Fungi Fridays - June 24th, 2022
Issue #37
Hey there Fungi Friday fam! Welcome back to another issue of your favorite lunch time, mushroom focused newsletter on the interwebs! Have a few updates for you…
Checked in on the crop last week, and the power issues were actually starting to subside. Still only 80% humidity in the trailer, but that’s a big time improvement to what we had been reading… for the keen eye, however, you’ll notice I said “were starting to subside” — as I’ve just been made aware of some nasty 60mph winds that hit this past week that may (fingers crossed it’s not too bed) have messed with the panels. From one struggle to another, but that’s life. We’ll assess the damage this week and figure out what might be needed to fix. To end the update on a positive note though, the next batch of mushroom spawn shipped this week, so while attempt #1 may not have garnered much success, we sure are getting closer. Hopefully attempt #2 actually gets us a few delicious mushrooms!
Enough with the updates for now… Let’s get on to this week’s stories!
Is Mushroom Coffee More Nutritious Than Regular Coffee?
You've probably seen a post or an ad about it, you may have even tried it, or at least know someone who has… and is seems to be the big new thing: mushroom coffee! It’s exactly what it sounds like, coffee with mushroom. Medicinal mushrooms like Chaga, Lion's mane, Reishi, Cordyceps, and Turkey's tail are extracted and made into a powder, which is then combined with ground coffee beans, often at a one to one ratio.
Proponents of mushroom coffee argue that the trendy brew offers a slew of health benefits, including that it can help improve immunity, fight ulcers and cancers, help with food allergies, reduce the risk of heart disease, improve memory, reduce stress, relax sore muscles, reduce inflammation, and lead to better sleep. Since mushrooms don't contain any caffeine, mushroom coffee contains less caffeine than regular coffee, which is good news for those with caffeine sensitivities, and could lead to better sleep. Mushrooms are known to contain beneficial nutrients like vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants. And while not all of the health claims have been substantiated through long term studies yet, there are many studies underway.
Mushroom farming: The opportunities, challenges
The second issue of the week hits pretty close to home, as we at Iowa Fungi are running into some of these challenges as we speak. And while we have certainly faced our fair share of challenges, from power issues, to the recent wind storm that shook the panels, that’s not to say growing mushrooms can’t also be very rewarding, and profitable.
And for good reason, mushrooms are nutritious, a good source of vitamin B, C, and D as well as important minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper. They also provide carbohydrates and are low in fat and completely lack starch content. Most of the article outlines other aspects of mushroom growing, from pests and diseases, required capital and governmental intervention into the industry. Overall, for someone interested in, and working on starting up this sort of business, was a pretty solid read.
'How to Change Your Mind' Trailer Turns to Psychedelics For Mental Health Treatment
For the final feature of the week, the book that first took me down the psychedelic rabbit hole is getting it’s own Netflix docuseries. Academy award winner Alex Gibney is adapting the 2018 best seller into a four part series featuring 50-minute episodes. Each of the episodes will focus on a different mind-altering drug: LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and mescaline. The series will cover the history of these substances, as well as explore the potential of these substances to provide healing benefits and change minds as well as culture. People’s perception of psychedelic drugs has certainly suffered changes with time, but there’s still a lot that the public does not know or has a misinformed opinion when it comes to these substances.
The trailer focuses on laying out the foundations of the series, making it clear that we are going to learn about positive aspects of these four drugs that we likely had no clue about. The documentary interviews both professional scientists as well as people who suffered from mental illnesses like PTSD and had life-altering experiences with these drugs. With the series coming to Netflix next month, for anyone interested in the subject, this certainly looks to be one worth watching for!
Want even more? Here are some other interesting, mushroom focused reads of the week:
Why Mushrooms Are Beauty’s Biggest New Skincare Ingredient Trend
Mushroom leather: Lab-grown biomaterials challenge animal hides in the fashion world
Two psychedelic-related initiatives may be on the 2022 Colorado ballot
As always, thank you for reading this weeks edition of Fungi Friday’s! If you enjoyed what you found, please feel free to forward to friends also interested in the Fungi Community!
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