Mushrooms – Facts About This Magic Ingredient

– While there are over 14,000 Buy magic mushrooms, only about 3,000 are edible, about 700 have known medicinal properties, and fewer than one percent are recognized as poisonous.

– People who collect mushrooms for consumption are known as mycophagists, and the act of collecting them for such is known as mushroom hunting or simply “mushrooming”.

– Only specimens that are freshly picked or properly preserved should be consumed and not too old. Once an edible mushroom loses its freshness, bacterial colonies will form and stomach upsets or worse symptoms can be expected if such specimens are ingested.

– The most commonly consumed mushroom in the world is Agaricus bisporus or the white button mushroom. It has two other forms – Crimini or brown mushrooms with a more earthy flavor and firmer texture, and Portabella mushrooms with a large umbrella-shaped cap and meaty flavor.

– The Egyptians considered mushrooms as a delicacy, and the Greeks believed that mushrooms provided strength for warriors in battle. The Romans regarded mushrooms as a gift from God and served them only on festive occasions, while the Chinese treasured them as a health food.

– Mushrooms contain about 80 to 90 % water and are very low in calories (only 100 calories/oz). They have very little sodium and fat and 8 to 10 % of the dry weight is fiber.