Mushroom Mania

Written by: Caroline Kim

March 19, 2023

The mushroom has more to it than what it may seem like at first glance. I, for one, never got a chance to learn much about mushrooms; they were just something I saw on trails and in nature.

Mushrooms: with an estimation of over 3 million mushrooms being in existence, a mere 150,000 are said to have been scientifically described (Borunda). However, amongst such a mushroom bloom, Borunda comments that, “Because we don’t know what species exist and where, it’s challenging to see how climate and ecological change affects fungi” (Borunda). Turns out, the mushroom is a complex underground system known as a Mycelium, relating to mushroom cycles (see image below). A significant part of this cycle is the Mycelium, a network of thousands of root-like filaments, which support the growth of the “flower”. This core network is able to function for approximately 95% of the cycle, in comparison to the 5% functional duration of its counterparts (Host Defense). As the immune response for the mushroom, the many health benefits it has also been applied to human health in the form of supplements (Host Defense).

Besides the multitude of health benefits that mushrooms offer, it also accommodates sustainability. In fact, “The products from Mycelium are biodegradable and require less water and land resources to be produced” (Benefits of Fungi for the Environment and Humans). Even throughout the growing process, mushrooms require minimal quantities of water and energy; they also have been shown to produce significantly less CO2 than most other vegetables (Rosenberg). Perhaps these little fungi can serve a larger environmental purpose in the future!

Sources:

Borunda, Alejandra. “Love Mushrooms? California Is Having an Epic 'Supershroom' Season.” Environment, National Geographic, 16 Feb. 2023, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/how-to-hunt-mushrooms-during-californias-epic-supershroom.

Posted by Host Defense · March 10, 2021. “Why All Host Defense Supplements Are Powered by Mushroom Mycelium.” Host Defense Mushrooms, https://hostdefense.com/blogs/host-defense-blog/mycelium-explained.

“Benefits of Fungi for the Environment and Humans.” UN Decade on Restoration, https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/stories/benefits-fungi-environment-and-humans.

Rosenberg, Lizzy. “Mushrooms Are Considered to Be the Most Sustainable Vegetable.” Green Matters, Green Matters, 31 Dec. 2020, https://www.greenmatters.com/p/why-are-mushrooms-sustainable.