Are mushrooms going to kill me? Whenever I go for a walk and find mushrooms on the way, I always have this thought in mind. Here, in camping « Le Belvédère », we like to stay alive and that is why we decided to start growing mushrooms.
With the development of technology, we now know that most mushrooms contain a pretty high protein level per gram when compared to vegetables and legumes. The Oyster mushrooms, or Pleurotus ostreatus as they are scientifically known, that we produce contain on average 5 grams of protein, 10 grams of carbohydrate and less than 1 gram of fat per 128 gram serving. Oyster mushrooms are high in several vitamins and minerals including potassium, magnesium, folate, vitamins B and C.
Research has shown these mushrooms also contain a compound called Statins. That can help to reduce LDL or bad cholesterol in your body as they tell your liver to remove cholesterol. If a person has high cholesterol their doctor may recommend the use of a Statin drug such as Lipitor, so it is good to know that these mushrooms form this compound naturally.
Oyster mushrooms have also been shown to contain small amounts of compounds called Polysaccharides that have shown to possibly suppress cancerous tumors. They also contain beta glucans which can help to stimulate the immune system in our bodies.
Funny fact: mushrooms have played a significant role in the course of human history. The Japanese started cultivating Shiitake mushrooms 2000 years ago and the earliest record of European cultivation was in the 17th century.
As you may know, the philosophy of the camping « Le Belvédère » is zero-waste, that is why here we are not just growing mushrooms, we are also reusing the coffee to make them. Bear with us, because in the next article we will see step by step what the procedure is to grow them.
And if you also like to stay alive, you may consider starting to grow your own mushrooms.
