MUSHROOMS AND YOUR HEALTH

Precious Ropalia 22/09/2018 Health 2 Comments

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Mushrooms are special forms of food. They are known for their various shapes, colours, aromas and textures. This give joy to mycophiles that collect them and gourmands that eat them.

THE STINK HORN (CLATHRUS RUBER) NON -EDIBLE

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AMANITA PHALLOIDES (DEATH CAP, DEATH ANGEL) NON EDIBLE

AMANITA MUSCARIA (FLY AGARIC) POISONOUS BUT NOT FATAL

However, they also produce revulsion among people that are afraid of being poisoned by them. There are a number of poisoning among those that collect them in the wild many of which prove fatal.

Most importantly, mushrooms do not have nutritional value or healing power. Rather, they have medicinal properties. But their flavours are the most appealing factors.

Since mushrooms are not essential food, it is good to avoid getting negative results in consuming them. For this reason, mushroom lovers should know how to identify poisonous species and avoid them.

PHOLIOTA MUTABILIS. (EDIBLE)

-UP=AGARICUS ARVENSIS( EDIBLE )

DOWN =AGARICUS XANTHODERMUS (EDIBLE)

Higher fungi are multicellular organisms with two parts.

(1) THE MYCELIUM: This is formed from a dense network of invisible underground filaments. The filaments grow in concentric circles and may cover several square metres.

(2) THE MUSHROOM: This is the fruiting bodies of the mycelium during its reproductive phase. Reproductive spores spread from these. When the spores germinate, they create a new mycelia. Therefore, mushrooms are sex organs or fruits of higher fungi.

Death can result from eating even small amount of poisonous mushrooms. Poisonous mushrooms belong to the genus Amanita. However, they can be recognised since they have distinct characteristics.

CHARACTERISTICS OF POISONOUS MUSHROOMS

HYMENIUM- This is formed of white or light -coloured lamellar.

ANNULUS- This is always present in poisonous mushrooms .

VOLVA -This is always present in poisonous mushrooms.

MANY have rotten meat smell.

The most poisonous mushrooms must have the above first three characteristics. Avoiding them means avoiding death. However, there are edible species that possess the same characteristics. Like in the case of Caesar’s mushroom (Amanita caesarea). Only Mycology specialists should attempt to identify it.

GENERAL RULES

Do not harvest mushrooms that grow near chemically contaminated areas. Such mushrooms concentrate toxins from the environment within their tissues.

HIGHWAYS AND EXPRESSWAYS: From investigation, there are high lead levels in the soil within 300 metres of areas used by motor vehicles. Mushrooms concentrate this heavy metals than plants.

Other places not to harvest mushrooms from are

PESTICIDE treated farms.

CHEMICAL Industries.

GARBAGE Dumps and incinerators.

HOW TO HARVEST MUSHROOMS

They should be cut with knife at the base of the stripe including the volva whenever possible.

When hunting for mushrooms, do not disturb the top layers of the humus to avoid damaging any mycelium there.

Discard overripe specimens,the ones eaten partially by insects or decaying ones.

Use a wicker basket to carry harvested mushrooms.

Do not carry them upside down to avoid dirt to enter into the lamallae.

Do not step on or destroy unidentified mushrooms or suspected poisonous species. Because they are necessary in ecosystem balance.

*NEVER EAT RAW MUSHROOMS*.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF MUSHROOMS

WATER:- Mushrooms has about 80 to 92% of water. PROTEIN:- It contains 2 to 3% protein which is higher than in potatoes and many vegetables.

CARBOHYDRATES:- Mushrooms have about 3 to 5% of carbohydrates mostly glycogen. Glycogen is a type of starch found in animals. Besides, it is a short-chain polysaccharides.

FATS:- It has very little fat of 0.2 to 0.5%.

VITAMINS:- Particularly B1, B2, B6, niacin and folates. 100 grams of mushrooms provide approximately one-fourth of the MDR of vitamin B2 and niacin. It also provides 1 to 3ųg of vitamin D an amount similar to butter but less than fish.

MINERALS:- Phosphorus ,potassium, iron , copper and zinc are among the trace elements mushrooms provide.

FIBRE:- They contain 2 to 3% cellulose which is more than many vegetables and fruits.

CALORIES:- They have between 25 and 30kcal/100g an amount below most known food except green leafy vegetables and stalks.

Nevertheless, mushrooms contain little or no provitamin A. Vitamin B12 and C, calcium and cholesterol.

ENOKI (PHOLIOTA NAMEKO) (EDIBLE)