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Morel Mushroom Tea
Mushroom tea is a delicious and comforting way to enjoy this wild spring delicacy, and making your own is simple and enjoyable. A fantastic addition to any diet.
Morel mushrooms (known locally as guchhi) are an abundance of essential vitamins and minerals. Morels contain an abundance of Vitamin D for bone health and immune function as well as abundant fiber content to ensure regular bowel movements and promote an enriched gut microbiome.
Boosts Immune System
Mushroom tea contains fungi which have been scientifically studied for their immune-enhancing properties. Their compounds contain compounds found to help boost the immune system, regulate nervous system activity, and enhance cognitive functions such as concentration. Furthermore, mushrooms provide B vitamins, fiber, potassium as well as L-glycine for essential amino acid supply while being relatively low-fat foods.
Mushrooms have long been used in traditional Asian medicine, and research supports ancient beliefs that mushrooms are potent adaptogens that can help your body maintain homeostasis. Mushrooms contain special fungi that regulate immunity, reduce stress levels and provide antioxidant protection from free radical damage.
Medicinal mushrooms such as Reishi, Cordyceps and Lion’s Mane have long been recognized for their ability to improve respiratory health by inhibiting airway cell oxidation – helping alleviate allergy, cold and flu symptoms as well as providing antioxidants and other essential nutrients that can strengthen an individual’s immunity system.
Improve cellular immunity and help prevent cancer by inhibiting tumor growth, lowering blood glucose levels in people with diabetes, promoting cardiovascular health and stimulating natural cytokines involved in immune responses (such as interleukin-4 and interferon-2) that help fight inflammation.
These special fungi can serve as powerful antiviral agents. They can protect against HIV-1 infection by blocking viral integrases activity and inhibiting virus attachment to host cells; additionally they may prevent Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections by inhibiting replication of viral DNA replication as well as blocking cancerous cell apoptosis, the programmed death that takes place over time.
Mushrooms may help COVID-19 infection by improving lung function, improving tolerance for low oxygen levels in bloodstream, and blocking inflammatory cytokines from inducing cytokine storm in lungs. Mushrooms can also reduce oxidative stress and protect livers against hepatotoxicity by providing our bodies with ergothioneine, an antioxidant produced exclusively in mushroom that may play a key role in blocking replication of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Promotes Heart Health
Morel mushrooms are revered culinary and traditional medicinal fungi. Not only are they delicious, but their health benefits make them a welcome addition to any diet. Mushrooms contain antioxidants that have been found to help support cholesterol and blood pressure regulation (1)
Morels are an excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals – with low calories and fat content making them a nutritious addition to any diet. In particular, Morels contain B-complex vitamins essential for turning carbohydrates into energy production; additionally they’re an excellent source of iron, manganese, copper, phosphorus – all vital elements for cell development and metabolic functions.
Morels are also an excellent natural source of potassium, an essential nutrient for maintaining proper blood pressure and muscle health. In addition, morels provide plenty of vitamin D which aids calcium absorption while simultaneously supporting proper calcium levels. Finally, mushrooms have also been known to promote heart health by decreasing cholesterol and blood sugar levels (2)
Morels can promote healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels while serving as an excellent source of dietary fiber, helping prevent type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar and insulin resistance is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes that may lead to capillary vascular diseases (retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) as well as coronary artery disease (3)
Though morels may resemble mushrooms at first glance, they belong to an entirely separate division of fungi known as sac fungi and don’t feature gills or pores like traditional mushrooms do. While distinguishing morels from mushrooms based solely on appearance can be tricky, scientists use DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis techniques such as translation elongation factor 1-a (EF1-a), large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU), and RNA polymerase II largest subunit -RPB1 in order to identify morels.
In 2022, morel cultivation became a reality and this landmark achievement allowed for reduced heavy metal contamination and pesticide residue found in wild morels, while increasing yield from cultivation efforts.
Aids in Detoxification Processes
Ergothioneine found in morels (Cantharellus cibarius) mushrooms is well-documented as an aid to detoxification by lowering cholesterol levels and protecting nerve cells, improving blood sugar metabolism, and possessing anti-inflammatory properties. Mushrooms also boast high fiber levels which contribute to regular bowel movements while supporting a healthy gut microbiome.
Mushrooms contain selenium, an essential mineral essential to human health. Our bodies use selenium in two ways: as a cofactor in enzymes used to synthesize proteins and as an antioxidant against oxidative stress. Furthermore, mushrooms also contain polysaccharides called beta-glucans that support immunity by increasing natural killer cell activity and other immune responses.
Morels mushrooms are an excellent source of protein, which has been shown to support bone health and help lower risk of osteoporosis. Furthermore, morels contain potassium which has been proven to lower high blood pressure and stroke risks; plus they’re an excellent way of getting more sun exposure for those lacking sufficient Vitamin D levels.
Morel mushroom tea can be used in various ways, from adding it to soups, curries and stews to pasta dishes and meat marinades. You can even use it in smoothies or as a garnish on salads! Alternatively, raw morel mushroom tea may even be consumed raw as part of a juice cleanse regimen!
Morel mushrooms obtain selenium through plant-derived metabolites that can be broken down into organic sulfur compounds and absorbed through their roots and leaves. Plants absorb selenioamino acids such as SeCys and SeMet, which act as replacements for cysteine and methionine in protein synthesis, but similar selenioamino acids can also be found in animal products like oysters or organ meats as well as yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Morels contain dietary fibre that aids with digestion and weight loss by increasing satiety, as well as calcium to protect bone health and prevent osteoporosis. Furthermore, morels provide low calories with substantial amounts of protein to promote muscle repair and growth.
Inhibits Cancer Growth
Morel mushroom tea can be an effective natural way to detoxify your body, boost immune health and support heart wellbeing. But before beginning any new supplement regimen it is always advisable to consult your physician, particularly if any preexisting conditions exist or you take prescribed medication.
Morel mushroom (guchhi or morchella esculenta) is an exquisite wild treasure, prized both culinaryly and medicinally for centuries. Revered for their earthy, mushroomy flavor, morels are harvested each spring before being dried to maintain freshness for use throughout the year. With only four months available during their peak season each year, morels should be purchased now to stay fresh!
Mushrooms are heterotrophic organisms unable to perform photosynthesis; therefore they rely on degrading and absorbing complex organic compounds from their surroundings in order to survive. They do this through special enzymes which act like microbiological sponges absorbing small molecules that they cannot synthesize themselves from the environment. Mushroom metabolites also possess potency antioxidant properties which scavenge free radicals in the body.
Mushroom metabolites have also been shown to effectively inhibit tumor growth and cell proliferation by blocking the NF-kB signaling pathway that regulates expression of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules – making them particularly useful in the treatment of neoplastic diseases and cancers such as colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and lymphoma.
Morel mushrooms offer many other medicinal advantages, including treating digestive conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, gastroparesis and ulcers. Furthermore, morel fungus has also been proven to effectively manage asthma attacks and chronic hepatitis, in addition to providing anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory benefits.
As there are numerous “false morels” out there, it is vital that mushroom hunters only forage for this fungus with professional guidance or experienced mushroom foragers. Ignoring advice could lead to poisoning; therefore, familiarization with true and false morels before foraging alone is key; false ones will have solid interior textures while real ones have hollow centers.