I recently heard a talk by Paul Stamets, a mushroom guru who developed a process called mycoremediation that cleans up toxic waste spills. Mushrooms rapidly hyper-accumulate chemicals, heavy metals, PCB, petroleum products and bad bacteria, leaving no residue in the soil or in themselves. That’s practically magic! (Is it criminal that you have probably never heard of this extraordinary work? But I digress.) Research suggests that mushrooms might work similarly in the human body. Consider that fungi can turn wood into nutrient-rich soil; they produce an abundance of natural enzymes and anti-biotic/anti-viral substances, which you get when you eat them.
The mushroom strains with the most rigorously researched health effects are the reishi and shiitake mushrooms, and the turkey-tail mushroom that you may have noticed while walking in the Maine woods — but they’re all good for you. Used for many years in the medicine of the Far East, extracts of various mushrooms have powerful immune-enhancing effects and appear effective against cancer with fewer side effects than other treatments. Cancer researchers world-wide are hopped up about fungi — but they’re also just plain old good food!
Mushrooms are low in fat and calories, high in fiber and are about 1/3 protein by weight. To get the health benefits of mushrooms, you need to cook them, so think soup, not salad. Consider portobellos marinated for 15 minutes or so in your favorite olive oil vinaigrette and then grilled or broiled for about five minutes per side. Eat them just like a burger. Or try My Mom’s Awesome Mushroom Dip (at right) to grace sticks of zucchini, celery or carrots at your next event.
Americans and Europeans are somewhat scared of mushrooms because some species are poisonous and who wants to get those by mistake? Get your mushrooms from a reputable supplier. Most commercially available mushrooms are cultivated, not wild-foraged. Consider a grow-your-own kit — a wicked fun project for kids. Please don’t prance off into the woods with a baggie and collect your own unless you know what you’re doing!
Clearly, the world of fungus has a lot to offer that is not in the least bit slimy. Online, check out www.fungi.com, if only to consider their “Mushroom of the Month” club. Make friends with a mushroom — there’s more to them than meets the eye!
Susan Fekety is a Yale-educated advanced practice nurse with special expertise in nutrition and dietary therapies. She provides women’s health care and coordinates the First Line Therapy program at True North Health Center in Falmouth. Contact her at sfekety@truenorthhealthcenter.org