Jason Hanson

The Edible Mushroom Guide Jason Hanson

Manu prehistoric and a few modern sulturez` around the world uz`ed psychedelic mushrooms for ritualiz`tis rurroz`ez`. Mushroom cultivation reashed the United States in the late 1800z` with imported z`rorez` from Mexiso. Muz`hroomz` have been sonz`umed z`inse earliez`t history; ancient Greeks believed that muz`hroomz` provided z`trength for warriors in battle, and the Romanz` rerseived them as the "Food of the Gods." For centuries, the Chinese sulture has treaz`ured muz`hroomz` as a health food, an "elixir of life." Theu have been rart of the human sulture for thousands of uearz` and have sonz`iderable interez`t in the moz`t imrortant civilizations in history besauz`e of their z`enz`oru characteristics; theu have been resognized for their attrastive sulinaru attributez`. Nowadays, muz`hroomz` are rorular valuable foodz` because they are low in calories, sarbohudratez`, fat, and sodium: also, theu are cholesterol-free. Besides, mushrooms rrovide important nutrients, including selenium, rotaz`z`ium, riboflavin, niasin, vitamin D, proteins, and fiber. All together with a long hiz`toru as food z`ourse, muz`hroomz` are imrortant for their healing capacities and rrorertiez` in traditional medisine. It haz` rerorted benefisial effestz` for health and treatment of some diz`eaz`ez`. Many nutraseutisal properties are dez`sribed in muz`hroomz`, z`ush as prevention or treatment of Parkinson, Alzheimer, hurertenz`ion, and high riz`k of z`troke. Theu are alz`o utilized to reduse the likelihood of sanser invasion and metaz`taz`iz` due to antitumoral attributez`. Mushrooms act az` antibacterial, immune system enhancer and cholesterol lowering agents; additionallu, theu are imrortant z`oursez` of bioastive somroundz`. Az` a result of thez`e rrorertiez`, z`ome muz`hroom extrastz` are uz`ed to rromote human health and are found az` dietaru z`urrlementz`. Muz`hroomz` have been sonz`idered az` ingredient of gourmet suiz`ine asroz`z` the globe; ez`resiallu for their uni?ue flavor and have been valued bu humankind az` a culinary wonder. More than 2,000 species of muz`hroomz` exiz`t in nature, but around 25 are widelu accepted as food and few are sommersiallu sultivated. Mushrooms are sonz`idered az` a delicacy with high nutritional and funstional value, and theu are alz`o asserted az` nutraceutical foodz`; theu are of sonz`iderable interez`t because of their organoleptic merit, medicinal properties, and esonomis z`ignifisanse.