Soul Food

Mushrooms, ‘shrooms, puffballs, fungi, toadstools, champignon, morels, stinkhorns — there are many names for mushrooms! I like to call them Soul Food. They have incredible health benefits which include:

• boost your immune system

• improve cognitive health and protect against neurodegenerative diseases

• lower blood pressure

• supply vitamin D

• maintain heart health

• improve gut health

Yet, we still misunderstand their value and role with human health. When I mention that I grow mushrooms, almost guaranteed the first question is “do you grow psychedelic mushrooms?” My answer is a simple, “no.”

Mushrooms are so much more. We would not be around without mushrooms. Around 650 million years ago, humans shared a common ancestry with fungi. Without fungi, there would be no plants, hence no humans. Sorry for the bad news, humans are fungi, and not all are fun guys!

Humans have been using mushrooms since the Paleolithic era. In Paul Stamet’s book, “Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms," humans used mushrooms for sometimes other purposes. Pope Clement VII was poisoned to death with Amanitas, a toxic mushroom. According to legend, the Buddha died from eating a mushroom given to him by a peasant.

Mushrooms have been friend and foe depending on the species and the purpose. As an indoor grower of gourmet mushrooms, my intent is to flourish and thrive. I stick to what I know. A freshly picked mushroom is an opportunity to try a new recipe such as:

• Lion’s Mane “Fish” Sandwich

• Hungarian Soup with Shiitake mushrooms

• Stuffed Eggplant with Oyster mushrooms

Are you hungry? It makes my mouth water thinking about these recipes. Mushrooms, which are the fruiting bodies of mycelia, are here to nourish our spirit. You don’t need to eat psychedelic mushrooms. Mushrooms connect the physical body with the spirit. Do you need proof? Hold some freshly picked Lion’s Mane in your hand. This will leave you wondering how can this give so much benefit and with no prescription or a doctor’s order.