Are you a mushroom lover? If so you must read this
Mushroom for skin care is nothing new. Mushrooms have a long history of usage in therapeutic medicine. Mushrooms are packed with eight types of essential amino acids and beta-glucans. Consuming mushrooms regularly not only boosts your immune system but also destroys tumor cells in the body.
Mushroom is an immunostimulant and adaptogen. It is able to stimulate the immune system directly as it is a type of fungus. It is capable of helping the body adapt to emotional states. In other words, it reduces stress. Mushrooms also possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Mushrooms have been used in ancient Chinese as a medicinal herb. Some of them are used to treat cancer and immune deficiencies. They are called therapeutic mushrooms. Few types of mushrooms keep cholesterol and blood pressure under control. Many cosmetic brands started implementing mushroom for skin care as it contains compounds that have skin lightening properties.
Nutritional Value of Mushrooms
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- Mushrooms are an excellent source of selenium.
- It is rich in minerals such as niacin, copper, pantothenic acid and selenium.
- There are trace amounts of vitamin B6, vitamin C, folate and zinc present in mushrooms.
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- The antioxidants in mushrooms are selenium, choline, and vitamin C
- Shrooms contain riboflavin or B-2, folate or B-9, thiamine or B-1, pantothenic acid or B-5, niacin or B-3
- Selenium, potassium copper, iron and phosphorus which are not present vegetables are available plenty in mushroom.
Cautions about mushrooms
Don’t Eat Them Raw
The mushroom cell wall is made up of chitin which is hard to digest if not cooked. Cooking breaks down the wall and helps in releasing important nutrients. You should not take some mushrooms raw as they are toxic and others create allergic reactions in the body.
Don’t Eat These Mushrooms
The mushrooms sold in the market are edible and you can have them without hesitation. But some mushroom varieties that grow in the wild are poisonous. Neither u can add these in food nor these mushroom for skincare.
Some of the poisonous varieties of mushrooms are
Death cap
Conocybe filaris
Autumn skullcap
Death angel
False morels
Health Benefits of Mushrooms
Strengthen Your Immune System
Research backs the news that beta-glucan, a polysaccharide found in mushroom has anti-inflammatory properties. These are nothing but soluble fiber which boosts our immunity by protecting from various illnesses. The antioxidants are able to stimulate our immune system at a cellular level. Not only that. This is also the reason we use mushrooms for skincare.
Mushroom for Skin Care
Mushroom has plenty of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. It also removes toxins from the body. This makes mushroom for skincare more credible.
Shrooms are rich in vitamins and minerals which help to rejuvenate your skin. The kojic acid present in mushrooms is able to lighten your skin. Add mushroom in your regular diet to have flawless skin.
Mushroom for Heart Health
It has two kinds of antioxidants ergothioneine and glutathione which helps the body revive from free radical damage. They say that most of the illnesses start as an inflammation process. Having therapeutic mushrooms helps your heart vessels and capillaries heal fast.
Best Therapeutic Mushrooms
Reishi
It has anti-aging properties. Eat mushroom for skincare!
It has a mood-enhancing compound triterpene which helps in relieving stress and getting better sleep and eases off depression.
It has antiviral and antibacterial effects that protect from common cold and flu.
Shiitake
Maintains healthy cholesterol levels in the body and protects the heart from stroke and other conditions
Have skin lightening effects
Slow down the inflammation process.
Anti cancerous.
Finnish Chaga
Helps to slow down and treat cancer growth
Protects the skin from inflammation and free radical damage
Effective in skin whitening as it decreases melanin production
Lion’s Mane
Helps to boost brain function
Improves cognition
Enhance memory
Aids to increase concentration
Turkey Tail
Boost immune function
Protects the liver
Has anti-cancer properties
Can I Take Mushroom Powder Instead of Fresh Mushrooms?
You can take mushroom powder as a supplement and can even add in the dishes you make at home. Any type of mushroom powder is more potent than fresh mushrooms. So you can’t have it more than the recommended amount mentioned on the pack you buy. Otherwise, a mushroom powder can have more or less effect compared to fresh mushrooms depending on its level of potency. If you are skeptical about buying mushroom powder from shops you can make mushroom powder at home.
Mushroom for skincare
How to Make Mushroom Powder?
- Wash mushroom with cold water.
- Remove all the dirt and stains
- Dry them thoroughly
- Make into thin slices
- You can sundry them but make sure that you use a clean space
- Use a food dehydrator if needed
- Make sure it is dried thoroughly
- Let the slices cool off and reach room temperature
- Use a blender to make a powder out of the dried slices
- Store the powder in an airtight container
There you go! Your own organic mushroom powder is ready to use. Sprinkle them over soups, salads, and omelets that you make. You can also take them along with warm water as a food supplement.