set outside our door like stardust from another galaxy. - Mushrooms are not an easy find in italy. Sure, the occasional button (cremini) mushroom makes an appearance 🥱. Fresh porcini in spring and their dried versions, stored in oil or not, decorate every counter of every grocery in the country, but my long-burdened liver is wary of their toxins. All of which makes me grateful for the stumps of oyster mushrooms sourced in Turin by @_fruttaeverdurabergamo_ . - Oyster mushrooms are cut into strips and laid on a baking sheet with baby thumbnail-sized pieces of pussy-pink lonzo, a lean pork loin cured in salt and seasonings for a week, lightly smoked, and then air-dried for six months. Chopped porro, a Piedmontese onion reminiscent of leek but with stalks growing 5-6 feet tall, adds a delicate, sweet flavor, contrasting the handful of ground Lampong black pepper from Indonesia. Found in a spice shop in Toulouse, it has a heat that sneaks up on you, like reaching orgasm with a stranger: unexpected, intense, gratifying. EVOO, lots of Malden, a hit of Japanese smoked shoyu and dried sage from a long-ago garden finish the painting. While the mess caramelizes in a hot oven, slabs of seeded bread are spread with softened blue cheese mashed with spoonfuls of mascarpone found in the back of the fridge, its furry top predicting an imminent demise. The mushrooms are laid atop the bread and a pile of garlicky broccoli rabe rests alongside, the greens’ bitterness spiritually negating the decadence of the 🍄 toasts. (at Niella Belbo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoS-5zpo3mJ5e6B80FIzTD4QX4NZj-OmByWplA0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharmin2441139]

Medicinal Mushrooms IN THE 21ST CENTURY

 INTRODUCTION 

THE USE OF MUSHROOMS in traditional ancient therapies dates back to at least the Neolithic Age (in China, 10,000 B.C. – 2,000 B.C). For millennia, mushrooms have been regarded and revered by humans as edible and medicinal agents. Ancient Asian traditions have stressed the importance of several mushroom species, most notably the lingzhi or reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps, and shitake mushroom. The history of mushroom consumption is rich in Tibetan shamanism and Buddhism, as well as in spiritual cultures of Mesoamerica, Mexico, and Guatemala with the use of hallucinogenic mushroom species. Use of medicinal mushrooms has a long history in Russia, Europe, and some parts of Africa, including Nigeria, Algeria, and Egypt. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 2 Given the use of mushrooms in traditional therapies spanning the globe, modern researchers are attempting to validate and document some of the ancient knowledge. In the past three decades, the interdisciplinary field of science that studies mushrooms, known as mycology, has demonstrated the nutritional (culinary) and therapeutic (medicinal) value of many compounds extracted from a range of mushrooms species . Traditionally, mushrooms were used to maintain good health, as well as to prevent and treat diseases, mainly by regulating the immune system. In the last decade scientists have identified and explored other ways in which various mushroom species promote good health, revealing mushrooms to beunique, multi-modal medicinal agents worthy of further investigation. Today, more than 100 therapeutic applications have been demonstrated by mushrooms, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antitumor, anti-diabetic, immunomodulating, antiviral, antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, antiparasitic, and antifungal. Mushrooms also protect against brain, heart, and liver damage. While modern researchers are just beginning to explore the clinical potential of medicinal mushrooms in the West, countries in the East such as Japan, Korea, China, and Russia have already adopted mushroom-derived preparations for use in clinical practice. For example, mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for years to treat pulmonary diseases, and in Japan, the mushroom T. versicolor has been used as an approved product for adjunctive cancer treatment since the 1970s. The number of mushroom species on Earth is currently estimated at 150,000, yet perhaps only 10 percent are known to science. This presents researchers with an exciting opportunity to dive into this vast and largely untapped field of mushroom science with hopes of uncovering new and potentially breaththrough nutritional and therapeutic agents. "Today, more than 100 therapeutic applications have been demonstrated by mushrooms..." Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 3 WHAT ARE MUSHROOMS? Mushrooms comprise an extremely abundant and diverse world of fungi. They are something special in the living world, being neither plant nor animal. Belonging to a kingdom of their own, called Myceteae, all mushrooms are heterotrophic, meaning they cannot make their own food. Instead, they absorb nutrients from other sources of organic carbon such as complex organic polymers like cellulose, which get degraded by extracellular enzymes secreted by mushrooms. Taxonomically, mushrooms can be classified into two different categories: Basidiomycetes, which comprise many of the well-known genera, and Ascomycetes. The structures that we refer to as mushrooms are in fact only the fruiting bodies of fungi. The vegetative parts of fungi, called mycelia, are a system of cordlike strands that branch out of soil, compost, wooden logs, and other lignocellulosic materials that are host to fungi. After some time, the matured mycelia growing on such materials produce the fruiting bodies we know as mushrooms. As mentioned, mushrooms have been used by humans for thousands of years as food and medicine. More than 14,000 mushroom species are recognized by science, and among them, about 2,000 are classified as edible. These edible mushrooms can be categorized into 30 genera, with 270 species that bear potential therapeutic value in human health. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 4 MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS Medicinal mushrooms possess nutraceutical and pharmaceutical characteristics in addition to taste and aroma. They are a rich source of nutrients such as carbohydrates, fibers, proteins, unsaturated fats, vitamins, and minerals. They also produce secondary metabolites, which are largely responsible for their therapeutic effects. These metabolites are bioactive, low-molecular-weight compounds that are produced in response to stress as a defense and signaling mechanism for survival. Interestingly, they are not required by the fungi for normal growth and reproduction. More than 100 species of medicinal mushrooms are used in Asia. Some of the more commonly used species are introduced below. It is worth noting that while these mushrooms have been used historically as traditional medicines, with many being used clinically today in Asia, modern research is insufficient to draw conclusions, as it has mostly been conducted in cellular and animal Structure of bioactive compounds from medicinal mushroom Medicinal Mushroom:Nitrogen analog B Phenol derivative D Carbohydrates derivative C Derivative of α β Unsaturated carbonyl o o OH NH2 N H Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 5 studies. While many of these medicinal mushrooms have been recognized scientifically for their health-promoting activities, pharmaceutical application in healthcare is still far away in the majority of countries across the world, and especially in the West. Today, medicinal mushrooms can be found as dietary and nutritional supplements. They are often recommended by nutritionists and holistic healthcare professionals and sold by health food and wellness retailers. Given the lack of consensus and limited information on safety, it is a good idea to consult with your healthcare professional about appropriate dosages and risk factors with certain medications. Finally, when choosing medicinal mushrooms as dietary supplements, it is important to ensure they have been tested by a third-party facility for quality and purity and that there is sufficient information available about the product. Reishi Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum), also known as reishi in Japanese Medicine or lingzhi in Chinese Medicine, is a large, dark mushroom from Asian Traditional Medicine that has been praised for its powerful health benefits for over 2,000 years. It was in the 16th-century Ming Dynasty when G. lucidum was discovered to have therapeutic value. Benefits included enhanced vital energy, improved memory, and improved cardiac function, and tonifying and anti-aging effects. According to the State Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, G. lucidum acts to replenish Qi, calm the mind, and reduce coughing and asthma. It is also recommended for insomnia, dizziness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. Since the early 1970s, cultivation of G. lucidum has become a major source of the mushroom, with popularity extending outside of Asian Traditional Medicine and into the West. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 6 Lion’s Mane Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) is an edible mushroom with distinguished medicinal value, a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and an established process of cultivation in Asia since the late 1980s. H. erinaceus is referenced by several names, including yamabushitake in Japanese Medicine, houtou in Chinese Medicine, or more broadly as lion’s mane mushroom. Lion’s mane is considered a saprotroph, or weak parasite, and grows on dead wood and occasionally on the cracks of living hardwood across Asia, Europe, and North America. More recently, it has earned scientific attention as a potential source for a variety of therapies for cancer, depression, diabetes, and diseases of the heart and nervous system. Shitake The shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) is the second most commonly consumed mushroom worldwide and has grown to become an extensively used culinary ingredient. Historically, therapeutic use of the L. edodes became widespread in the Ming Dynasty after methods of cultivating the fungus on logs were developed. Shiitake was traditionally used as a tonic to improve circulation and vigor. Health-promoting properties included improved heart health and efficacy against lung disease and intestinal worms. It was also associated with the treatment of chronic rheumatism and cancer. Today lentinan, one of the active ingredients purified from shiitake mushrooms, has been used experimentally and clinically as an immunopotentiation agent in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer in Japan. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 7 Turkey Tail Trametes versicolor (T. versicolor) or Coriolus versicolor (C. versicolor), also known as yun zhi in Traditional Chinese Medicine and kawaratake in Japanese Medicine, is a woody bracket polypore mushroom that grows on dead logs throughout the world in many diverse climates, including North America. The name turkey tail refers to its concentric rings of brown and tan, which resemble turkey tail feathers. Turkey tail mushroom has a long history of treasured use in Asia as food and in Asian Traditional Medicine as a therapeutic agent. In 1965, the immunomodulatory activity of turkey tail was identified in Japan by a chemical engineer who observed a case of cancer remission after ingesting it. Subsequent research and findings led to its clinical use as a supplementary therapeutic agent in cancer treatments in Japan and China. Chaga Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus), grows as a rock-hard protrusion from birch trees in cooler climates, such as Northern Europe, Siberia, Russia, Korea, Northern Canada, and Alaska. Chaga is also referenced by other names, such as cinder conk, birch canker polymore, clinker polypore, and black mass. Unlike the other commonly known medicinal mushrooms, this dense structure is known as a sclerotium rather than a fruiting body. For centuries, chaga powder was used as traditional medicine in tea form in Russia and other Northern European countries to boost the immune system and improve overall health. It has also been used in the treatment of some cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 8 Cordyceps Cordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi that grows on the larvae of insects. These mushrooms remain dormant in the soil until they attack their host, replacing its tissue and sprouting long stems that grow outside the infected host’s body. With over 750 identified species, cordyceps have been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a tonic, food, and medicine. However, it was in the early 1990s that cordyceps gained worldwide attention, when Chinese longdistance runners who took tonic from the species C. sinensis broke world records during their training periods. In recent times, several cordyceps species have been shown to have medicinal value, with the most studied being C. militaris and C. sinensis. They have the potential to help treat respiratory, liver, kidney, and heart and lung diseases, as well as type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Maitake Grifola frondosa (G. frondosa), is an edible medicinal mushroom with a large fruiting body characterized by overlapping caps that grows at the base of stumps tree trunks of dead, dying, or aging hardwoods such as oaks, elms, and chestnuts. It is also known as hen of the woods in North America or maitake in Japan. Maitake is mainly found in northern temperate regions of Japan, as well as in some European countries and the Northeastern United States. G. frondosa is treasured in both Traditional Japanese and Chinese Medicine as a medicinal mushroom to boost energy and improve spleen and stomach ailments, as well as to calm the mind. Cultivation began in Japan in the early 1980s, with China and the United States beginning large-scale production a decade later. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 9 NUTRITIONAL VALUE The nutritional value of mushrooms typically comes from high protein, low fat, high fiber, and diverse vitamin and mineral content. Notably, mushrooms are abundant in essential amino acids leucine, valine, glutamine, and glutamic and aspartic acids. Fatty acids found in mushrooms are predominantly linoleic, oleic, and palmitic fatty acids. Carbohydrates include chitin, glycogen, trehalose, and mannitol, as well as fiber enriched sources, β-glucans, hemicelluloses, and pectic substances. Minerals found in high quantities in mushrooms include potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, selenium, and zinc. Abundant vitamins include riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin, folates, and traces of vitamins C, B1, B12, D, and E. Mushrooms are the only non-animal food source of vitamin D and therefore the only food-based vitamin D source for vegetarians. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 10 MAJOR BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS Medicinal mushrooms are a rich source of bioactive compounds, which are found in mushroom fruiting bodies, spores, cultured mycelia, and cultured broth. These compounds, also referred to as secondary metabolites, are largely responsible for the therapeutic properties of the mushrooms. They include polysaccharides, glycosides, alkaloids, volatile oils, terpenoids, tocopherols, phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and lactones. The most important secondary metabolites are polysaccharides, which belong to the 1,3-β-glucans family. Polysaccharide β-glucans or polysaccharideprotein complexes in mushroom extracts have immense therapeutic potential in human health, as they demonstrate many health-promoting benefits, including anti-diabetic, anticancer, anti-obesity, immunomodulatory, anticholesterolemic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antibiotic, detoxifying, and anti-aging properties. The immunomodulating and antitumor activity of polysaccharides or polysaccharideprotein complexes is worth highlighting because research in this area is quite extensive. Clinical trials of several mushroom polysaccharide compounds as treatment for various cancers and other diseases have been conducted in Asia. To date, over 120 medicinal functions have been identified, with the majority of research still in exploratory phase in cellular models. New proteins with biological activities have also been found in medicinal mushrooms which may be useful to both human health through drug development and environmental health through biotechnological processes. These include lignocellulose- degrading enzymes, lectins, proteases and protease inhibitors, ribosome-inactivating proteins, and hydrophobins. "...medicinal mushrooms may be useful to both human health through drug development and environmental health through biotechnological processes." Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 11 Polysaccharides Polysaccharides are the most well-researched secondary metabolites of medicinal mushrooms, with data having been collected from hundreds of different species of the higher basidiomycetes genus. As mentioned, they are best known for their antitumor and immunomodulating capacity. Specifically, in a tumor-bearing mouse model, mushroom polysaccharides were shown to activate the immune response of the host organism, resulting in a 50% reduction in tumor size and an increase in survival. The underlying mechanism of action of polysaccharides therefore points to immunomodulation, versus a direct killing of tumor cells. Given β-glucans are not synthesized by humans, they are not recognized by the human immune system. Therefore, upon consumption, they induce both innate and adaptive immune responses as a protective strategy. In doing so, they protect the body from pathogenic microbes, viruses and harmful environmental toxins and carcinogens that have entered the body. This health-promoting activity can be beneficial for patients with compromised immune systems, such as those recovering from chemotherapy. "This health-promoting activity can be beneficial for patients with compromised immune systems..." Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 12 β-glucans are the main polysaccharides found in mushrooms, with about half of the mushroom cell wall mass made up of β-glucans. This has important implications for the industrial use of these compounds, given that many are excreted into the cell growth medium, resulting in efficiencies around recovery, purification, and characterization. Terpenoids Recent research has brought attention to the presence of another bioactive compound abundant in mushrooms: terpenoids. Terpenoids are now among the most potent of secondary metabolites found in medicinal mushrooms, best known for their anticancer, antitumor, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective benefits. Terpenoids demonstrate a spectrum of therapeutic properties with great pharmaceutical potential. An outline of the therapeutic potential of mushroom-derived terpenoids Mushrooms: an emerging resource for therapeutic terpenoids, Biotech (2019) 9:369 Sesquiterpenes (C15) Triterpenes (C10) Diterpenes (C20) Monoterpenes (C10) Anti-microbial Anti-parasitic Anti-tumour Anti-inflammatory Anti-oxidant Anti-viral Anti-neurodegenerative Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 13 Medicinal mushroom: boon for therapeutic applications Biotech (2018) 8:334. Schematic illustration of therapeutic applications of edible mushrooms Phenolics Phenolic compounds are another group of secondary metabolites worth highlighting, as they exhibit a wide range of therapeutic functions including anti-inflammatory, anti- allergenic, anti-atherogenic, antimicrobial, antithrombotic, cardioprotective and vasodilating benefits. The chief mechanism of action of this group of compounds is related to their antioxidant activity. THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES Studies have shown that medicinal mushrooms have over 125 therapeutic functions. Some of the major benefits are described below. Anticancer and Immune Function Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with the most common treatment being chemotherapy, which has serious side effects. The search continues for effective, non-toxic treatments. In recent years, several species of medicinal mushrooms have been studied for their anticancer properties in human cell lines, including leukemia, breast, renal, gastric, colorectal, and cervical cancers. Mushroom polysaccharides have been identified as one of the major categories of bioactive compounds to demonstrate anticancer effects in several cancer cell lines, including colorectal, renal, and oral cancer. Other bioactive compounds have also been recognized for their therapeutic potential, such as lectins (leukaemia), triterpenes (breast cancer), and clitocine (cervical cancer). Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 14 In the medicinal mushroom Pleurotus eryngii (eringi), the anticancer effects demonstrated by polysaccharides include increased activity of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the spleen, as well as an increase in tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-2 in a renal cancer mouse model, thereby pointing to immune system modulation as the underlying mechanism of action. In another study, G. lucidum (reishi) was reported to increase cellular autophagy and the formation of autophagosomes in a gastric cancer cell line, demonstrating a different mechanism of action involving the removal of damaged cells. While the beneficial effects of medicinal mushrooms on boosting cellular immunity and protecting against various types of cancer have been well documented, we are only at the very beginning of uncovering the clinical potential of medicinal mushrooms, with much to consider, including extraction methods of bioactive compounds, mushroom cultivation, and safety. Antiviral and Antibacterial Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a highly contagious virus affecting millions of people worldwide. Current treatment for HIV-1 postpones the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is the disease caused by HIV-1. Research in this field continues, and medicinal mushrooms are showing exciting albeit early developments in this space. Proteins, triterpenoids, peptides, lectins, and polysaccharide-protein complexes have all been shown to possess antiviral properties against HIV-1. One reported mechanism of action by G. lucidum (reishi) includes the inhibition of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme, which plays a critical role in the lifecycle of the virus. The antimicrobial activity of several medicinal mushrooms has also recently been investigated. In G. lucidum, polysaccharides were shown to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms found in food, including Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus nigricans. "...we are only at the very beginning of uncovering the clinical potential of medicinal mushrooms..." Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 15 Anti-diabetic and Anti-obesity Diabetes mellitus, also known as type 2 diabetes, is a chronic metabolic disease impacting millions of people worldwide. It is defined by high blood glucose levels caused by imbalances with the insulin hormone. Polysaccharides extracted from a number of different medicinal mushroom species have been associated with reducing blood glucose levels, and for some, in increasing the secretion of insulin by β-cells, which lowers blood glucose levels. In one study, bioactive substances in an extract of the G. frondosa (maitake) fruiting body decreased blood glucose levels in genetically-born diabetic mice. Some medicinal mushrooms with alleged antidiabetic properties are commercially available as dietary supplements, including products containing cordyceps, lion’s mane, and maitake. Maitake, along with other medicinal mushrooms, have also shown promising anti-obesity effects, likely due to the activity of β-glucans in the mushroom extracts. Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Anti-aging Medicinal mushrooms possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which have been associated with many of the healthpromoting properties of fungi. G. lucidum (reishi) has been reported to increase the levels of antioxidative enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver and brain homogenates of mice sera. Medicinal mushrooms have also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the production of different types of inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κΒ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. Anti-aging effects have been demonstrated in G. lucidum through the activity of ergosterols, secondary metabolites obtained from the "Medicinal mushrooms possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which have been associated with many of the health-promoting properties of fungi." Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 16 mushroom. These compounds have been shown to extend the lifespan of the pathogen Saccharomyces cerevisiae by regulating the expression of an oxidative stress-responsive gene. Polysaccharides in G. lucidum and other medicinal mushrooms have also been shown to prevent oxidative stress and inhibit certain enzymes responsible for aging, thereby delaying it. Cardioprotective Cardiovascular disease is marked by high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol. Trans fats are primarily responsible for increasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body, and other risk factors include high blood pressure and high glucose levels. Several medicinal mushrooms have been associated with reducing total cholesterol levels in the body, including G. frondosa (maitake), H. erinaceus (lion’s mane), Pleurotus eryngii (eringi), and Hypsizygus marmoreus (bunashimeji). Various mechanisms of action have been identified, such as the inhibition of platelet aggregation, the inhibition of angiotensin, the decrease in very low-density (VLDL) lipoproteins, and improvements in lipid metabolism, with peptides being the major bioactive compounds responsible for these beneficial properties. Hepatoprotective The liver is critical in the metabolism of drugs and the detoxification of toxic compounds. Many bioactive compounds have been shown to support liver function, including phenolics, steroids, and terpenes, largely due to their role as antioxidants. In one study, G. lucidum (reishi) showed protection against vaccine-induced liver injury in mice. The beneficial effect of the medicinal mushroom Agaricusblazei Murill was also investigated in a small study with patients suffering from hepatitis B and liver damage. After a year of being administered the mushroom extract, patients showed normalized liver function and a reduction in critical enzymes associated with liver damage. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 17 Neuroprotective Recent research has demonstrated the protective effects of medicinal mushrooms on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. One study reported significantly reduced amyloid β deposition in the brain, along with increased anti- oxidative enzymes and improved memory-related learning abilities in a mouse model supplemented with G. lucidum. Several other Alzheimer’s related benefits have been demonstrated by various medicinal mushrooms, including an increase in nerve growth factor production, a reduced rate of synaptic degradation, and the reversal of neuronal apoptosis. CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION Mushroom cultivation has many steps, including selection of mushroom fruiting culture, preparation of spawn and substrate/compost, inoculation of substrate, crop care, and finally, harvesting, handling, and proper storage of the mushrooms. There are three different categories of decomposers within the basidiomycetes genus, which represent a continuum in the metabolic transition from lignocellulosic and other organic waste materials to soil in the context of large-scale mushroom production. Primary decomposers (e.g., oyster and shiitake mushrooms) degrade cellulose and lignin from dead wood/logs, leaves, straw, cotton seed hulls, corn cobs or peanut shells, and do not depend on other organisms or their metabolites. Secondary decomposers (e.g., button mushrooms) colonize composted materials, and tertiary decomposers (e.g., agrocybe) are found in the soil. Today, indoor cultivation using artificial logs is a more common method for large-scale production. One method involves the use of plastic bags filled with sawdust-based substrates infused with nutrients. When the bag is colonized with mycelia, holes are poked through to enable fruiting to occur. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 18 GLOBAL USES As our world continues to increase in population and our collective behavior continues to harm our planet, we face three main issues: the shortage of real food, an increase in health issues and chronic diseases, and environmental deterioration. Fascinatingly, mushrooms can address all three concerns. It is important to remember that mushrooms, like all other fungi, lack chlorophyll. As such, they can be referred to as non-green organisms since they cannot convert solar energy to organic matter like plants do. They can, however, convert massive amounts of lignocellulosic waste produced from agriculture and forestry activities into dietary food, medicine, animal feed, and crop fertilizer. Further, they can help clean and restore soil that is damaged from chemical agricultural methods. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND REGENERATION Mushroom cultivation is a powerful tool to restore, replenish, and remediate our planet’s over-burdened ecosphere. Because cultivation can take place on organic waste, this presents an exciting opportunity to biologically recycle the Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 19 high amounts of accumulated natural by-products of the agro-food industry, which contribute to environmental pollution through their burning and also take up precious land space that could otherwise be used to grow crops. Natural byproducts of the agro-food industry include dead wood and leaves, which hold several nutrients that cannot be accessed unless broken down and digested. Fungi are the only organisms in the world that can decompose such organic waste products. The process is actually done by mycelia, the vegetative part of fungi, which resembles white threads that grow from the dead wood and leaves. These mycelia release powerful extracellular enzymes and acids that can break down cellulose and lignin, the two key components of plant fiber. In the natural ecosystem, once the process of decomposition starts, organisms from other kingdoms as well as nutrients present in the organic waste can now participate in and speed up the degradation process. The organic waste—now bio-recycled to soil through the process of mushroom cultivation—can be transformed into nutritious fertilizer or feed, useful for growing crops, feeding livestock, and for remediating soil and water damaged through chemical agricultural practices. At the same time, the mushrooms harvested through this process can be used for both nutritional (protein-enriched) and medicinal purposes, as previously described. Use of SMS in a circular economy Mushroom cultivation in the circular economy, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2018; 102(18): 7795–7803. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 20 CURRENT STATE OF RESEARCH Medicinal mushroom science has made good progress over the last three decades, resulting in new classes of pharmaceutical agents in Asia and various types of dietary and nutritional supplements across the world. The community of mushroom researchers and thought leaders has grown extensively during this time as well, owing to the rich opportunities in this field of research, both from a human health and environmental perspective. More than 600 studies on medicinal mushrooms have been published worldwide, and numerous human clinical trials have been conducted. Many bioactive compounds have completed the clinical trial phases in Asia and are being used to treat various cancers and other diseases. DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS Medicinal mushrooms have much potential as daily dietary or nutritional supplements to benefit overall health and immune function. Today, several types of mushroom supplements are available. As pharmaceutical agents, medicinal mushrooms are most helpful for modulating immune function and maintaining good health for immunocompromised individuals and those undergoing cancer treatment. Major bioactive compounds that have been developed as products include polysaccharides, specifically β-glucans. The following products are available for clinical and commercial purposes: • krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP) from Trametes versicolor • lentinan isolated from Lentinula edodes Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 21 • schizopyllan (sonifilan, sizofiran, or SPG) from Schizophyllum commune • befungin from Inonotus obliquus • D-fraction from Grifola frondosa ■ GLPS polysaccharide fraction from Ganoderma lucidum Given the many therapeutic activities of the secondary metabolites of various medicinal mushrooms, they remain a relatively unclaimed source for drug discovery. CONSIDERATIONS Recently, the interest in developing mushroom extracts to be marketed as dietary supplements and novel prebiotics (non-digestive β-glucans) has grown. As popularity increases, questions arise about safety, standardization, regulation, efficacy, and mechanism of action. Given that no reputable standards or protocols are currently in place for the production, extraction, and testing of medicinal mushroom bioactive products, quality and efficacy between products vary greatly. Other critical safety questions also remain unanswered, such as are medicinal mushroom products safe for pregnant women, or can they be consumed by young children, given immune systems in young children are not yet mature? Concerns around dosage also exist, given the discrepancy between various forms and formulations. Many clinical trials have determined that 500–1000mg broken down and taken over the course of the day (2-3 times) is the acceptable dosage of medicinal mushroom preparations. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the standard daily dose of medicinal mushrooms per day in different forms (tablets, capsules, liquid extracts, etc.) must be equivalent to approximately 100–150g of fresh mushroom material. From a research perspective, the majority of studies with medicinal mushrooms have been performed on cellular and animal models. More clinical data from human studies is therefore required to clarify whether Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 22 the health-promoting claims reported are valid and significant. Critical factors going forward include ensuring studies are of the highest quality, following manufacturing best practices, and developing sustainable, large-scale production of medicinal mushrooms under controlled conditions. CONCLUSIONS Medicinal mushrooms and their bioactive compounds have the potential to act as promising source materials for both the dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries. Medicinal mushroom cultivation can also serve to promote equitable economic growth in communities within the developing world that are subject to the accumulation of large amounts of agricultural crop residues and forest industry wastes. What’s more, mushroom cultivation has the power to restore and regenerate soil health in a zero emissions manner, thereby positively contributing to not only human health and social change, but also to healing our planet. The multidimensional nature of the powerful fungi is highly unique and worth celebrating, even in its current state of research and level of impact. This is just the beginning for the abundant and diverse mushroom kingdom. I, for one, am deeply excited about the vast opportunities within this space. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 23 AUTHOR BIO Rhea Mehta has a PhD in Molecular Toxicology and Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Waterloo with over 15 scientific publications. She has over 10 years of experience working as an entrepreneur and advisor at the intersection of science, health technology, and wellness. Rhea is a certified Integrative Health Coach, the founder of Global Smoothie Day, and a featured member of the Mind Body Green Collective of global health and wellness experts. In her spare time, Rhea practices and teaches meditation and kriya yoga from the Himalayan Vedantic Tradition. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 24 REFERENCES 1. Chang ST, Miles PG, Mushrooms: Cultivation, Nutritional Value, Medicinal Effect, and Environmental Impact, second edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2004;385- 387. 2. Cheung PC, Mushrooms as Functional Foods John Wiley & Sons, 2008, Technology & Engineering. 3. Money, NP, Are mushrooms medicinal?, Fungal Biology, 2016;120(4):449-453. 4. Valverde ME, Hernández-Pérez T, Paredes-López O, Edible Mushrooms: Improving Human Health and Promoting Quality Life, Int J Microbiol. 2015:376- 387. 5. Guillamón E, García-Lafuente A, Lozano M, et al., Edible mushrooms: role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Fitoterapia. 2010;81(7):715-723. 6. 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[alternativecounselling]

Diet/Nutrition

A couple months ago I had stumbled upon two Instagram influencers who have completely changed the game regarding fitness, well-being, and nutrition. The first I have written about briefly is Mikayla Peterson. Mikayla is the daughter of the well-known psychologist Jordan Peterson who has written the book 12 Rules For Life. This book was one of the most influential pieces of work I have read, as it teaches you to take self-responsibility of your own life.

I love storytelling. In Peterson’s book, he discusses his daughter Mikayla and the difficulties they had with her when she was growing up, from having many health issues, her being extremely medicated, having many surgeries as a teen, and being plagued with an autoimmune disorder. I was interested in her journey, so I started looking into her on Instagram, because there was the controversy with her and her father doing the risqué “carnivore diet”. I originally was interested in looking for sources to combat feelings of depression… as for years I would be extremely depressed. I would be tired, groggy, and feel hopeless. Then I stumbled upon their work.

An interview at the beginning of their journey with experimenting with diet and depression is here:

I started becoming more serious about cutting out unnecessary foods from my diet. I did not know for the longest time that I was experiencing chronic pain – because I never knew what “normal” felt like. I would experience pain in lower regions… and I thought for the longest time I was having health problems such as cervical cancer. There would always be a sharp pain, almost like someone stabbing me from the inside out. Even though results would come back seeming normal… I was living in constant fear. I also knew that I could not handle dairy products, and I was assuming that I was lactose intolerant. I started being more strict on my diet. I cut out dairy completely. I started to slowly feel better. But one day I noticed stretch marks on my stomach. Stretch marks?! I’m only 25 and I’ve never had children! I started to worry. On days I would consume bread and other grains, the stretch marks would reoccur the next morning. So I started cutting out grains. I realized I was permanently bloated from being sensitive to grain products as well. I started feeling better. But then I was craving more and more food. After that, I decided there must be a method to this madness.

I challenged myself to try the carnivore for two weeks. I stuck with steak and chicken, and did not give up certain vegetables such as spinach and red peppers. I would garnish the steak with garlic, onions, and mushrooms (these are all my safe foods 😉 ). After the two weeks – I was hooked. My pain went away. My mood started to improve. I started noticing how great I was feeling. My body naturally started craving two meals per day… and usually later in the day.

I began to do more reading on topics such as diet and intermitted fasting. Greg O’Gallagher is another influencer in the fitness industry from Canada who has knocked the fitness game out of the park for many people. The recent fitness program I have joined of his discusses the benefits of fasting on the body. Fasting is something that tribal groups would naturally have to do in a hunter-gatherer society. There was no such thing as always having a guaranteed meal ready to consume.

In the past, Greg explains that we were told that eating more frequent meals throughout the day was better for you. However, the more frequently one eats, the more their insulin spikes, therefore it is more difficult to burn fat. With intermittent fasting, one can have a big lunch and dinner, and a small snack at night. The method is to push your first meal of the day about four to six hours after you wake up, i.e. around lunch time. Intermittent fasting also boosts growth hormones… which is useful in one’s fitness journey because it aids in fat burning. In women, it increased the growth hormone by 1100%!

One of the BEST videos about the benefits of simple intermittent fasting is here:

Combining the carnivore diet with intermitted fasting has changed my life. On my days off, I usually eat around lunchtime anyways as I am usually busy completing homework or work from home that needs to be done, so I tend to forget to eat for the first 4-5 hours that I am awake. I distract myself with coffee (no sugar, just lions mane mushroom for cognition). COFFEE LIVES WITH THE PLAN OF INTERMITTENT FASTING. Coffee can help to suppress your hunger in the mornings, as can water (and one of my friends have recommended lemon water as well for the extra boost).

Greg’s recommended schedule for eating looks like this:

·Wake up (7 a.m.): Black coffee and water throughout the morning

·Lunch (12-1 p.m.): Lean meat, salad, starchy, filling carbs (I opt out of the carbs)

·Dinner (6-7 p.m.): Your favorite meals; lean meat, veggies, filling carbs (I opt out of the carbs)

·Late night (9-10 p.m.): Dessert

My recommendation is to listen to your body. If something is not going right – start experimenting with changing things up. Diet can have a substantial impact on mood and overall health and well-being.

[jaysthinningdreams-blog]

Part 2- sorry this one is a bit long

When you're not getting the right nutrients, you can also feel tired, lethargic, it can be hard to focus. [Vibe], which is short for vitamin B may be able to help with that. [Vibe] is quite literally just a bunch of vitamin B, along with a mental clarity, enzyme, and metabolism blend. [Vibe] utilizes natural energy and clarity creators like green tea extract, lions mane mushroom, and ginko biloba, to name a few. I personally just take a few on those days when I wake up feeling like a zombie. It doesnt create that jittery energy like coffee or energy drinks do, it kind of eases you into it. That way you avoid the spike and crash of synthetic energy. You just kinda realize later on, that you're not so tired or lethargic anymore.

And then theres [Balance]. [Balance] is a multi-mineral, vitamins, and antioxidant blend. I'm sure many of you take vitamins already. Do me a favor, go grab you vitamin bottle, and check how it lists Vitamin C. Does it say Ascorbic acid? If it does, that is a synthetic mixture of hydrochloric acid and genetically modified corn syrup, and trust me, we are not corn syrup deficient. [Balance] gets its vitamins from foods, for instance it uses vitamin C from acerola cherries. The minerals in [Balance] are cheated (or bonded) with proteins. This makes them more bioavailable, so it is easier for your body to absorb. Your body is used to digesting food, so when your vitamins and minerals come from food or mimic food, it is easier to digest. Raw minerals are almost like foreign objects ts to the body, and have a hard time being absorbed, and doing what they're supposed to do. For instance, magnesium has more than 300 functions in the body. So, it's pretty important that you have enough of it.

There are 2 more products that are not yet available to the public, but I'll mention them briefly.

Glow is liquid collagen. Now you may be thinking, "I'm not a female" or "I'm not old" so "I don't need collagen. UPDATE: YES YOU DO.

Collagen makes up 80% of your skin, 90% of your connective tissue, and 90% of your bones. So trust me when I say, YOU NEED THIS. Collagen is so extremely important in maintaining the health of your hair, skin, nails, insides, outsides...everything. Collagen also promotes the growth of lean muscle mass.

[Restore] is probably my favorite product. So here is a quick story: Ever since puberty, I have had awful cramps. Like, crying, throwing up, immobilizing cramps. For a while Ibuprofen worked. Then it didnt. Same with Tylenol. I tried a muscle relaxer, I tried pamprin. I tried mixing tylenol and ibuprofen, I tried sleeping it off, heating pads, ice, exercising, avoiding certain foods; I tried EVERYTHING. At one point I was taking nearly 4000mg of ibuprofen every day for that week. That is so dangerous because it can damage your liver, cause ulcers, and create a whole slew of problems that I do not want to deal with. When I bought [Restore] I took it on my period and lo and behold, my cramps are not anywhere near as bad as they were before, if I even get them at all. So of course, I love it. I knew this product would not be released to the public for a few more months, so I ordered 5 bottles of it to carry me over.

[Restore] is a plant derived proteolytic enzyme that can help break down and digest proteins. It helps promote healthy, short term inflammation, and can help alleviate long term inflammation-which is when things usually go sour. Short term inflammation can be good for the body because it draws everything the body needs to heal itself to the site of inflammation. When it lasts longer, it can create problems, for instance, weight gain, and cause pain. Using [Restore] may help alleviate muscle soreness and joint pain. It can be taken after surgery and sports injuries. [Restore] may be beneficial before flights to possibly avoid blood clots. It can help fight allergies, alleviate excess uric acid (which can cause a TON of problems on it's own like joint stiffness, aches, limited mobility, etc) and it can help remove biofilm. Biofilm in the simplest terms are bacteria and viruses that stay in the body cloaked in a protective protein based shell- so the body doesn't attack them. [Restore] will basically hunt for any rogue proteins circulating in your body, and help to break them down. Essentially, it may help clean up your blood too. *if you are on blood thinners, you NEED to consult your Dr. first before taking this one. Also while it may be beneficial to take post-op, do not take it before surgery, as it may cause excess bleeding because of how it can help bloodflow*

To try these products visit

Tranont.com/jalen23768

You can only find these QUALITY products on this website. I believe they can be shipped to Canada, the US, and Puerto Rico. Everyone else, I do apologize for any inconvenience, sooner or later I'm sure they'll be able to ship to you. They are looking to expand their product into other countries.

I am not a medical professional. As with any medications or health supplements it is recommended that you speak with your doctor or dietitian before using the products. Any misrepresentation of the product or uses of the product are not intended. I do not support or condone disordered eating habits for any individual. I do support health, wealth. And community. I support being the healthiest and happiest you you can be.

I love you all, stay safe out there. I hope and pray that these products work as well for you as they do for me and many others I know. If you use the products and find that they did help, message me. I would love to hear your story! If you use the products and would like to share them, message me for details on how we can use YOUR VOICE to help spread the word.

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day Tuesday 9 January 2018

Not a plant today but an organism from the kingdom Fungi that feeds on the dead or dying hardwood of tree species including Acer (maple), Fagus (beech), Quercus (oak), Betula (birch), and Fraxinus (walnut) - Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane mushroom, bearded hedgehog mushroom, satyr’s beard, bearded tooth fungus). It is native to North America, Europe and Asia but here it was being cultivated for sale at a Farmers Market in Nova Scotia, Canada. After being sliced and cooked it had a texture and taste reminiscent of seafood. This species is being researched in connection with a potential dementia treatment. There were lots of other beautiful looking and tasty fungi being cultivated by the stall holder.

Jill Raggett

[wellphoraoil9-blog]

CBD Hemp Oil - An Overview

CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant, then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil. To help CL members understand how much CBD is actually in oils, capsules, and waters made from hemp, will be testing these products for CBD. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound derived from cannabis (a hemp plant also known as marijuana). Licences for CBD oil as a medicine have not been granted yet but the products can still be sold as long as claims are not made about their medical benefits. In wellphora , the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that CBD products, if advertised for these medical purposes, needed to be licensed. CBD oil can also be extracted from these plants and, as it is a legal cannabinoid, can be sold in the UK. Many in the cannabis industry claim that as long as the CBD product contains less than 0.3% THC, it is classified as hemp under federal law and is therefore legal to possess and distribute. As well, Health Canada has spoken about potentially allowing for natural health products to contain cannabis and cannabinoids, including CBD. Products with CBD in Canada are illegal unless authorized for medical purposes, according to Health Canada. When CBD oil is pulled from hemp plants, it contains a high level of CBD, plus an array of other nutritious material like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, chlorophyll, chlorophyll, and trace levels of other cannabinoids, including cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabidivarin (CBCV). CBD, or cannabidiol, is an all-natural cannabinoid found in cannabis plants like hemp. Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s award-winning hemp-derived CBD oils are made from unique cultivars of high-CBD, non-GMO hemp. We're your one-stop shop for CBD oils and edibles, hemp products, various strains of Kratom and lots more. Does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act (). These companies do grow, sell, and distribute hemp-based products and are involved with the federally legal distribution of medical marijuana-based products within certain international markets. Holistic research also indicates the benefits of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), Lactium and L-Theanine along with amino acid supplements and medical marijuana and CBD oil for depression and anxiety. Hawthorn, Theanine, Triptophan, Lavendar, Lemon Balm and Dark Chocolate/Cocoa, Magnesium, B Complex Vitamins and Kratom, DPLA, DHEA, Co Q 10/Ubiquinol, Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Hemp Oil, Coconut Oil, Lion's Mane Mushrooms and Medical Marijuana and CBD oil among others. Third-party testing: Once a CBD oil is manufactured, CBD oil companies will often submit their products for third-party tests, which are conducted by non-company personnel to ensure the product is safe for public consumption and meets quality oils should always be accompanied with information about third-party tests; best practice is to avoid oils that do not supply these details. In states that permit the use of medical marijuana, hemp-based CBD oils do not normally require a prescription but marijuana-based oils do. Like brick-and-mortar locations, dispensaries offer more customer service.

[nutratology]

Unlocking Cognitive Wellness: Lion's Mane Supplements in Canada

In the quest for enhanced cognitive function and overall well-being, Lion's Mane supplements have emerged as a natural and powerful ally. As interest in holistic health continues to grow, Canadians are turning to this remarkable fungus to support mental clarity and neurological health.

The Lion's Mane Advantage

1. Natural Brain Boost:

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a mushroom revered for its potential cognitive benefits. Studies suggest that it may promote nerve growth factor (NGF) production, contributing to the growth and maintenance of neurons. This makes it a compelling choice for those seeking a natural brain boost.

2. Memory and Focus Support:

Individuals grappling with memory issues or looking to enhance focus may find Lion's Mane supplements particularly beneficial. The potential cognitive advantages stem from its ability to support brain health and improve cognitive function.

3. Neuroprotective Properties:

Lion's Mane is believed to possess neuroprotective properties, which means it may help safeguard the brain against various stressors. This could have implications for long-term brain health and age-related cognitive decline.

Why Lion's Mane in Canada?

As the interest in natural health solutions surges in Canada, Lion's Mane supplements are gaining popularity. Canadians are increasingly drawn to the idea of incorporating this natural fungus into their wellness routines, seeking cognitive support without the side effects associated with synthetic alternatives.

Choosing Lion's Mane Supplements Wisely

When considering Lion's Mane supplements in Canada, it's essential to prioritize quality. Look for reputable brands that source their Lion's Mane from reliable suppliers and conduct rigorous testing for purity and potency. Opting for supplements with minimal additives ensures you reap the full benefits of this extraordinary fungus.

How to Incorporate Lion's Mane into Your Routine

Adding Lion's Mane supplements to your daily regimen is seamless. Whether in capsule, powder, or tincture form, Lion's Mane can be easily integrated into your routine. Consider adding it to your morning smoothie, coffee, or tea for a brain-boosting kick to start your day.

The Canadian Connection

Canadian health enthusiasts are joining the global trend of embracing Lion's Mane supplements, recognizing the potential it holds for cognitive well-being. As a natural and sustainable option, it aligns with the values of those seeking plant-based solutions for their health.

In Conclusion

Lion's Mane supplements in Canada are paving the way for a new era of cognitive wellness. As individuals increasingly prioritize natural solutions, this remarkable fungus stands out as a beacon of promise for those looking to support their mental acuity and overall brain health.

Incorporate Lion's Mane into your daily routine and unlock the potential for enhanced cognitive well-being. With its neuroprotective properties and ability to support memory and focus, Lion's Mane supplements offer a natural path to a sharper mind and a healthier life. Embrace the power of Lion's Mane in Canada and embark on your journey to cognitive vitality.