The Little Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Guide to the Extraordinary Power of Mushrooms by Alex Dorr

Author:Alex Dorr [Dorr, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

Mushrooms contain ergosterol, which is a substance that can convert to vitamin D. When exposed to the sun, mushrooms can convert this provitamin into the more useful vitamin D. This means that mushrooms, on their own, are a source of vitamin D.

Lion’s Mane

Hericium erinaceus

AT A GLANCE

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION North America, Europe, and Asia.

GROWING LOCATION Hardwoods.

CHARACTERISTICS This mushroom sports a white cluster of spiny tendrils that look like a beard or mane of hair.

PRIMARY USE Functional and edible.

Lion’s Mane is one of the most well-known functional mushrooms in the world. It grows on hardwood logs, but occasionally it can be found growing on a still-living tree. The white group of tendrils gives it its famous name: Lion’s Mane. This mushroom is not only great for health and wellness, but it is also an amazingly tasty culinary mushroom that you can find at grocery stores and farmers’ markets.

Other names for this mushroom are Pom Pom Mushroom, Monkey Head Mushroom, Hou You Gu in China, and Yamabushitake in Japan. Lion’s Mane can easily be found in the wild, but it is also widely commercially cultivated either indoors in bags filled with hardwood-supplemented sawdust or outdoors on logs. It is one mushroom species that is a gift that keeps on giving because it will continue to grow on a tree for up to twenty years. Lion’s Mane can also grow from a grow bag up to eight times without needing a break.

The taste of this mushroom has been described as similar to crab, lobster, or fish. You can use Lion’s Mane in many recipes. For example: Cut it up in strips, use an egg wash, bread it, and cook to a nice golden brown on both sides to make “Lion’s Mane breaded fish.”

Lion’s Mane is referred to as the “smart mushroom” or “brain mushroom” because of its supportive benefits for the brain. It is used to support cognitive function, memory, focus, as well as the digestive system and immune system. This mushroom is also considered an adaptogen, meaning it helps support the body’s ability to deal with occasional stress and fatigue. Some people like to take Lion’s Mane (or mushroom supplements) before bed to aid in their sleep and to help their brain “recharge” while they are sleeping. Other people like to take Lion’s Mane for work or studying.

Like all functional mushrooms, Lion’s Mane is packed with amazing compounds. Many of the compounds within Lion’s Mane support the natural production of nerve growth factor in the brain. Nerve growth factor is important in the development, survival, and proliferation of nerve cells (neurons), which have to do with transmitting vital information in the body. Like all functional mushrooms, it’s important to use a dual extraction to get both polar and nonpolar compounds inside. With both types of compounds, you will best support your overall health and wellness. Because the main compounds in Lion’s Mane are nonpolar, it is vital to use alcohol to extract the compounds to get those brain-supportive goodies.

Other Ways to Eat Lion’s Mane

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