MUSHROOM MANIA

Why is mushroom the life of the party? Because he is such a FUNGI, of course! But seriously, we want to be at any party when there are mushrooms involved.

I’m sure you’ve all heard that mushrooms are fungi – and that is completely true. But what exactly does that mean? Basically, it just means that unlike other veggies, they don’t need the sun to help them grow – they produce energy by themselves. Pretty cool, right?

Just to help convince you of the amazing-ness of mushrooms, here are six more fabulous facts!

ANCIENT HISTORY:

Mushrooms were basically famous in ancient Egypt and Greece. The delicious flavor of mushrooms intrigued Egyptian pharaohs so much that they decreed mushrooms as food for royalty; no commoner could ever touch them – that way mushrooms were available in huge quantities for the exclusive pleasure of royals. And over in Greece, ancient Romans fed mushrooms only to warriors, because they believed that this little fungus gave god-like strength!

SO MANY CHOICES:

Mushrooms come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. As a matter of fact, there are 38,000 different varieties! Some of the most popular varieties being: Portabella, Baby Bella, White, Shitake, Oyster, Chanterlle, and Trumpet – but worry not if you don’t like these popular choices, there are enough kinds for you to experiment and find your favorite.

Mushrooms come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. As a matter of fact, there are 38,000 different varietie!

FIGHTS WAISTLINE AND WRINKLES:

Mushrooms are low in calories, have no cholesterol, and are virtually free of fat and sodium. Mushrooms also contain other essential minerals like Selenium, which works with Vitamin E to produce antioxidants that neutralize “free radicals” which can cause cell damage. Double whammy!

“D”A BOMB:

Mushrooms are the only vegetable in the produce aisle that supplies Vitamin D, which essential for a healthy immune system.

Mushrooms are the only vegetable in the produce aisle that supplies Vitamin D, which essential for a healthy immune system.

Yeah, you heard me; these little guys are super eco-friendly. See, fungi recycle plants after they’ve died and transform them into rich soil. So if it weren’t for mushrooms and other fungi, our planet would be absolutely buried in debris. What’s more, some mushrooms are also being used for bioremediation – absorbing and digesting dangerous substances like oil, pesticides, and industrial waste so they don’t threaten the environment! Aren’t you so glad we have mushrooms around?

MADE IN AMERICA:

Well, sort of. American mushroom farming started in 1896 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. This little area grows around 65% of the United States supply! It is now aptly named the “mushroom capital of the world.”

Of course, there are about a billion more reasons why they’re so great, but that would be too long a list for one blog! All of these benefits to your body, plus the benefits to the Earth, coupled with their best feature – taste - make mushrooms one of our favorite foods ever, and one of the best things to add to any recipe!

What’s your favorite thing about mushrooms?

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