Mushrooms and fungi are an important part of our ecosystem and can be a highly nutritious part of most diets. Not only do they provide wonderful flavor and make a great textural meat substitute in many recipes, they have also been used in many cultures as supplements.
It’s estimated that there are around 14,000 varieties of mushrooms, with many more yet to be discovered. While most of them are inedible, around 2,000 have been found to be suited for human consumption.
The part of a mushroom that we eat is actually the fruiting body of the organism called a “sporophre.” Below the ground is its mycelium, which is a threadlike network of connected strands that often extends much farther and wider than the fruiting body suggests. The mycelia itself can live for a very long time, so long as it has appropriate moisture in the soil around it and nutrients.
Mushrooms have long enchanted humans as medicine. Hippocrates, known as the father of Western medicine, found around 450 B.C that the amadou mushroom was helpful in reducing inflammation and cauterizing wounds. Some Indigenous nations have a history of using puffball mushrooms to heal wounds.
Today, there are businesses that take knowledge about mushrooms and put it into products you can find at Seward Co-op.
Kayla Emmons started Botanical Lucidity in 2019 with homemade tea concentrates in her Twin Cities home. A lifelong love of herbal supplements and teas prepped her for creating elixirs that taste great and can have positive physical and mental health impacts. Find Botanical Lucidity elixirs like Adaptogenic Golden Chai, Magick Matcha, Longevity Mushroom Potion, and more on Seward Co-op shelves, and at the Deli drink counter, too.
Four Sigmatic specializes in superfoods, functional mushrooms, and adaptogenic herbs. Their certified organic mushroom-boosted coffees and protein powders provide a focus and buzz without a crash thanks to mushrooms like lion’s mane, chaga, and cordyceps. They don’t use fillers or mycelium, only the fully fruiting body. Find their products in the Wellness aisles.
Host Defense was founded by mycologist Paul Staments who’s dedicated over 40 years of his life to studying mushrooms. His original goal was to “build a bridge between people and fungi.” He and Host Defense have been in the business of bringing beneficial mushroom supplements to people for over ten years. Their mycelium and fruiting bodies are certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten free, and are grown on their farm in Washington.
All About Mushroom Supplements: Immune Support & More with Host Defense
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6–7 p.m.
Friendship store
$5/Free for Seward Co-op owners
Host Defense specializes in mushroom mycelium-based supplements to support natural immunity and whole body wellness. Come learn about all of the benefits of mushrooms and enjoy 10% off your purchase for Wellness Wednesday.
All attendees will receive free samples and will be entered in a raffle to win a Host Defense gift basket.
Richard Cividanes, Host Defense National Science Educator with Robb Doser and Kirsten Haymen
