Hi All!
I have always enjoyed eating mushrooms. Usually, I have them gently fried with a little olive oil.So I am gratified to have further recent confirmation they are very good for you.Now this versatile edible fungus and beloved ingredient of the all-day breakfast, soup, and pizza has a coffee named after it.
Do you take mushroom in your coffee?
What I am surprised to learn is that many coffee shops in the UK are now feeding this rising trend: the mushroom latte.The Evening Standard reports there is a growing awareness of the benefits to health of regularly consuming the modest mushroom any which way you can, and in a drink is another such way. In this, the mushroom is a key part of the mix of coffee, along with perhaps an almond milk. Although at Curators Coffee, at London’s Oxford Circus, you can take your standard latte or expresso with a separate side order of mushroom consommé, in a syringe.Founder Catherine Seay says,”You wouldn’t order mushroom coffee every day but it can awaken the palate and make you taste your usual coffee differently.”
As an alternative, mocha mushroom smoothies are also becoming an acquired taste, and Christine Bailey, an award-winning nutritionist and chef, offers a recipe.
Why mushroom?
In 2018, the mushroom is predicted to become the most sought-after of the so-called superfoods.The global market for mushrooms is expected to rise in the next seven years to over £35billion according to market analyst Grand View Research.
Since the mid-1920s, researchers at Penn State University have been convinced of the wide range of health benefits to be derived from eating mushrooms. A resource has been dedicated to the development of commercially practical methods to enhance the levels of selenium, and the two antioxidants, ergothioneine and ergocalciferol (Vit. D2) that can make mushrooms, or their products, the best sources of these compounds in a plant-based diet.
What health benefits do they offer?
Mushrooms have unusually high amounts of ergothioneine and glutathione, both important antioxidants, that some scientists suggest could help fight ageing and bolster health. Robert Beelman, professor emeritus of food science and director of the Penn State Center for Plant and Mushroom Products for Health said that a team of researchers had also found that the amounts of the two compounds varied greatly between mushroom species. Beelman added that the more common mushroom types, like the white button (agaricus-bisporus), had less of the antioxidants, but had higher amounts than most other foods.
Many studies have been carried out on the anti-ageing and healing powers of mushrooms.
– They can reduce and prevent inflammation
– Help fight cancer – According to Cancer Research UK, medicinal mushrooms possess a variety of cancer-fighting properties, such as inhibiting the spread of cancer (metastasis) and boosting the immune system to ward off cancer.- Boost the immune system- Detoxify the body naturally
– Protect the heart – the American Heart Association recommends white foods to promote your heart health, and
– if you already have healthy cholesterol, they’ll help maintain those levels. Bananas, pears, cauliflower, mushrooms, and garlic are tasty options you can fit into your daily diet
Mushrooms also provide B vitamins, which are crucial for turning your food into sustainable energy and promoting healthy metabolism
They are the only plant food that contains vitamin D, which helps the body absorb
calcium and supports strong bones.
A great bonus is a type of fibre found in mushrooms, called beta-glucan, which helps
with weight control. This is because mushrooms are very filling, delicious, and super low in calories, making them a great addition to your weight loss efforts. They are a high source of plant-based protein.
a good cup of morning coffee
Give yourself a coffee break
Maybe you can’t reach a coffee shop to order a mushroom latte; in which case perhaps you would like the convenience of a handy beverage to drink at home containing a mushroom and coffee mix, this you can easily have – Four Sigmatic’s blends with coffee include the exotic sounding Lion’s Mane and Chaga varieties of medicinal mushroom, the latter known as “the King of medicinal mushrooms.”
Also, you may like to cook with them – there are of course many different types of mushroom, some having certain stronger health properties than others. Chinese mushrooms, for example, are often added to Thai cooking and many people choose to use the dried variety because they are cheaper and judged to have just as much flavour and nutritional value as the undried variety. You will need to soak the mushrooms in warm water for 30 minutes before using them and the stems are usually discarded because of their tough nature.
The big takeaway from here is that the scientific research clearly points to significant health benefits to be had for both men and women from regularly taking mushroom in whatever form. Coffee anyone?