Friday Fun Facts About Mushrooms

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No I’m not high on mushrooms and while I don’t remember a lot of the 60s I’m pretty coherent tonight.

But I do enjoy a good steak with sautéed mushrooms or those fancy stuffed ones. As it turns out mushrooms are pretty interesting. Here are some fun facts you might not have know about this fun filled fungus.

Fun Facts About Mushrooms

Growing up, many of us referred to mushrooms as “toadstools” because of their shape and location near water.
Mushrooms don’t require sunlight to make energy so they are classified as a fungus rather than a plant.
Mushrooms are a great source of vitamin B, copper, and potassium. They make a good weight loss supplement being low in fat, carbs and salt.
Mushrooms have been used for centuries in Chinese medicines.
Mushrooms are cancer fighters and also help reduce blood pressure, moderate blood sugar, lower your cholesterol, help build the immune system and reduce stress. What’s not to like?
While bananas are a good source of potassium a single Portabella mushroom has more than your rank and file banana.
Since mushrooms are about 90 percent water they are a popular salad item addition for those losing weight.
Mushrooms are often referred to as, “the meat of the vegetable world.”
Who is the largest producer of edible mushrooms? That would be China. They produce about half of the world market.
If you go hunting for mushrooms in the wild and want a status symbol title for yourself you would be called a “Mycophagist.” Othewise you’re just “mushrooming.”
Unfortunately many edible species of mushrooms look very close to poisonous varieties so be especially careful that you are selecting the right ones.
If you need a good night light there are 30 species of mushrooms that actually glow in the dark.
In the Blue Mountains of Oregon you will find “Armillaria Solidipes.” The world’s largest organism. It lives underground and is believed to be 2,400 years old and covers about 5.5 square miles. It produces honey mushrooms above ground for a brief period each year.
Before synthetic dyes took over mushrooms were widely used for dyeing various fabrics. The organic compounds in the liquid produce very strong colors.

Some Final Thoughts

Mushrooms are thought to be able to withstand space travel. They can also be used to absorb and digest dangerous substances such as oil, pesticides and industrial waste.

Next time you get that nice Porterhouse Steak be sure to get extra mushrooms along with it. They’re good for you.