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fangirlxwritesx67 · 4 years

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Surprise Christmas

Sam x Reader, Dean. 1500 words. Rated PG, kissing, everything else is implied This story is a half Christmas present for @idreamofplaid. Thanks for such a fun theme, my friend! *** You loved a good surprise, and nothing was better than a Christmas surprise. It wasn’t easy to set one up for the Winchesters. For one thing, they hardly stayed in one place long enough to celebrate a holiday. For another, their keen hunter instinct seemed to sniff out every hint of a surprise or anything else unplanned.

You had been hunting alongside them for a few years. At some point, you and Sam had gotten together, although it wasn’t a very traditional relationship. You fought side by side, drank together, lived and died for one another, and shared beds in rundown hotel rooms. It was what you had, and it was enough.

Christmas was just around the corner. Growing up, you had always enjoyed all the traditions your family had for the season. The last few years, you hadn’t done any of them. It was hard to observe the various days of advent without candles, books, music - all the beloved bright holiday cheer.

You missed it. More than the trappings of Christmas, you missed the spirit of it. You missed taking time to do something special, time to show the people you loved how much you cared for them. You decided it was time for that to change. This year, you would surprise the boys and find a way to celebrate Christmas.

Of course, a case took you all on the road in late December. Your plans for a holiday in the bunker had to be scrapped. Not that you would’ve had a magazine picture perfect celebration anyway. But even the simple traditions were now out of the question.

What did it mean, really, to you and to the Winchesters? When you stripped it down, beyond the candles shiny things and sparking lights, what did Christmas really mean to you?

Family, and celebrating what you had. That was what you settled on. It didn’t matter if you were home or if you were in a shoddy hotel room.

You drove to the nearest Walmart alone. It was crowded on the day before Christmas Eve. Mothers were shopping frantically, wearily, checking off the last things on their lists. Fathers were distracted, eager, looking for gifts and the things their wives had sent them for. Kids were bouncing around, caught up in the excitement but trying to be good for Santa Claus.

You headed for the holiday decor section, already stripped bare and marked down. You picked out a few rolls of ribbon and a roll of wrapping paper, a string of lights and a tub of ornaments. You debated but ended up grabbing a bag of cinnamon pinecones. You just couldn’t resist.

Then you loaded up the cart with food. You were on the road, so no traditional Christmas dinner. You didn’t have a way to cook a chicken, much less a turkey, so you bought thick sliced ham and turkey lunch meat. Thank goodness for vegetables that were prepared and seasoned in steamable microwave bags. You got potatoes, broccoli, and sweet potato fries. A can of cranberry and a dozen dinner rolls filled out your menu.

At the last minute, you grabbed an apple cinnamon candle and some hot drink mix, both cocoa and cider. This might not be like any Christmas you had ever had, but at least it would smell and taste familiar.

You hid your bags in the hotel closet before you went to sleep that night. The next morning, the Winchesters headed out. It didn’t matter that it was Christmas Eve, they were still on a case. They had research to do, after all. You made up an excuse to stay back.

While they were out, you did your best. You covered the desk with a piece of wrapping paper before hanging the lights on the lamp so they trailed over the desk. You tied ornaments to ribbons and hung them on the wall, on the light, even over the curtains. It wasn’t fancy, but it conveyed the idea.

You dug into your backpack for the gifts you had brought with you. Two plaid shirts, beef jerky, a couple of bottles of whiskey. For Dean, you had picked up some novelty socks with burgers on them. For Sam, you had the newest book from Timothy Zahn’s Star Wars series. It wasn’t something you were into, but you knew he would appreciate it.

You wrapped them carefully, using blue plaid paper for Dean and red for Sam, so you didn’t need any labels. You tied on ribbons, not that the boys would care, but you really loved curling the ends. When the gifts were wrapped, you piled them on the desk. The burst of color and light in the otherwise dull hotel room made you happy.

You also had a new pair of green lacey panties, nothing fancy, but you had been limited to shopping at Walmart. Those you didn’t wrap. You would save those for later.

Just then, Sam texted you.

Almost back to the hotel. Need anything?

What you needed was more time to warm up the food, so you had to stall them.

Stop and get some beer for dinner, please. Get the good stuff. It’s Christmas Eve.

You heard the tramp of two pairs of boots just as the microwave went off for the last bag of vegetables. When Sam pushed open the door, you called out. “Surprise!”

Dean rolled into a fighting stance, while Sam drew his gun.

You backed up, hands open. “No, boys, it’s not a fight. It’s Christmas.”

Dean squared his shoulders and nodded. Sam took a moment longer, backed up against the wall. He was breathing hard, his shoulders heaving and his chest doing that huffy thing that you found irresistible. His eyes skipped around the room.

“Sam,” your voice was soft but you stood still. you knew better than to approach him when he was on the defensive. “It’s okay. It’s just me,”

Finally, his gaze seemed to settle on you. He sucked in a deep breath and stowed his gun as he held out his hands. There he was, the Sam you knew and loved. You walked towards him and let him gather you into his arms.

“I'm sorry,” he murmured into your ear. “You startled me.”

“I didn’t mean to scare you, only surprise you.” You looked up at his handsome face, watching understanding dawn in his eyes, before he lowered his mouth and kissed you. You took his hand and led him over to the desk where you had set up the gifts and decorations. Both Winchester’s faces lit up when they saw what you had done.

“Wow, you did this for us?” Sam said, kissing you again.

When you pulled apart, Dean patted you on the shoulder. “Thanks.”

Dean cracked open the can of cranberry sauce and Sam lit the apple cinnamon candle you had placed on top of the TV. They opened cold beers as you dished food onto paper plates. The three of you settled onto the hotel beds to eat, plastic forks in hand. It was the farthest thing you could imagine from a traditional Christmas dinner, but it was perfect.

When all the food was eaten you handed out the presents you had gotten for the boys. They pretended to complain about the abundance of ribbon, but you knew better. Their voices were warm, their smiles wide. They exclaimed happily over the things you had chosen.

Then, they surprised you with gifts of your own. Dean had gotten you sunglasses and some Gatorade. Sam bought you more Gatorade, chapstick, and a blue stuffed animal of uncertain origin. You were pretty sure they had done their Christmas shopping at the gas station when they bought beer. You smiled broadly. They had thought of you, that was what mattered.

Dean clicked on the TV and found a classic, It’s A Wonderful Life. He laid back on his bed while you and Sam settled into yours. The two of you forgot the show as you cuddled together, trading sweet kisses.

“Hang on,” Dean cleared his throat as he stood up. “I think, I need to go, uhm, put gas in Baby.”

Sam probably waved him out. You didn’t look up to see.

Once you were alone, you showed Sam the gift you had been saving for him: the green lacey panties under your jeans. He enjoyed them more than anything else you had given him. He flicked off the hotel lights so that your bare bodies were lit by nothing but the Christmas lights.

When both of you were more than satisfied, you tugged on pajamas and slipped under the covers together. You yawned and nuzzled back into his embrace. He sighed contentedly and pulled you in close for a soft kiss.

The apple cinnamon candle was the only light in the room when Dean came back in. He took off his boots as he settled onto his bed.

“Merry Christmas, you two.” he whispered.

“Merry Christmas,” Sam answered, the last thing you heard as you drifted off to sleep. *** SPN First Last and Always: @boondoctorwho @dawnie1988 @deanwanddamons @defenderrosetyler @divadinag @emoryhemsworth @fookinghelljensensthighs @idreamofplaid @kalesrebellion @kickingitwithkirk @maddiepants @magssteenkamp @onethirstyunicorn @there-must-be-a-lock @tloveswriting Sam Girl For Life: @awesomesusiebstuff @lilsylvia @winchesterxfamilybusiness

#plaid writes #spn christmas #plaid christmas #sam winchester x reader #winchester brothers

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sharmin2441139 · 4 years

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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. Hobbs C, Medicinal Mushrooms: An Exploration of Tradition, Healing, and Culture, Edible mushrooms, 2002. 7. Jones K, Shiitake: A Major Medicinal Mushroom, Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 2009:4(1). 8. Nguyen AH, Maria MS, Gonzaga BS, Lim VM, Clinical features of shiitake dermatitis: a systematic review, International Journal of Dermatology, 2017. 9. PDQ Integrative, Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ®) Health Professional Version, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board, 2020. 10. Deepalakshmi, Mirunalini, Therapeutic properties and current medical usage of mushroom: Ganoderma Lucidum, IJPSR, 2011;2(8):1922-1929. 11. Standish LJ, Wenner CA, Sweet ES, et al., Trametes versicolor mushroom immune therapy in breast cancer. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008;6(3):122-128. 12. Kubo K, Aoki H, Nanba H, Anti-diabetic Activity Present in the Fruit Body of Grifola Frondosa (Maitake). Biol Pharm Bull, 1994:17(8):1106-1110. 13. Zhong XH, Ren K, Lu SJ, Yang SY, Sun DZ, Progress of research on Inonotus obliquus. Chin J Integr Med. 2009;15(2):156-160. 14. Opeyemi JO, Tang J, Tola A, et al., The genus Cordyceps: An extensive review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology, 2018;129:293-316. 15. Cör D, Knez Ž, Knez Hrnčič M. Antitumour, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Antiacetylcholinesterase Effect of Ganoderma Lucidum Terpenoids and Polysaccharides: A Review. Molecules. 2018;23(3):649. 16. He Y, Li X, Hao C, et al., Grifola frondosa polysaccharide: a review of antitumor and other biological activity studies in China. Discov Med. 2018;25(138):159-176. 17. He X, Wang X, Fang J, et al., Polysaccharides in Grifola frondosa mushroom and their health promoting properties: A review. Int J Biol Macromol. 2017;101:910- 921. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 25 18. Erjavec J, Kos J, Ravnikar M, et al., Proteins of Higher Fungi—From Forest to Application, Trends Biotechnol, 2012;5:259-73. 19. Dasgupta A, Acharya K, Mushrooms: an emerging resource for therapeutic terpenoids, 3 Biotech 2019;9:369. 20. Chaturvedi VK, Agarwal S, Gupta KK, et al., Medicinal mushroom: boon for therapeutic applications, 3 Biotech, 2018;8:334. 21. McIntosh M, Stone BA, Stanisich VA, Curdlan and other bacterial (13)-β-D glucans, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2005;68(2):163-173. 22. Vetvicka V, Vannucci L, Sima P, Richter J. Beta Glucan: Supplement or Drug? From Laboratory to Clinical Trials. Molecules. 2019;24(7):1251. 23. Muszyńskaa B, Grzywacz-Kisielewskaa A, Katarzyna K, Gdula-Argasińskab J, Anti-inflammatory properties of edible mushrooms: A review, Food Chemistry, 2018;243(15):373-381. 24. Cör D,, Knez Z, Hrnčič KM Antitumour, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Antiacetylcholinesterase Effect of Ganoderma Lucidum Terpenoids and Polysaccharides: A Review, Molecules 2018;23:649. 25. Wasser SP, Medicinal Mushrooms as a Source of Antitumor and Immunomodulating Polysaccharides, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002;60(3):258- 74. 26. Chen W, Tan H, Liu Q, et al., A Review: The Bioactivities and Pharmacological Applications of Phellinus linteus, Molecules 2019;24:1888. 27. Balasundramab N, Kalyana N, Sundramb N, Sammana S, Phenolic compounds in plants and agri-industrial by-products: Antioxidant activity, occurrence, and potential uses, Food Chemistry Analytical, Nutritional and Clinical Methods, 2006;99(1):191-203. 28. Chung-Hua H, Kung-Chang H, Yi-Hsiung C, and Pesus C, The Mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill Extract Normalizes Liver Function in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2008;14(3):299-301. 29. Stamets P. Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 1993. 30. Jan S. Tkacz, Lene Lange, Advances in Fungal Biotechnology for Industry, Agriculture, and Medicine, Springer Science & Business Media, 2004. 31. Rahman MA , Abdullah N, Aminudin N, Interpretation of mushroom as a common therapeutic agent for Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular diseases, Crit Rev Biotechnol, 2016;36(6):1131-1142. 32. Sullivan, R, et al., Medicinal Mushrooms and Cancer Therapy: translating a traditional practice into Western medicine, Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 2006;49(2):159- 170. Project MUSE. 33. Wasser SP, Int J Med Mushrooms, Medicinal Mushrooms in Human Clinical Studies. Part I. Anticancer, Oncoimmunological, and Immunomodulatory Activities: A Review, 2017;19(4):279-317. Medicinal Mushrooms in the 21st Century 26 34. Phan CW, David P, Naidu M, Wong KH, Sabaratnam V. Therapeutic potential of culinary-medicinal mushrooms for the management of neurodegenerative diseases: diversity, metabolite, and mechanism. Crit Rev Biotechnol, 2015;35(3):355-368. 35. Zhang JJ, Li Y, Zhou T, et al., Bioactivities and Health Benefits of Mushrooms Mainly from China, Molecules, 2016;21(7):938. 36. Zhang H, Wang ZY, Zhang Z, Wang X, Purified Auricularia auricular-judae polysaccharide (AAP I-a) prevents oxidative stress in an ageing mouse model, Carbohydrate Polymers, 2011;84(1):638-648. 37. Weng Y, Xiang L, Matsuura A, et al., Ganodermasides A and B, two novel anti-aging ergosterols from spores of a medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum on yeast via UTH1 gene, Bioorg Med Chem, 2010;18(3):999-1002. 38. Reis F, Lima RT, Morales P, et al., Methanolic Extract of Ganoderma lucidum Induces Autophagy of AGS Human Gastric Tumor Cells, Molecules, 2015;20(10):17872-17882. 39. Zeng Y, Yang A, Xu JB, et al., Antitumor activity of a polysaccharide from Pleurotus eryngii on mice bearing renal cancer, Carbohydrate Polymers, 2013;95(2):615-620. 40. Chang ST, The World Mushroom Industry: Trends and Technological Development, Int J Med Mushr, 2006;8(4):10:297-314. 41. Grimm D, Wösten HAB, Mushroom cultivation in the circular economy, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2018;102(18):7795-7803. 42. Rhodes CJ, Applications of bioremediation and phytoremediation, Science Progress, 2013;96(4):417–427. 43. Rhodes CJ, Mycoremediation (bioremediation with fungi) – growing mushrooms to clean the earth, Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability 2014;26(3):2047- 6523. 44. Wasser SP, Current findings, future trends, and unsolved problems in studies of medicinal mushrooms, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2011;89:1323-1332. 45. Wasser SP, Medicinal Mushroom Science: Current Perspectives, Advances, Evidences, and Challenges, Biomed J, 2014;37:345-356. 46. Chang ST, Waser SP, Current and Future Research Trends in Agricultural and Biomedical Applications of Medicinal Mushrooms and Mushroom Products (Review), International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 2018;20(12):1121-1133. 47. Muhammad BL, Suleiman B, Global Development of Mushroom Biotechnology, International Journal of Emerging Trends in Science and Technology, 2015;2(6):2660- 2669. 48. Dhar BL, Shrivastava N, Mushrooms and Environmental Sustainability, Mushroom Research Development and Training Centre (MRDTC), 2012. 49. Ahmed I, Syed AR, Economic viability of mushrooms cultivation to poverty reduction in bangladesh, Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 2008;8(1):93-99.

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nickgerlich · 6 years

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Medium...Well

I have some rather unfond memories from the early-70s when the price of beef spiked. My Dad the accountant was the one who did the marketing in our family, which is a rather old school way of saying he did the grocery shopping.

I’ll never forget one shopping trip in particular in which he found what were then probably first-generation veggie burgers. He wanted us to try them out in case the high price of beef were to continue, and we had to choose something else. Turkey and chicken could have been options, I suppose, but no. He chose to tackle the problem head-on by going for a non-animal substitute, even if he wasn’t in the least inclined to be a vegetarian.

I have no idea what was in them, but I do know this: They tasted terrible, and the three of us--Mom, brother, and me--kinda put Dad in the dog house for a while. They were like ground up cardboard that had been liquefied and shaped into patties. No dice, Dad. We’ll go without if that’s what it takes to keep the family budget in line.

Fast-forward 20-some years, and in 1993, during the height of my cycling training, I chose to become vegetarian. It helped my overall performance, and it easily became a way of life. While improvements had been made in veggie burgers since the 70s, all the Boca Burgers and Garden Burgers of the world still left me a wanting a little more. God knows I ate enough of them through the years, but I was more often than not ecstatic when I found a restaurant that had more than just the gratuitous one-item offering for herbivores.

Now fast-forward to the present, and a revolution is taking place. Veganism has achieved prominence, and suddenly there is no shortage of options for us all. For the sake of review, a vegetarian is someone who eats no meat, but will consume dairy and eggs. A vegan eats none of that. Oh, and for what it’s worth, I am still vegetarian to this day, albeit a non-militant, non-judgmental one. That’s code for “it’s none of my business what you eat.”

Today, it is not uncommon to find the Impossible Burger on restaurant menus, as well as its competitor, Beyond Meat. Veganism has gone mainstream, and the beef industry is nervous. Oh, and they are not just good, they are damn good. If only they had been around 45 years ago.

Cattle ranchers are rallying the troops to try to regulate the word “meat,” much like the milk industry fought...and lost...against soy milk and almond milk manufacturers for the use of the word “milk.” That said, a new law in Missouri recently went into effect keeping anyone selling vegan products from ever using the word “meat.”

Now I understand their nervousness, but let’s face facts. It seems like everyone is in favor of free market competition, but only until it kicks them in the ass. Waving the flag of consumer protection, as in arguing these products have not been fully tested, etc., is disingenuous when you consider that countless studies have shown that a meat-rich diet is simply not all that healthy. Hey, why let details cloud one’s defense.

I can smell fear a mile away, and the aroma is strong right now.

Please, though, let me reiterate: I really do not care what you eat, but I do demand the same respect in return. These are personal choices. Let’s all vow to get along on this. There’s plenty of room at the table for all, regardless of our food choices. And for the record, I happily cook meat (as in animal flesh) for family and friends. If you want to adopt a servant lifestyle like many religions promote, it starts right at home.

But the word “meat” is not just limited to animal products, as it also refers to anything solid. It is the edible part of anything, be it plant or animal. The cattle ranchers are trying to change the dictionary. There’s that smell again.

Both Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat have taken vegan products to a new level, essentially creating them in the lab, and providing the most similar experience ever to consuming beef. Hell, they even cook like a beef burger, and leave traces of pink, depending on how you like yours cooked.

I take mine medium.

Locally, I have had Impossible Burger at Canyon’s Imperial Tap Room, both in burger form and as a meatloaf (OMG!). Also, the Burger Fi chain sells Beyond Meat burgers, along with traditional beef burgers.

Competition is a good thing, and after too many decades, the plant-based food industry has finally mounted what amounts to a formidable threat. Whether you choose to try or even adopt is up to you. Maybe you are already vegetarian or vegan. Maybe you don’t eat animal meat at every meal. Maybe you observe Lent and shun animal products on Fridays.

But this is the bottom line: Love all, serve all. The Hard Rock Cafe has used this as their mantra from their beginnings in 1971. These are words to live by, not just when it comes to food. And should you ever find yourself at my table, I won’t make you eat what you don’t want. But I may try to tempt you!

I just wish Dad could have tasted what I am tasting today.

Dr “Make Mine With A Poblano Pepper And BBQ Sauce“ Gerlich

Listen: https://soundcloud.com/nickgerlich/mediumwell

#marketing #Impossible Burger #veggie burgers #vegan #vegetarian

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mistavybe · 6 years

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A Story Your Family Always Tells About You

My mom loves to tell the story about what happened when I went to spend a few weeks with my Godmother, back when she was the Ambassador to the USA for my country, based in Washington DC.

I couldn’t have been more than 6 or 7 at the time.

Apparently while there, my Godmother had one of her American friends’ daughter over to play with me.

We were playing “Mommies and Daddies”... pretending to be a married couple and doing (what our young minds perceived to be) “normal married couple things”.

My Godmother was in another room doing something or other, while we played.

A little while into our play time, we come running in to where she was, visibly hysterical.

The little girl fumed: “Auntie! He’s not playing Mommies and Daddies right!”

Exasperated and clearly appalled, I plead my obviousy correct case to my now amused Godmother: “Auntie Corinne! She keeps wanting me to play like I’m fixing the car and she wants to cook! 🤷🏾‍♂️ EVERYBODY knowssss that MUMMIES fix the car and DADDIES do the cooking!!!”

Apparently, according to my Godmother, the argument over this issue between myself and the little American girl at that point got so heated that she had to physically separate us (which we both violently resisted) because I tried to punch the poor child in her nose and she tried to kick me in my nuts. 🤦🏾‍♂️

In my defense:

My Dad has always been an excellent cook, and he did the majority of the cooking around our house when I was growing up. Partly because he had a more flexible work schedule, and partly because he (and my mom and I) just liked it that way because his cooking rocked lol.

He was such a great cook in fact, that friends of the family who spent a lot of time out of the country would let him know in advance when they were flying back home to Trinidad and book a date for him to cook traditional Trini dishes for them. My mom brought home work colleagues to have dinner meetings at our house often as well for obvious reasons. And all-day/night dinner/lunch “limes” (Trini slang for “hang outs”) were frequent occurences at our house, because of my Dad’s “sweet hand” (in Trini slang “sweet hand” = “every dish that person prepares tastes awesome” - think “green thumb” but for food lol).

My mom only really cooked the turkey at Christmas time... and she made her special version of what I later learned Americans call “candied yams” (aka “candied sweet potatoes) for Christmas too. She still does to this day as it’s a holiday fave of mine. But even for the Holidays, all the other eight zillion dishes on our Xmas table were prepared (expertly) by my Dad.

My Mom is notorious for being a tomboy, so when I was growing up she was the one that tuned up our family cars, fixed the plumbing when it broke, and the same for electrical problems. In fact, she helped install all the original plumbing and electrical work in our family home that she and my Dad built from scratch, which the assistance of a friend of theirs who was a construction worker. My mom mixed cement, laid bricks, helped with plumbing/electrical, and even helped with roofing, all while carrying me in her belly. They finished the house with barely more than a month before I was born.

My mom was the one who taught me how to check the oil, coolant and battery water in my first car, and she showed me how to change a tire, sparkplugs, oil, etc. She also helped me buy parts and fix that second-hand car several times whenever it shut down. Whenever my Dad’s vehicle shut down, he always called her to come fix it wherever he was, because he was totally clueless about that kind of stuff. Same for plumbing, electrical, etc, at home. 💁🏾‍♂️

Everything I know about the fundamentals of cooking I learned from my Dad. People now often comment that “you have Horace’s sweet hand”, and while I think i’m still not on his level, I’m definitely as good as I am because of what I learned from him directly and the many years of quietly watching him in the kitchen and helping out, even when he wasn’t actively teaching me to make something or other. He was an excellent baker in addition to cooking regular meals. I still miss his homemade bread, his fry bakes, roast bake and especially his signature coconut bake. To this day i’ve yet to taste a coconut bake better than my Dad’s (except maybe for his mom’s - but he learned how to make it from her so 🤷🏾‍♂️). I still cook the way he did. No actual recipe, just eyeballing ingredients and working by touch, smell, texture, etc.

Sooo... in closing, can you really blame me for getting mad with little Becky with the Bad Attitude? Lol! It’s not my faut I didn’t have a “normal” upbringing, right?

When I got back home to Trinidad after that trip, my mom gave me a long talk about how our family was different, and that I had to learn that being different didn’t mean we were better or worse that anybody. A lesson that I live by to this day.

But yeah, my mother still cracks up telling this story to this very day, as if it were brand new. Clearly it tickles her.

This many decades later, having heard the story sooooo many times, my reaction (in my head) to her telling it at this point is like... 👇🏾

#Text #September Blog A Day #Sbad #Blogtember

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kathleenseiber · 5 years

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Does Thanksgiving affect what you think tastes good?

There’s probably more behind the taste of turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, and cranberry sauce than you think, an expert in what makes food taste good or bad says.

Don Katz, a professor at Brandeis University who is both a neuroscientist and psychologist, was eager to apply his perspective to the Thanksgiving table.

Here are four things to know about taste as you look forward to dining on this year’s Thanksgiving feast:

1. There’s more to taste than taste buds

What is taste? Many people believe it’s a just a sense based in the tongue and mouth that determines the characteristics and flavors of foods we eat.

But that’s only part of the story. Turns out, the “sense” of taste is only part of a complex system that determines what we eat.

“Taste is the gateway to the digestive system,” Katz says. “It’s not just a sensory system. It’s your last chance to decide what is going to enter your digestive tract. That’s integral to why what we perceive as the sense of taste is actually much more than that. It is vital that you’re able to make good decisions about what you consume and what you don’t.”

“Taste buds are the last line of defense, but evolution didn’t leave you at the mercy of just that,” Katz adds. “Taste is important enough that it’s combined with other information to get you a rich dataset on which to decide what to consume.”

When you take a bite of something and ingest, it’s because your brain has green-lit that decision by this “dataset”—clues from countless memories, social cues, and other observations all rolled into one.

2. How other people affect our taste

Do you remember the first time you drank a beer?

Katz is willing to bet it wasn’t a pleasant experience, as beer is generally quite bitter, regardless of the brew.

Nevertheless, many people around the world consume significant amounts of it. Having a cold mug filled with an IPA, porter, or pumpkin-flavored brew may even be part of your Thanksgiving tradition when you watch football or take your seat at the table.

The answer to why many people come to like beer might rest partly in human social interactions.

“It’s complicated and somewhat speculative, but when something tastes bad to you, you’re not going to consume enough of it to find out the good effects,” Katz says. “But, if you see someone else consuming the same thing, and you see it having a good impact on that person, your system will take that information from that social experience and adjust to not reject it.'”

“The best example of this is beer,” Katz adds. “In social situations, you’re told through many cues that drinking beer can be pleasant. Many people, before they know it, come to love it.”

Beer isn’t an outlier. Katz believes we come to enjoy its taste similar to the way people around the world appreciate licorice, sushi, Campari, and vegemite.

3. In terms of taste, we’re a lot like rats

Katz has been studying what makes food taste good or bad for nearly 20 years and he’s had plenty of help along the way.

Rats have been particularly useful. Katz’s experiments on rats have demonstrated how people can come to enjoy beer and, more broadly, learn from social cues and their environment to adjust the way they perceive taste.

One of Katz’s experiments involved limiting the food that a rat could eat for several days. He then added raw cocoa—which rats dislike because of its bitter taste—to its food. Because the animal was hungry, it ate the cocoa just the same.

Katz then added another rat, one that was not food deprived, to the cage. As part of their normal social interactions, they smelled each other’s breath before Katz returned the second rat to its own cage. He then offered the second rat the bitter cocoa, which the rat ate.

In fact, a single interaction with the first rat led the second rat to find the cocoa tasty despite its bitter flavor.

“Social learning of this sort doesn’t require a lot of trials—it’s not like learning to serve a tennis ball,” Katz says. “What’s more important than how often you do something is how felicitous the outcome of doing something is perceived to be.”

“It’s really uncommon for a rat to encounter another rat that is alive but ill,” he added. “In the rat world, you’re either alive or dead. When you smell something on another rat and that rat is healthy, that’s a big deal. If it wasn’t healthy, it’d be dead.”

Katz says the experiment expanded what the rat believed it could eat without dying—which is similar to the way humans adjust what they think tastes good or is good for them.

4. Does Thanksgiving affect taste?

If social cues and our environments play roles in enhancing how food tastes, what does that say about how we eat on Thanksgiving?

Katz says it’s speculative to say turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, and other foods become tastier because of Thanksgiving, though he does believe there could be a subtle link to most Americans’ enjoyment of the holiday.

“Thanksgiving—divorced from the food—is one of the highlights of the American calendar,” Katz says. “People look forward to it. Family comes home. I wouldn’t be surprised that because the experience is considered so wonderful and central to our sense of well-being, that our taste system can incorporate the experience of celebrating the holiday.”

“In the rest of the world, generally, turkey isn’t viewed as a particularly delicious dish and, by the same token, stuffing yourself with food isn’t viewed as something positive, either,” Katz adds. “Culturally, we are embedded into a situation where we are trained that this is all right and delicious.”

Source: Brandeis University

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jakehglover · 6 years

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Leftover Turkey Skillet Recipe

Recipe by Jennafer Ashley of Paleohacks

Turkey has always been a traditional part of Thanksgiving dinner, often served with vegetables and a side of cranberry sauce. It is usually roasted to golden perfection, making it an appetizing centerpiece of holiday feasts.

But with the abundance of food during these celebrations, it's unavoidable to have leftovers. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 204 million pounds of turkey go straight to waste after Thanksgiving Day. Help minimize this and save money at the same time by reusing your leftover turkey scraps. Here's a savory recipe by Jennafer Ashley of PaleoHacks to make the most out of your leftover Thanksgiving turkey:

Leftover Turkey Skillet Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Total time: 35 minutes Serving Size: 4 Servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon ghee 1/2 sweet white onion, thinly sliced 2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms 1 sprig fresh rosemary, leaves only 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced 1/2 cup gravy (you can also use keto gravy) 1 pound leftover shredded turkey

Procedure

1. Melt the ghee over medium heat in a skillet. Add the onions and cook for five to seven minutes, stirring occasionally until the onions soften and begin to brown. 2. Add the mushrooms, rosemary and garlic, and cook for seven minutes longer, stirring occasionally. 3. Stir in the gravy and bring it to a simmer. Add the turkey then cook for five minutes to heat through. Serve immediately.

What Are the Health Benefits of Turkey?

As a staple Thanksgiving food, turkeys are widely produced in the United States, with around 250 million birds consumed every year. With so many of us eating this kind of meat, what benefits do you get?

According to USDA, 85 grams of roasted turkey breast contain 24.7 grams of protein, 3.26 grams of fat, 135 calories and zero carbohydrates. Turkey's fat content is mostly in the skin, so better remove this part for a leaner meal. Other nutrients found in turkey meat are:

B vitamins (B3, B6 and B12) Copper Folate Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Zinc

Tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey meat, may aid in the production of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is a chemical responsible for improving your mood and sleep and suppressing your appetite. To be able to maximize these benefits, regular consumption of foods rich in tryptophan such as nuts, turkey, pumpkin seeds and free-range organic eggs is recommended.

The recommended portion for adults is 3 1/2 ounces of dark turkey meat without the skin to suffice your protein needs. For people who work out and for pregnant women in their second or third trimester, consuming more than the recommended portion may be acceptable.

Remember to buy pasture-raised turkeys sourced from a local or organic farm to ensure their freshness and cleanliness.

Why Use Cremini Mushrooms

Also known as cremini or baby portobello, cremini mushrooms best suit this recipe because they give balance to the meaty taste of turkey. They are even more flavorful than white mushrooms.

Cremini mushrooms are firmer and have a darker brown color compared to the common white button mushroom. These are harvested and consumed a little earlier than portobello mushrooms, hence the common name.

This type of mushroom is packed with vitamins and nutrients such as fiber, protein, zinc, selenium, potassium and B vitamins. In addition, a 2006 study found that mushroom extract and its major fatty acid components may help decrease tumor cells in the body.

Mushroom Buying, Preparation and Storage Tips

When buying cremini mushrooms, check the sheaths of skin under the cap that cover the gills. You would know they're fresh if the covers are still intact.

If you're wondering whether or not you should rinse mushrooms before using them, Cook's Illustrated suggests rinsing whole mushrooms if you're going to cook them. Sliced mushrooms, on the other hand, may not be washed as their exposed flesh tend to absorb more water.

Newly-bought or unused mushrooms must be stored in a bag with a small opening for air to circulate. They can last for three to five days.

Ghee Is Just as Good as Raw Butter

If you aren't familiar with ghee, it is a clarified form of butter, but without as many dairy proteins. It is used the same way as raw butter — on eggs, meat, vegetables and for slow-cooked dishes, sauces and curries. It has a higher smoking point that makes it suitable for sautéing, but it has a darker and nuttier flavor.

Ghee contains saturated fats, conjugated linoleic acid and butyrate acid. These are essential in maintaining optimal health, provided that it is consumed in moderation. If possible, purchase ghee that's made from organic, grass fed butter to ensure that it is free from antibiotics.

Don't Throw Out the Turkey Bones — Make Homemade Broth Instead

Aside from turning the uneaten turkey meat into a savory skillet dish, leftover bones may also be used to make a broth. Following this Bone Broth recipe, create a healthier alternative to gravy that offers various benefits including improved digestion, reduced joint pain, better bone health and healthier nails and hair.

If you're on a ketogenic diet, you can use this broth to make keto gravy, which is just as appetizing as regular gravy.

from HealthyLife via Jake Glover on Inoreader http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/25/leftover-turkey-skillet-recipe.aspx

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jerrytackettca · 6 years

Text

Leftover Turkey Skillet Recipe

Recipe by Jennafer Ashley of Paleohacks

Leftover Turkey Skillet Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Total time: 35 minutes Serving Size: 4 Servings

Ingredients

Procedure

What Are the Health Benefits of Turkey?

B vitamins (B3, B6 and B12) Copper Folate Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Zinc

Remember to buy pasture-raised turkeys sourced from a local or organic farm to ensure their freshness and cleanliness.

Why Use Cremini Mushrooms

Also known as cremini or baby portobello, cremini mushrooms best suit this recipe because they give balance to the meaty taste of turkey. They are even more flavorful than white mushrooms.

Mushroom Buying, Preparation and Storage Tips

When buying cremini mushrooms, check the sheaths of skin under the cap that cover the gills. You would know they're fresh if the covers are still intact.

Newly-bought or unused mushrooms must be stored in a bag with a small opening for air to circulate. They can last for three to five days.

Ghee Is Just as Good as Raw Butter

Don't Throw Out the Turkey Bones — Make Homemade Broth Instead

If you're on a ketogenic diet, you can use this broth to make keto gravy, which is just as appetizing as regular gravy.

from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/25/leftover-turkey-skillet-recipe.aspx

source http://niapurenaturecom.weebly.com/blog/leftover-turkey-skillet-recipe

0 notes

clubofinfo · 6 years

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Expert: Trump takes on the world How to explain the welter of contradictions in US politics these days? * Trump’s enthusiasm for peace with Russia vs his acceptance of Cold War II with Russia, launched even as Trump declared victory in 2016. * Trump’s virtually declaration of war against the mouse, Canada, next door, with his cutting insult to Justin Trudeau as weak and dishonest, as he left the summit early and refused to endorse its free trade plea. * Trump’s original enthusiasm for pulling out of Syria and elsewhere, pursuing an old fashion Republican isolationism, vs his sudden flurry of bombings in Syria recently and the threat of invasion of others (Iran, North Korea, Venezuela). * Trump’s dumping of the carefully crafted nuclear agreement with Iran, renewing sanctions and threats in the face of world opposition, both domestic and foreign (ok, the Zionists are happy, but no one else). * Trump’s unsolicited ‘deal of the century’ with Israel-Palestine. The Russians are coming There are behind-the-scenes forces at work with Russia at the centre. Obama’s and the western media’s human rights spat with Russia over Ukraine and Crimea are not important to the long term strategy of the neocons. Trump and his deep state backers understand this. Kissinger admitted it in June. They want Russia back in a new G-8, as Trump so loudly proclaimed at the G-7 in Quebec in June. But a Russia on the defensive is also in their interests, the better to make Russia bow more respectfully to US world hegemony in any grand compromise. Good cop, bad cop. Trudeau was comforted by his Euro colleagues when called a liar by the bully, but Trump has no time for wimps,* pious words attacking Russia or promoting gender equality and the environment. The ‘grand strategy’ of the Pentagon and neocons is about world control. “His message from Quebec to Singapore is that he is going to meld the industrial democracies to his will — and bring back Russia,” said Steve Bannon, Trump’s former campaign and White House adviser. Bannon said China is “now on notice that Trump will not back down from even allies’ complaints in his goal of America First.” What Europeans deride now as “G-6 plus one” would become again the G-8. Russia will dump Iran and China, and be a nice US puppet. There is a reason that neoconservatives are said to be the heirs of Trotsky: Trotsky wanted to export revolution to all countries, whether they were ready for it or not (with the subsequent goal of destroying national boundaries and traditional cultures); Trump’s neoconservatives want to spread neocon ideology to all countries (e.g., globalism, the dominance of western corporations and markets, ‘democracy’, relativising traditional society). The dialectic has come full-circle. In a weird sort of way, the (Christian) US is the anti-Christ to the (atheist) Soviet Christ. Both are/were radical universalists. Putin understands this and is neither a communist nor is he likely to take the neocon bait, as did Gorbachev-Yeltsin. Neither is Kim Jong-un. The Palestinians are coming Trump enthusiast Leon Haider praises Trump’s rejection of a “make-believe ‘peace process’”, replacing it with his “deal of the century”, that counts on moderate Arabs convincing the Palestinians to “take the route towards coexistence” with Israel that will “eventually lead to a peace deal, the deal of the century.” Bully the Palestinians into a deal that they can’t refuse. Trump somehow thinks this bullying will succeed where all of his predecessors have failed. But the so-called moderate Arabs are anything but. * Saudi Arabia is a feudal fiefdom, the source and inspiration of al-qaeda/ISIS through Wahhabism and petrodollars, provided discretely both officially and unofficially (by dissident princes). Its list of human rights violations grows daily, presently torturing its old rival Yemen for no apparent reason. * Egypt is being run into the ground by a vicious dictator-general. * Turkey, the most important actor, is ignored and isolated over the Kurdish problem. * Jordan is in upheaval protesting IMF-backed price increases and a new tax reform law. These countries are hardly poster children for the advantage of being a friend to the US and Israel. The other Arab country, Syria, just barely survived the US-backed insurgency and is back in the anti-imperialist fold (i.e., pro-Iran/ Russia) after 7 brutal years when it was betrayed by ‘moderate Arabs’ (not to mention Turkey). It is my choice as a ‘moderate Arab’, but will continue to oppose the US ‘grand stategy’ for the region, along with a chastened Turkey. Where is the grand strategy here? Bin Salman personally delivered Trump’s secret ‘deal of the century’ to Abbas, who refused to even open the envelope. For Trump’s ‘moderate Arabs’, read: Shia-hating Sunnis, led by King Bin Salman. Their hatred is mostly sour grapes for Iran’s proud defiance of US dictates. Arabs were traditionally the freest of peoples, the heirs of the Prophet, who was no friend of Rome. Those Sunnis would dump the US in a flash if they didn’t need Bin Salman’s billion-dollar bribes, and if there was another patron to feed them. Do they help the US achieve world control, the underlying strategy? Only Israel is more or less happy. It is their ‘grand strategy’ for the Palestinians that is closer. Its goal appears to be to annex the occupied territories unilaterally, set up a Quisling Palestinian Authority to police what’s left of the West Bank, under Israeli control. A variation would be to force Palestinians and Jordan to make the occupied territories Jordanian (but policed by Israel) and make all Palestinians ‘Jordanians’, after first taking most of the desirable bits for Israel. If the Israeli Arabs cause too much fuss, they too can go to their new ‘homeland’ (Jordan West Bank), along with Gazans, once Gaza is declared uninhabitable. Postmodern ethnic cleansing. Not so many deaths, wipe out the refugee problem at a stroke, dispense with the pesky ‘return’ problem. That would leave Iran or Iran/Syria as the target of Israel’s next and final war, not the Palestinians — and the Sunni Arab world will watch from the sidelines, and would not be unhappy to see Iran destroyed. That would allow Israel to proceed with its ‘final solution’ for the Palestinians, once Iran is out of the picture, even as these ‘moderate Arabs’ squawk (or are overthrown). The Iranians are (not) coming Trump’s summit with Kim Jong-Un in Singapore looks and tastes like Nixon in China, but was it a fraud, the icing laced with artificial sweetener or maybe arsenic? Surely Kim realizes that he must hold out for the closure of US bases in South Korea, as only that could possibly guarantee denuclearization of the peninsula. And why no mention of Iran in all the hype, let alone a stopover in Tehran, if denuclearization is the real issue? It appears that by allowing the interventions in Yugoslavia, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. (R2P responsibility to protect), the so-called international community did only one thing, it created more possibilities for new interventions, interventions that promote western control; i.e., imperialism. Russia will have no truck with this, as it is not interested in promoting western imperialism. Libya was the last straw, and instead, Russia moved on its own to help stabilize Syria without these dubious ‘protectors’. The disasters these interventions have resulted in means it is unlikely they can be repeated, despite Pence’s warning to Kim that he might end up “like Libya”. Probably Iran is safe, given Russia. A real strategy would involve making peace with Iran, not war. War is the way imperialism deals with problems, and is what US ‘allies’ Saudi Arabia and Israel want for their own reasons, which have nothing to do with peace or US security. Both the Saudis and Israel benefit(ed) from terrorism directed at US targets and celebrate them. (To the Saudis, the Americans are kufar and deserve to die. Remember Netanyahu’s comment on 9/11 “It’s very good”?). [Update: Trump pulled yet another fast one on July 31, 2018, offering to meet Rohani, but the jury is still out.] Peace with Iran would knock some sense into both the Saudis and Israel, and would curb the lust for war. The Saudis would fume, maybe instigate some terrorism themselves, but they are so tightly knit in the US orbit, this could be managed. Israel has its Jerusalem but nowhere to turn to. Israel’s life blood — Jewish Americans — are increasingly hostile to Israel, given its murderous policy of expansion. The fallout from such a truly ‘grand strategy’ would benefit both the US and the world, as the US and Russia revive their ‘grand compromises’ of the past (WWII, 1960s–70s detente). A ‘grand compromise’ for Turkey’s, Iraq’s and Iran’s Kurds could finally be addressed. Devastated Syria and Iraq would not be distracted by US-Iranian hostility and would rebound quickly. Iran’s only pretension internationally is to help the Palestinians, though the US did leave a vacuum in Iraq with the destruction of that state, and Iran is now playing its logical role as supporter of Shia next door and as a good neighbour. “Don’t hold your breath,” writes Stephen Walsh in Foreign Policy. Making peace with Iran would require Trump (and Congress) to ignore the lobbying and propaganda emanating from the Israeli and Saudi lobbies. But after the recent Israel massacre of Gazans, and given the ordinary American’s distaste for the Saudis and their massacre of Yemenis, there is no better time. Congress is not lying down. The sole Muslim congressman, Keith Ellison, put together a nonpartisan amendment of the National Defense Authorization Act to specifically prevent the president from launching war against Iran without congressional authorization. Even if the Ellison amendment survives the Senate, Trump could ‘pull a Trump’ and violate it. He could target Iranian individuals as “suspected terrorists” on his global battlefield and/or attack them in Iran with military force under his new targeted killing rules. It does not prohibit the expenditure of money to attack Iran. Nor does it proscribe the use of sanctions against Iran. But it shows that Trump does not have a blank check for his ‘grand strategies’. Jewish Americans hold the key Nor are the ‘good’ Jews in the US, energized by Israeli atrocities, silent anymore. A groundswell of Jewish protests is making room for the rest of Americans to brave the Zionist thought police. It is complicated piecing Trump’s grand strategy together, partly because he is a loose cannon, with his own self-aggrandizing agenda, and partly because of the chaotic conditions and opposing forces elsewhere. He is gambling on using good-cop/ bad-cop with Russia, plain old bad-cop with Iran and North Korea, to achieve his ends. Gunboat diplomacy. The US (and more so Trump’s) unreliability as a representative of US policy, willing to tear up treaties, makes it unlikely that Trump’s fish will bite. Israel’s strategy is also unlikely to prevail. Young US Jews** are already getting arrested protesting Israeli actions, much like they did in the 1950s–60s when they virtually led in the civil rights movement for blacks, and again in the 1980s, when they backed the anti-apartheid struggle. Then, their Jewishness was downplayed, but in this last war, they hold the trump card to successfully fight Israel, and must speak out for peace. As for Russia and Iran, Trump finally got some cajones and defied his backstabbers, not only meeting Putin, but out of the blue declaring he will meet Iran’s President Rohani, “no pre-conditions”. This is now a ritual for him facing off against his ‘enemies’: threaten to invade (Kim the Rocketman, NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE) and then coolly agree to negotiate. As for drama and idiocy, ‘Who could ask for anything more?’ *** *Trudeau is indeed weak and dishonest, as Trump’s advisers told him after perusing his many broken promises as prime minister ** IfNotNow is the latest, composed of Jewish teens. *** Thank you, Gershwin. http://clubof.info/

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geekade · 7 years

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Geekade Top Ten: Pies

Halloween has long since passed and, despite what most retail outlets would have had you believe since around about August, the winter holidays are not yet upon us. ‘Tis a glorious time when we put aside thoughts of xenophobic slaughter and focus on food and family. And what better way to conclude our pre-Black Friday feast than with a slice or two (or ten) of pie delicious? But which to choose? As an avid pie lover and baker I’m here help you make your choice of which pies to indulge in to give you your just desserts. So without further ado…

10 - Strawberry chiffon pie - It was tough to choose a chiffon pie, they come in so many appealing varieties. Lemon chiffon is less popular, but tastierm than its merengue-y cousin, but still there are better lemon pie varieties than either. Pumpkin chiffon can’t beat its classical inspiration, though it will do in a pinch if the pastry chef’s feeling fancy. Strawberry chiffon is a deliciously light, tasty way to incorporate summer’s best berry into a pie. It lands this low ranking for being a real pain in the ass to make. As Zaphod Beeblebrox once said “ten out of ten for style, but minus several million for good thinking.”

9 - Coconut custard pie - It was tough to pick just one custard pie (not that I had to, but there’s only room for so much representation on a top ten). Buttermilk is tasty, as is chess pie. Hell, I might be able to come up with a top ten custard pies, if pushed. But with only room for one on THIS list, I had to go tropical, the better to incorporate another favorite dessert flavor of mine. The dense eggy nature of this pie makes a really suitable complement to the unique moist texture of the coconut. It gets bumped down the list because coconut is such a divisive flavor, but if this were just a list of my FAVORITE pies, it would likely rank higher.

8 - Chocolate peanut butter pie - Look, we all know, it’s basically just candy bars and crust. It provides an easy way for big chain restaurants to expand their dessert menu and appeal to the masses. But damn if it isn’t tasty. It’s a big seller for a reason. If you’re going to cross-pollinate your confectionery genres, this is a pretty good compromise. If there are more traditional pies available, I’m probably going to order a piece of one of those. But I’ll happily sink my fork into a hunk of this, if it’s what you’re getting.

7 - Lemonade pie - I always feel like this is one a lot of people haven’t heard of, but on a hot summer day, it’s the perfect way to get pie in your mouth without turning your oven on. And it’s easy af to make. All you need is frozen lemonade, Cool Whip, sweetened condensed milk, and a graham cracker crust. I have to ding it for its difficulty to serve; it freezes super hard, making it tough to carve out a slice. Which ends up being OK, since this pie is best eaten in smaller portions, the better to ward off heartburn. Heat up your serving knife to dish this one up and you’ll be the hit of your summer picnic. (PS I know I’m on your shit list for picking this as my citrus pie over key lime. Don’t @ me.)

6 - Cherry pie - For some people, this pie is number one. Others can take or leave it. Don’t get me wrong, much like Warrant, I loooooooooooooooooooove me some sweet cherry pie. Unfortunately, its most common form contains that artificial AF canned cherry pie filling. That stuff is ding-dang-delicious in its own right and has its place. But that place is atop a waffle or crepe, or encased in an equally artificial crust in the form of a prepackaged hand-pie. But if you’re going to combine butter, flour, and ice cold vodka to make your crust and go to the trouble of doing the lattice work for the top, you darn sure better make sure you’ve got fresh, in-season cherries for your filling and that means you have to pit them by hand yourself. Whether you have a cherry pitter or not, that is a tedious, time-consuming, back-breaking (depending on your setup) task and ain’t nobody got time for that.

5 - French Silk pie- This is probably the most personal pie on this list. (What? You don’t have a personal pie?) I have fond memories of going to Baker’s Square, a local Ohio chain restaurant that was the Cheesecake Factory for pie, before the Cheesecake Factory even existed. I would always order French Silk for dessert and even though it’s been literally decades since I’ve had it, I can still taste the decadent creamy chocolate filling and the perfect complement of the cool whipped cream topping. It’s not a very well-known pie, but it’s well-loved in my heart and I urge you to seek it out and try it yourself. Your life will be changed for the better.

4 - Pumpkin pie - Here it is, the original fall favorite. Before everything became “pumpkin spice” flavored, there was just this and, honestly, it’s simple and perfect. Don’t like pumpkin? Fine, that’s your problem. That’s why this falls at 4 and not 1, it’s not for everybody. But for those of us that love it, it creates a wedge-shaped hole in our hearts if we don’t get at least one slice between September and November. There are a lot of applications of the flavor, but texturally, this one is really the best. And if you think your average pumpkin pie is tasty, try going to the trouble of using fresh pumpkin. Mind? Blown.

3 - Blueberry pie - Much like it’s cherry cousin, this pie is often found in the wild using canned, artificial filling. Unlike cherry, it’s very easy to make the filling yourself from scratch and the fresh filling makes this pie approximately 1,000,000,000 times better. If you really want top notch fresh blueberry pie, then come find me in late spring/early summer, because I live down the road from where the world’s best blueberries are grown. (Disagree? Fight me.) Hit that easy-to-make filling with a touch of lemon zest and sprinkle the crust with a little white sugar after the egg wash, and you have arguably the only good reason to turn on your oven in the hot summer weather.

2 - Apple pie - Number 2? *GASP* WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!!? That’s right. You heard me. Number. Two. Revoke my citizenship if you will. Look, apple pie is the bomb dot com, no doubt. But before you rush to its defense for the number one spot, riddle me this: have you ever made an apple pie from scratch? If so, I commend you. First of all, crust. For seasoned bakers who understand the sciences, it ain’t no thang, but there is a reason that premade pie dough is available so widely. Many people just can’t/don’t/won’t get it. No shame in that game, but a good apple pie must have a from-scratch crust. Then, filling. So let me ask you this, what kind of apples do you use in an apple pie? There are literally 1000’s of varieties of apples and while I have a right answer to that question, my right answer is not everyone’s right answer. And once your apples are chosen, they’ve gotta be peeled and sliced and cooked up before they ever even touch the crust. (Precooking the filling is the secret to avoiding empty space inside your top crust. #themoreyouknow) The ideal apple pie is the symbol of America for a reason, but in reality there’s too much room for error for it to take the top spot.

1 - Pecan pie - Some of you might be thinking “huh, I didn’t see that coming.” But unless you’re dealing with a nut allergy, (in which case, like The Doctor, I am so, so sorry) you just can’t beat it. It’s relatively easy to make, it can be made in any season, it has a variety of textures that all work beautifully together, it’s sweet, it’s just flat-out a pretty great pie. My favorite recipe incorporates some dark chocolate chunks and that’s pretty dang great. But plain and simple pecan pie is the MVP of pies.

Mad love to all the other great dessert pies that didn’t make the cut and a huge shout out to some of my favorite savory pies: spanakopita, southern tomato pie, and chicken pot pie. Turkey day is almost here so go forth and enjoy your favorite pie. And while we may not agree on what pie is best, I think we can all agree that pumplecake is not a pie, but a goddamn travesty of a pastry.

#Food #articles

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themusingstranger · 7 years

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On Buchanan’s Love for Putin

So Pat Buchanan just wrote another of his ethno-nationalism, Christian-strongman-fancying essays, and as I read the diatribe paragraph by paragraph, I could not help but formulate counter-arguments in my own mind. The article asks, Is Putin the Preeminent Statesman of Our Time?, and goes on to marshal the propositions recently put forth by one Chris Caldwell, that combine into an answer in the affirmative. Buchanan can of course make a good deal of sense and coherence when highlighting some of the inconsistencies of U.S. foreign policy and their tendencies towards war, but there is this other side of him that just loves European ethno-nationalists on the old continent and the general mood that animates others like them in the broader West and Russia. This makes his bi-weekly columns a hit or a miss.

As already stated, Buchanan enlists Caldwell in the defense of both men’s preferred answer to the aforementioned query, and so the former commences with some lines from the latter:

If we were to use traditional measures for understanding leaders, which involve the defense of borders and national flourishing, Putin would count as the preeminent statesman of our time.

On the world stage, who could vie with him?

Well, this might be a case of a response in need of a question. Both men already had this idea in mind and went about devising a riddle by which to reveal it. Except of course, if those are the determined conditions to first be met, Xi Jinping could just as easily qualify as a right-enough answer, and perhaps even more so. After all, China is flourishing far better economically, politically and culturally than Putin’s Russia. The Chinese economy is the second largest in the world. Internationally, where Russia is under sanctions and Western leaders are avoiding Putin as though he were plague rat, Xi makes the rounds from Buckingham Palace to state dinners in Washington. Slowly, the most successful of national film industries, Hollywood, is bending towards and tailoring itself to meet Chinese tastes. China is also an exporter of its culture, without seemingly losing any of the conditions highlighted by Caldwell’s question. Putin’s rather unique strong point here is his ubiquity and refusal to vanish from the global stage, as even in undemocratic, Communist China, presidents have fixed terms that are strictly adhered to.

Buchanan, citing Caldwell, goes on to offer:

When Putin took power in the winter of 1999-2000, his country was defenseless. It was bankrupt. It was being carved up by its new kleptocratic elites, in collusion with its old imperial rivals, the Americans. Putin changed that.

In the first decade of this century, he did what Kemal Ataturk had done in Turkey in the 1920s. Out of a crumbling empire, he resurrected a national-state, and gave it coherence and purpose. He disciplined his country’s plutocrats. He restored its military strength. And he refused, with ever blunter rhetoric, to accept for Russia a subservient role in an American-run world system drawn up by foreign politicians and business leaders. His voters credit him with having saved his country.

This is all fair enough, though again, elements listed are not unique to Putin.Still, Putin did restore stability to Russia after the tumultuous years under Boris Yeltsin. The fall of communism might have been a good and profound event for many of those under its brutal regime, and an occurrence not entirely without romance. But it was also a deeply traumatic historical moment for some, especially ethnic Russians spread across what would become new nations that emerged or re-ermerged from the Soviet Union. The writings of Svetlana Alexievich capture the subsequent fears, anxieties and other complicated emotions of ordinary people caught in the vortex of an extraordinary happening. Any restoration of order amid such chaos is a great achievement, and Putin attained that much.

But he has not been clothed in virtue in all of this, and has overseen another kind of restoration during the same time. The only plutocrats he disciplined were those who would not bend the knee; or those who were friends, then began discussing the advantages of democracy, and thus ran afoul of their president. Putin has himself become a plutocrat, and some in the business of calculating personal wealth even have him down as the richest man in the world. This hardly makes him any different from the banana republic autocrat who empties his nation’s treasury before slipping away to Europe or the Middle East. And such men also made a point of improving their military readiness, usually to deploy it against their own people.

According to Buchanan:

Putin’s approval rating, after 17 years in power, exceeds that of any rival Western leader. But while his impressive strides toward making Russia great again explain why he is revered at home and in the Russian diaspora, what explains Putin’s appeal in the West, despite a press that is every bit as savage as President Trump’s?

Answer: Putin stands against the Western progressive vision of what mankind’s future ought to be. Years ago, he aligned himself with traditionalists, nationalists and populists of the West, and against what they had come to despise in their own decadent civilization.

What they abhorred, Putin abhorred. He is a God-and-country Russian patriot. He rejects the New World Order established at the Cold War’s end by the United States. Putin puts Russia first.

And in defying the Americans he speaks for those millions of Europeans who wish to restore their national identities and recapture their lost sovereignty from the supranational European Union. Putin also stands against the progressive moral relativism of a Western elite that has cut its Christian roots to embrace secularism and hedonism.

Last things first - I can’t remember the last time I came across the word hedonism in a political essay that wasn’t written by a man whose bones had already dried up. Buchanan appears to be missing the point that Putin’s approval rating is unrivaled by any other Western leader precisely because he controls the mediums of news and information. The last political satire program in Russia was closed a long time ago, when the comedians there decided Putin was ripe for a joke. Sure, many Russians like the various moves he has made, recall the old days, appreciate the stability and generally support his policies at home and abroad. But the state’s monopoly over the means of public discourse and communication cannot be divorced from the regnant image of Putin. If one lived in a country where the leader had nothing but good press, then it is clear how the average citizen would have a positive impression of that leader. It is all they know. And of course, even in the midst of state propaganda, dissent and protests live on.

Buchanan goes on to wonder why Putin is popular in some Western circles, before giving an answer. The Russian president is a traditionalist, conservative, nationalist and god-fearing Christian, Buchanan offers. It is true that some in the United States and Western and Central Europe have developed affinity towards Putin, but I wonder if their conservatism and traditionalism includes human rights abuses. Does their Christian faith make room for ordering the assassinations of investigative journalists and democratic reformers? That Putin has admirers in the West is not proof of some virtue he possesses. In the West reside admirers of all kinds of ghoulish sorts and trends. In the 1970s, were there not the Red Brigade deranged extremists who adored Marxism and political violence? Theirs was a movement that spanned some years. Was that a sign of communist virtue? In America and Western Europe, those who admire Putin are almost always the grotesque reactionaries who despise immigrants and principles of secularism and pluralism. These are not the decent and philanthropic among us, I dare say. Putin’s Orthodox Christianity declares gays and lesbians to be unacknowledged by the state and without some fundamental rights. I am glad the American republic takes no such stance.

I suppose Buchanan figured he could not get away without a mention of Putin’s autocratic ways and crimes, and so he lists a few, while highlighting the lack of any difference between him and some of the United States’ own allies in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who have also demonstrated an intolerance for dissent, democracy and human rights. This is all well and good, for I also hold criticisms of the United States in its embrace of such tyrants, but of course, Buchanan is not penning an ode to them. He is writing one to Putin; and while criticizing other despots.

Much of the hostility toward Putin stems from the fact that he not only defies the West, when standing up for Russia’s interests, he often succeeds in his defiance and goes unpunished and unrepentant.

He not only remains popular in his own country, but has admirers in nations whose political establishments are implacably hostile to him.

In December, one poll found 37 percent of all Republicans had a favorable view of the Russian leader, but only 17 percent were positive on President Barack Obama.

There is another reason Putin is viewed favorably. Millions of ethnonationalists who wish to see their nations secede from the EU see him as an ally. While Putin has openly welcomed many of these movements, America’s elite do not take even a neutral stance.

17% of Republicans having positive notions of Barack Obama where 37% have such feelings towards Putin says more about the partisan rot among Republicans than it does about either Obama or Putin. The rise in Putin’s popularity among Republicans is of course a product of their own support for Donald Trump, for such an attitude did not exist in their minds during the presidency of George W. Bush. The ethno-nationalists who cheer on Putin’s machinations to break apart the European Union might very well have a point in not wanting to live under a parliament and a bureaucracy in faraway Brussels, but they make a grave mistake if they do not recognize that Putin does not care one bit about the well-being of their countries. Putin’s instincts and his wish are to dominate them. What has inspired and animated him through the course of his presidency (indeed, presidencies) is to have the world rearranged in such a way that Russia does the exerting on Europe and even America, and not the other way around. So, if these ethno-nationalists are true patriots and lovers of their land, they would not want Putin’s hopes for said land to turn real. But of course, we can with good reason suspect why they cheer him on. The declared Christian identity, the whiffs of xenophobia, the contempt for Islam, are shared values.

Buchanan closes by once more recruiting Caldwell, who wrote, “Putin has become a symbol of national sovereignty in its battle with globalism.” Here, it is important to remember that Putin holds the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest geo-strategic tragedy of the 20th Century. What was the Soviet Union if not an empire? After all, it did hold and control other nations and peoples. Was that also not a union like the European Union is one? At least there are no E.U. military forces guarding Spain and putting down protesters by force. The Soviet Union was also an instance of trans-nationalism. It was its own form of globalism. Were there not democrats who wished to secede from its iron grip? Empires are of course globalist in nature and by definition, and Putin has long mourned and continues to mourn the death of one. He is not opposed to globalism. He is opposed to a globalism in which he is not the leading figure. So Buchanan and his ilk who hold warm notions about Putin kid and delude themselves into such demented thinking.

#opinion #politics #Pat Buchanan #Vladimir Putin

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sharmin2441139 · 4 years

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Medicinal Mushrooms IN THE 21ST CENTURY

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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