Mushrooms

I spent the first chunk of this gray wet day wandering through foggy forests on the hunt for shrooms. In our ears was the voice of Screwtape lecturing his young demon apprentice, Wormwood, on how to effectively ‘convert’ his patient. An audio drama based off C.S. Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters. 

Somehow the slithery wretched voice of Screwtape seemed to fit right into our surroundings. 

Mushrooms are truly fascinating. Sprouting up through the soil and forest debris from cob-web like masses called mycelium that run throughout the soil below for up to miles in some species. 

Mushrooms make impressive food. A low caloric density food you can eat your fill without even making a dent in your caloric intake. They bring a complex umami flavor to dishes and really up the game in plant based cooking. Here’s a cauliflower mushroom my mother tells me goes good with roast. If I can comb all the spiders and pine needles from it’s flesh I’ll see if I can make a plant based dish from it.

Don’t let their rather plain nutritional label fool you. Often times the foods that are lowest on the caloric density charts are the highest in phytonutrients and other unique compounds that pack the largest health benefits. 

“Myconutrients” in mushrooms have been shown to have beneficial effects on our immune system and may even help prevent cancer. The benefits for the immune system seem to include both anti-inflammatory effects as well as enhancing the overall function of the immune system (antibody production etc). Immune modulation (balancing) is likely the word of choice here.

I suspect the favorable research around cancer and mushrooms is likely linked to this immune system effect as we know cancer is inflammatory in nature and tends to tinker with our immune systems. 

In this study (PMID:11739882) mushroom extracts inhibited breast cancer cell growth and aromatase activity (an enzyme affecting estrogen metabolism). This was a petri dish study so quite clearly we need more research but I won’t be holding my mushroom consumption back waiting for bigger studies. No one really has money to make off something I found today for free just walking through the woods. Fascinating research nonetheless. Especially in a country with upwards of 1 in 8 women getting a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. 

In this study Ganoderma lucidum aka Reshi mushroom helped reduce fatigue, improve quality of life and even had some hepatoprotective (liver) properties in cancer patients. They were able to document reduction in serum inflammatory markers (PMID: 23840256).

There is also some interesting research around medicinal mushrooms for neurocognitive health. 

Here’s one where Lion’s Mane helped reduce anxiety in mice with Alzheimer's disease (PMID: 35877305). Mice, so again more research would be nice. 

Here’s a review on the compounds in medicinal mushrooms that have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuro-protective properties that may be beneficial in the management of Alzheimer's disease (PMID: 37513486)

The reports I get from patients using these “cognitive enhancing mushrooms” are fairly impressive. I am inclined to believe there is something there. Of course the placebo effect always complicates things. 

Here’s a coral mushroom that seems to love our local forest floor. God getting creative I suppose.

Dr Gregor does a good job summarizing the research around mushrooms and health. He may even add mushrooms to his daily dozen (the 12 foods you should be eating daily for optimal health). 

Of course there is also the mushrooms of the psychedelic variety. I won’t delve much into that here. I would however recommend keeping an eye out for the research that’s happening in this area. I suspect we will see impressive results in the cases of treatment resistant psychological diagnosis (depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.). Conventional medicine hasn’t had astounding success here and I wouldn’t at all be surprised if we see progress here in leaps and bounds. 

Paul Staments is an expert in this field and his book Mycelium Running makes for a good read. I think he believes they may save the world and while I will eagerly await the research in this growing field, I’ll keep my faith in salvation elsewhere.  

Oh and just to be clear. I am not suggesting you walk in the woods and eat the mushrooms you find. As with any strong medicine the wrong stuff will kill you. Consult a local expert or mycologist like Drew Ryan of Harmonic Hyphae.

Mushrooms make an amazing gravy to pour on potatoes or vegetables.

Dr. Gregor has a good recipe for portobellos and greens on toast.

Minimalist baker does a plant based mushroom stroganoff I’ll call dinner tonight. I’ll keep my calories low to fit in a couple pilsners.

My favorite way is to stir fry them with black beans and taco seasoning. I serve it up on corn tortillas with a cilantro-lime-onion-jalapeno relish. 

A common clinical recommendation I make for clients looking to improve fatigue, improve immune function and as adjunctive cancer care is to take a medical mushroom powder daily. Easy to add to tea/coffee/smoothies.

OM mushroom company makes a good blend -

Dr Panza