MUSHROOM

Mushroom Science: The Growing Popularity of Maitake Mushrooms

2012-01-22T14:56:00.001+07:00

Medicinal mushrooms are gaining popularity as an alternative cure for many diseases. They have actually been in use since ancient times, but fortunately their medical potential is now being harnessed for a greater number of people.

Japanese Maitake mushrooms are considered one of the front liners in the alternative medicine arena. It has been used as a medicinal mushroom Japan for several centuries now. Scientific and medical studies are underway to harness the full potential of Maitake, and the results so far look promising.

Maitake is popularly known in the scientific circle as a potent anti-cancer agent. This type of mushroom is known to contain immunity-building substances and shows tremendous potential for treating other diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In 1996, a scientific journal published a non-randomized study which tested Maitake on 165 subjects and revealed the efficacy of Maitake mushroom extract against leukemia, stomach and bone cancer. This study, among others, paved the way for Maitake mushroom extract, now known as Maitake Gold.

Maitake has a lot more benefits than those mentioned above. As with any other disease incidence, there exist various organic methods to help fight them. This is also the same with diabetes, which is a blood sugar level imbalance. Diabetics have to constantly monitor their blood sugar levels because it is dangerous if it goes too high or too low.

Fortunately, recent medical tests showed that Maitake mushroom extract, like Maitake Gold, contains a chemical that increases the body's sensitivity to insulin. This is a crucial process as the mushroom enhances the body's ability to recognize glucose levels.

Technically, this means that when Maitake extract is consumed, it directly helps lower and maintain the body's blood sugar levels. The effect of Maitake can be seen more easily when it is consumed or ingested through extracts in the form of Maitake Gold. Concentrated amounts of Maitake extract are measured like any prescription drug that diabetics take. Moreover, this medicinal mushroom can also help lower blood pressure and thus decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in diabetics and other people.

True enough, it does not matter in what form Maitake mushroom extract is consumed; what is important is the positive effect it contributes to people. Individuals may choose to eat it whole, consume it in the form of extract, or via Maitake Gold to get the same beneficial effects. Most people attest to improved blood pressure, digestion, and manageable blood sugar levels.

If you have questions, please visit us at http://www.MushroomScience.com for complete details and answers.

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What Is Chaga Mushroom?

2012-01-08T06:33:00.001+07:00

Chaga is a polypore fungus (Aphyllophorales), which grows on birch trees. Chaga is at the top of the entire "medicinal" mushroom family. With a mystical history, Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) has been referred to for centuries as the 'King of Herbs".

History of Chaga Mushrooms:

For centuries, Chaga has been venerated for its life enhancing properties and used for the treatment of numerous forms of cancer, tumors, common stomach ailments and digestive disorders, as well as many viral and bacterial concerns.

As a folk medicine, Chaga was ingested by the local people of the Siberian mountain regions in tea or powder form, inhaled from smoke, and applied to the skin for healing of injury or rash. Indigenous people from that area had low index of oncologic diseases and have been documented to live beyond 100 years of age.

Today, Chaga is wildly touted and sought after throughout Asia as a "cure-all" and is even sold under the banner of "cancer tumor herb".

In the western world, the Chaga mushroom was completely unknown until Russian author and later Nobel laureate, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn introduced it to the world in his novel Cancer Ward, whose protagonist is cured of cancer with the help of medicinal Chaga mushrooms.

How Chaga Mushroom is harvested?

Chaga is a parasitic carpophore that enters a wound on a mature tree then grows under the bark until it blisters through the bark forming a grotesque black charcoal-like conk on the tree trunk; hence the Latin epithet "Obliquus". The Chaga conk grows with the tree over a 5 to 7 year period, thriving in the harsh Siberian winter environments, absorbing life-sustaining nutrients from the birch tree, until the conk flower fully ripens, falling to the forest floor, followed shortly by the death of the host tree, completing a 20 year micro-ecological cycle.

This superior grade of Chaga is harvested once every 20 years from selective birch trees. Then out of 100 birch trees harvested for Chaga only 2-3 receive the designation of "superior grade" and certification.

Because of its irregular shape and the way it is harvested, until now Chaga has generally been sold as dried, cut pieces of varying size. High potency Chaga can only be harvested in the wild. Many attempts to grow Chaga under commercial harvesting techniques have failed to produce viable potency and quality.

Properties and Ingredients of Chaga Mushrooms:

Chaga Mushrooms are vital as they contain Polysaccharides, Betulinic acid, Triterpenes, Germanium (a free-radical scavenger), nucleosides, phytonutrients, minerals, and amino acids including saponin, magnesium, chromium, iron, kalium, beta-glucan, inotodiol, isoprenoid, and others.

Dosage of Chaga Mushrooms:

1:5 tincture: 40-60 drops two to three times per day
Tea: dissolve one teaspoon dried mushroom in one cup of water several times per day

Benefits of Chaga Mushrooms:

Health benefits of Chaga Mushrooms are stated as under:

Chaga contains large amounts of betulinic acid in a form that can be ingested orally, and it also contains the full spectrum of immune-stimulating phytochemicals found in other medicinal mushrooms such as maitake mushroom and shiitake mushroom.

The chaga fungus has some of the highest amounts of anti-oxidants of any substance.

Chaga Mushrooms are used to: 1) boost the immune system, 2) treat stomach diseases, 3) cure Intestinal worms, Liver and heart ailments, Cancers including those of the breast, liver, uterine, and gastric, Hypertension and Diabetes.

The active compound inotodiol present in Chaga Mushrooms works against influenza A and B viruses and cancer cells. Some experts proclaim that Chaga is the best anti-cancer mushroom of all.

They also protect against Activity against HIV-1.

About the Author:

Robert Henry is connoisseur in the field of medication. He has been writing some amazing articles on oregano oil, symptoms and cures of the bladder infections. His knowledgeable articles have brought amazing changes in the lives of several individuals. This article is about chaga mushrooms.

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How To Make A Mushroom Log

2011-12-21T07:36:00.000+07:00

Well when it comes to growing mushrooms you have a few choices, the first of which is to buy a mushroom kit, these vary from one that requires you to provide your own compost, which can take around 6 to 8 weeks before you get mushrooms, through to kits that include compost that already contains mushroom compost ready to spawn mushrooms - All you do is add water. Or you be adventurous and try a mushroom log.

So what is so special about a mushroom log? Well firstly it enables you to grow more specialist mushrooms such as shiitake or oyster mushrooms, which are both expensive to buy in the shops. Unlike a one of the mushroom kits described above which will only crop twice, a mushroom log will give 2 to 3 crops per year for around 5 years.

You can buy mushroom logs online with the mushroom spores already in them, or you can buy mushroom plugs and fit them in to your own log. Either way works just as well, although it can be cheaper to buy the mushroom plugs on their own as that way you minimise shipping costs, as logs are heavy!

To create your mushroom log you need a freshly cut log of around 1 to 3ft in length (depending on how many mushroom plugs you have or how much space you have to store your log) and some mushroom plugs - these are specialist items and are best sourced online. It can be any wood other than a conifer.

Firstly you have to note that your log needs to be kept damp at all times even in summer, although it also needs to be allowed to breathe. When you first get your log put it in a plastic bag filled with water, or place it in your water butt for 48 hours. You then need to drill small holes in it the same diameter as the plugs you have bought. The mushroom plugs simply need gently tapping in to the log with a mallet.

Once this is done then you just need to ensure your log remains damp, and if it looks like drying out then soak it in water overnight.

When your log is ready to start spawning mushrooms you will notice

White threads of mycelium on the log. Mushrooms will then begin to grow shortly thereafter. Commonly it is towards September as winter approaches that the log goes through this process. The log will then continue to spawn mushrooms for up to 3 week, 2 to 3 times per year.

When the mushrooms are of sufficient size cut them off with a knife to harvest them, do not pull them out or you may damage the mushroom plug.

I hope you found this article useful, if you did then why not visit my site and find out more about How To Grow Mushrooms, also on the site you can find our new useful Vegetable Calendar, along with our step by step guides on growing just about every vegetable you can think of, along with some great vegetable recipes as well.

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Maintaining Your Mushroom Machinery

2011-11-30T10:11:00.001+07:00

The entire intricate process of growing mushrooms that are not only edible but of superior quality and growing a bulk of such mushrooms requires more than just constant care and attention- it requires the right kind of machinery, mushroom machinery, to nurture the growing mushrooms also.

Mushroom machinery can typically be of various types, and each of these types of machinery is in turn specially oriented to care for the growing mushroom at a certain stage in its growth process. As the art of mushroom growing gained popularity, the skills along with the equipment used to grow the machine were gradually revolutionized to produce the greatest amount of crop yield with the least effort possible. With industrialization taking over every aspect of agriculture, machinery was introduced into the mushroom growing business also, eventually giving rise to the idea of mushroom machinery.

Today, while there are many techniques whereby mushroom farming may be practiced, the shelving system, developed by the Dutch remains one of the most popular ways to cultivate a mushroom farm. Specialized mushroom machinery is used, and these range from head filling machines, to hoppers, to compost machinery -- mushroom machinery truly has them all, while the list of actions that modern day mushroom machinery is able to carry out is truly endless also.

However, while the machines and their functions may all be amazing in themselves, it becomes essential to ascertain that they are maintained in perfect order for them to function properly also. Here, it is the shelving that needs to be maintained most carefully.

The one main disadvantage with the shelving system is that there is grate likelihood of the spread of disease or pests in the shelves. Since water runs down a shelf to water the mushrooms growing at the next level also, it means that once the spread of pests or infection begins, it will be difficult to control it. To prevent such a disaster from occurring, workers must regularly check the shelves to ensure that there is no pest infiltration that needs to be dealt with.

Naturally, aside from care and constant vigilance in attending to the mushroom crop, it is only the right machinery which helps a mushroom farmer to grow a commercially successful crop. It depends on wisely choosing the right equipment to work that farm with and then eventually maintaining all that equipment in prime working order to succeed at mushroom cultivation.

Need more information on Mushroom Machinery? Feel free to visit our site for more expert suggestions!

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Choosing The Right Mushroom Equipment

2011-11-25T21:28:00.000+07:00

For all those interested in agriculture, either as a hobby or a means of earning a living, mushroom farming is one extremely viable option. Universally popular as a delicacy and a food source, mushroom farming while profitable can however, pose some problems for the cultivator. One of the most significant of these is the fact that the mushroom is very sensitive to changes in environment as well as being extremely infection-prone. Furthermore, excessive contact with cultivators manages to adversely affect the plant, and in effect, the crop yield also. The only way then, left to a farmer to ensure that the crop yield is good, and sufficient for his purpose, is to automate the entire process of mushroom farming. This may be achieved by proper usage of mushroom equipment.

Mushrooming tools can collectively refer to a variety of tools. Amongst the multitude of mushrooming tools available, some of the most important includes mushroom growing sheds, mushroom bed machinery, compost preparation equipment, tunnel type, mushroom beds and mushroom growing shelves. According to one's specific needs, one or the other of mushrooming tools types must be chosen to help increase the yield of mushrooms.

When choosing the perfect mushroom equipment it often tends to becomes difficult to select the right equipment that would be best suited to one's needs. Like most other machinery, it is safe to trust numbers here. The most popular mushroom equipment is most likely to be the best available in the market also. To further ensure that the mushroom equipment that you are on the point of buying are the best brand possible, it would be a good idea to do some background research before actually spending your money. Look for success stories regarding different mushroom equipment brands, and go for the one that has the best reviews.

Amongst other things, the right equipment is of course key to the success, or failure, of one's prospective mushroom crop. But the right equipment does not depend solely on the brand that you have decided to use. To decide exactly what sort of brand would be best for you, it would be a good idea to keep the size of your farm in consideration also. The bigger a farm, the more technologically advanced mushroom equipment it would ideally require. At the end of the day though, it would be advisable, especially for commercial farmers to choose equipment that will help to produce good quality, 'specialist' mushrooms that eventually sell well.

Mushrooming is a very complicated process if you don't know much about it, so we are here to help you in getting to terms with the requirements of mushrooming. Feel free to visit our site.

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A Brief Guide to Mushroom Farming

2011-11-17T22:12:00.000+07:00

There are many people who are interested in mushroom farming and wish to know more about it. This article has been designed for readers who wish to know about the different techniques with which mushrooms are grown as well as the processes involved. First of all, you should know that burgeon farming cannot be done on a small piece of land, which means that you will require an appropriate setup in which to let your mushrooms grow. Otherwise, unless you are able to set up a controlled environment for your mushrooms, it will be very difficult for you to grow these burgeons without any hassle.

Mushroom farming requires an artificial set up, usually within a green house or a mushroom tunnel. This is because burgeons cannot be farmed in the open environment, which is why it is extremely important that you create a makeshift environment for your mushrooms to grow properly. Proper lighting, water and a carefully controlled ventilation system is important in the place where you are growing burgeons, mainly due to the fact that mushrooms require fresh air at certain times throughout their growing process. Water and lighting will also vary according to the stage of growth that your mushrooms are in.

Once that is done, you need to learn how to plant and farm those mushrooms, because different types of mushrooms have different requirements. Therefore, before you think about starting a mushrooming business, it is important that you learn about the types of burgeons that you can grow and the effort that you would need to put in if you wish to grow them properly.

Before proceeding with mushroom farming, it would be wise for a person to take a training course in order to understand the various types of mushrooms as well as the conditions in which they grow. Similarly, conversing about growing techniques with other farmers will also help you greatly in extracting tips and techniques with which you can improve your farming. You will also require mushroom farming equipment in order to harvest and properly store the mushrooms properly so that they don't turn bad.

Learning these things is extremely important for appropriate mushroom farming or otherwise it would be significantly difficult for people to be able to grow burgeons on their piece of land without any hassle at all. Learning about how to farm mushrooms is not difficult as well, mainly because a lot of resource material is available.

Feel free to visit our site for more information about mushroom farming.

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All About Mushroom Tunnels

2011-11-07T05:40:00.000+07:00

For those people who have just begun farming mushrooms, learning about new techniques that would make their job easier is very important. One of the ways by which they can grow mushrooms is in mushroom tunnels. One of the distinctive factors about burgeon growing and farming is that unlike normal plants and crops that you can grow on a piece of land, mushroom farming requires a dedicated and a controlled environment in order to let the burgeons grow. The mushrooms we eat are grown in a strictly synthetic environment, which is due to the reason that burgeons require a great deal of care in order to grow properly.

Healthy mushrooms require a properly set up environment in order to grow properly, so you will need to create a greenhouse surrounding for your mushrooms to grow properly. Burgeons require a lot of water, but it does not mean that you water them excessively at all times. If you have planted burgeons within mushroom tunnels, it is very important that you install appropriate sprinklers within the mushroom tunnels in order to ensure that the water is able to reach all of the mushrooms.

Mushroom planting is a very careful and a responsible task, so the first thing that you must do if you are planting mushrooms in mushroom tunnels is to create the burgeon compost. The compost is a very important part of your mushroom planting, because unless you create the proper compost and a proper soil in order to plant mushrooms, it will be difficult for you to get a healthy crop of mushrooms.

Proper lighting will also be required within the mushroom tunnels in order to aid the growth process. Other things that must also be taken care of for proper growth of the mushrooms include the time at which you will provide your mushrooms with fresh air. Fresh air is released in the mushrooms after they have developed a casing on top of them, because that will allow the height of the mushrooms to grow as well.

Pinning and casing are also important processes of the mushroom growing business, which is why you must be very careful when you start off with farming burgeons. You will require proper farming equipment for mushrooms if you wish to care for them and get a proper crop that is healthy and substantial in length as well. Then, you may sell off your mushrooms over in the general market for a good price.

To learn more about mushroom tunnels, please feel free to visit our site.

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All About Mushroom Farm Equipment

2011-10-11T09:17:00.001+07:00

When it comes to mushroom farming, there are several things that you should know if you wish to start off a successful mushroom ranch. First of all, the amount of investment required in setting up a mushroom farm is quite large, which is one of the reasons why mushroom farms are not so popular amongst many aspiring farmers. Starting a farm is quite difficult, as you will need a proper setup first of all. By proper setup, what you will require is a greenhouse that is built properly in order to ensure that you are able to control the temperature inside it. Sprinklers will also be required in order to ensure that the water is distributed evenly across the area where the mushrooms are planted in order to ensure that they are able to grow properly.

However, you will also require proper mushroom ranch equipment in order to farm your mushrooms carefully. Mushroom farm equipment consists of large machines that will be used to create the soil for the mushrooms to be planted in, while other things that your mushroom ranch requires includes a soil turning machine, a compost creating machine and a cutting machine for the mushrooms to be cut properly. Unless you are able to properly cut the mushrooms, you might not be able to get a very high price for them.

Processing the mushrooms after they have been cut is also very important, which is the reason why you will require a great deal of mushroom ranch equipment in order to setup a mushroom farm. Unless you have the appropriate mushroom ranch equipment, farming mushrooms will become extremely difficult for you. There are various different companies that manufacture mushroom farm equipment, but the only problem that most people face when it comes to getting mushroom ranch equipment is the price that they must pay, which is extremely high as compared to starting a simple farm.

But, if you do buy the mushroom farm equipment and are able to set up your burgeon farm properly, you can easily get a great deal of benefits from it because mushrooms sell at a much higher price when compared with standard plantations. Therefore, even though there is a lot of profit to be gained in the burgeon farming business, you will have to be very careful that you take appropriate care of your mushrooms, otherwise they will get destroyed and cause extensive damage to your investment.

To find more information about mushroom farm equipment, feel free to visit us!

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What Is a Mushroom Tunnel ?

2011-10-08T11:15:00.000+07:00

If you are interested in growing mushrooms or are thinking about running a mushroom farm, there are certain methodologies that you would need to adapt if you wish to be able to successfully grow mushrooms on your farm. Unlike simple plantations, mushrooms require a lot of care and effort in order to be able to grow properly. Moreover, the difficult thing about growing mushrooms is that they cannot be grown in the natural environment, meaning you will require an artificially constructed, properly set up environment that is designed exclusively for mushroom growing. One of the best ways by which you can do that is by creating a mushroom tunnel.

As the name suggests, a mushroom tunnel is simply a tunnel that is set up in such a manner that it allows mushrooms to grow. Generally, mushroom tunnels do not range much in length, and require a proper construction in order to be set up properly. However, because mushrooms naturally grow in dark environments that are shielded from nature mostly, a mushroom tunnel will be a great thing for you to set up. However, one thing that you should know here is that mushroom tunnels are quite expensive and should only be purchased by those people who are avid mushroom farmers and know the ways and techniques by which mushroom farms are grown.

In order to set up a mushroom tunnel, you will require a great deal of space, so it is important that you have a vast expanse of land at your disposal if you think about establishing a mushroom tunnel. Proper construction will have to be carried out if you wish to create one of these tunnels, and the whole setup requires time to get created. However, once it is done, you can easily plant in the mushrooms in your tunnel.

In the professional mushroom growing business, there are many different types of ways by which mushrooms are grown, and some of the best ones are grown within the tunnels. This is because tunnels replicate the original environment that is required by mushrooms to grow, which is the reason why some of the rarest mushrooms are grown within tunnels. You can read more about them on the internet, and if you are thinking about starting a mushroom growing business, it will also help you greatly in understanding the variety of different environments in which mushrooms grow and how you must treat them to get the best crops.

If you need more information about mushroom tunnel, feel free to visit our website!

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Mushroom Farm for Local and Export Production

2011-09-20T00:41:00.000+07:00

Mushroom farms feature the wide spread cultivation of mushrooms in the world today. You can grow mushrooms in a variety of species but you could also blend them into different kinds for a variety. You can farm them in simple fields with available resources but you also have an option of making the farming more sophisticated for quality production. It all depends on the need you have and the demand for your mushrooms. Like flower farms, mushrooms can be produced for local and international export. Mushrooms for local production will require less detail unlike those produced for export.

Mushroom Farm for the Local Market:

If you live in an area where people appreciate the value of mushrooms to humankind, you need to consider having a mushroom farm. This specially meant to supply the produce either fresh or dried to the local market in your area. You can supply your farmed mushrooms to your friends, estates or locals for a few dollars. To make this possible you need space for their cultivation. You could use your basement since these do not require a ground to sprout. In this case, you will consider having a surface for their growth. You can use logs, old boxes or bags to grow them. In this case, you do not need to hire people to help you since this is a simple activity that you can do it by yourself.

Mushrooms for local production can be on small or large scale as well but you will need to consider the favorite type of mushroom in your area. For some places, gourmet mushrooms prefer the white type while others use the Oyster more often. Mushrooms grow well in humid, wet and almost dark rooms. The room needs to be at the right temperature and pasteurized to give you the best results.

Mushrooms Farms for Local and export:

When you have a large market to supply the mushrooms to, you require sophisticated farming methods to meet the right standards. For such you will look for a good location, proper seed stock and a research on the right growing system. The best farming methods for export quality mushrooms, are well researched and will give you dictated temperatures under which to grow the mushrooms. This will require labor to prepare the growing fields with the right soil contents and humid levels. You will also find the right seed stock to use for the kind you want to farm.

Mushrooms for export will be produced under sophisticated rooms; which are specially designed at the right temperatures and soil qualities to give you excellent results. As the mushrooms grow, they are classified into their stages of growth each stage with specialized treatment and care. You will also need frequent consultations with mushroom farm experts to guide your production for the most outstanding produce. Mushroom farm designed for the export market is bigger, more sophisticated and has detailed procedures in order to give export quality mushrooms.

Whether you have a mushroom farm for local supply or export, it is important to consider the environment under which they will grow. This will give you results and the profits that you need.

To learn more about mushroom farm, feel free to visit our site!

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Expert Mushroom Growers Around The World

2011-09-12T00:38:00.000+07:00

Mushroom farming is a wide spread activity around the world. You can find mushroom growers from anywhere in the world including the UK, US, Asia, Africa and Australia. Majority of these farmers produce mushroom for food through the various varieties of the edible mushrooms. These can be exotic mushroom cultivation of their local edible mushrooms like the Chinese types, which are common in Chinese gourmet cooking. Mushroom growers can grow their produce all the year round or seasonally depending on how favorable their weather pattern is. There is a variety of the mushroom gardens and fields, which are designed to give different quality, sizes, and texture as well as health benefits.

Different mushroom growers use varied techniques that will ensure that they get their produce at the best quality. This calls for the use of appropriate techniques, equipment and strategies. You can find many mushroom growers online with strategies that they have invented and used over time to give them excellent mushrooms for local and export sale. You can find growers of mushroom types for their household consumption as well. These growers will give you tips on how to prepare simple mushroom sheds, logs and bags for home made mushrooms that you can add to your cooking occasionally.

Commercial mushroom growers however are professional farmers with expert skills in the production of mushroom varieties. There are those who specialize in one type of mushroom, you will also have those that have a variety including the exotic blends. These experts understand the need to have appropriate conditions under which the mushrooms grow, they also know the benefits of investing in the right tools and equipment for quality mushrooms. The farmers will therefore up date themselves on the latest techniques used by other farmers to ensure that they get the most from their investments.

To maintain their mushroom production to the best quality, they will learn ways to protect their produce from bacteria, yeast and spore infections. They also know how to have the best humid temperatures for all stages of the mushroom growth. To keep a constant supply of their mushrooms, the grower's have adopted ways to grow mushrooms in and out of season. This means people can enjoy a regular supply of mushrooms in winter, summer and spring time for better gourmets any time.

You can find mushroom growers of bulk or wholesale as well as retail supplies. Specialized farmers will be experts in a certain variety of the plant, which includes white or brown mushrooms. Some growers with a specialty in a certain type will offer free information on how bets to benefit from the mushroom type. This includes ways to handle and care for the mushrooms as well as unique recipes to use in cooking them. These farmers have many years of experience in the farming of the produce that they will give you the best supplies that you can rely on. Their investment in the farming of mushrooms includes, research initiatives which they have undertaken to discover the awesome benefits of the fungi to humanity.

Feel free to visit our site if you need more information on mushroom growers.

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Sneak Peak of Modern Mushroom Farms

2011-08-21T17:15:00.000+07:00

Mushroom farms are found around the world in various sizes and techniques. There are small-scale farmers and large-scale producers. You will also find export and local producers of the delicacies. Burgeon farming dates back over the years with produce from different parts of the world, including Asia, Australia, Africa, UK and USA. These farms produce exotic and common world species of mushrooms used as food in various cuisines. You can find growers specialized in a particular species; there are also those with a variety to offer. Generally, burgeons are farmed in and out of the season with modern techniques for high quality, edible mushrooms.

Unlike wild mushrooms which grew in forests and mountain regions, cultivated or farm mushrooms are cared for under well monitored conditions to keep them safe and free from bacteria and yeast infections. Diseases affecting mushrooms could render them poisonous and none fit for consumption. To get the best of burgeon farms, you need to adapt means and ways to get the highest yields. This is through monitored conditions, good spawns and reduced production costs. These farms are designed to give the right conditions under which the burgeons will thrive. This includes temperatures regulated and humid environments that offer just the right light. Mushroom farms can be in underground tunnels or basements, since they produce does not depend on light to produce.

In a mushroom farm, you will find a variety of mushrooms depending on the species the grower has chosen to grow. You could find white and brown varieties; alternatively, you will also get one species being cultivated. Burgeon farms have beds with growing burgeons labeled by species and stage of growth. The produce grows in six stages, including; composting, spawning and harvesting. As they keep yielding farms have developed mechanisms of checking for diseases and poor growth. Being farms have workers specifically employed to offer labor services. Sophisticated mushroom farms have technical farming equipment to control temperature, perform the composting and give culturing to the mushrooms as they grow. The computerized farms invest in equipment to ensure regular supply of quality mushrooms all the year round.

Mushroom farms today have changed the way burgeons are produced around the world. This has been able to meet the demands in the market since burgeons have become a delicacy in many world cuisines. The farms offer fresh and dried mushrooms in quantities, varieties and varied qualities. These farms find a market locally in groceries and hotels. They also have international markets in regions and the world market.

Feel free to visit our site for more information on mushrooms farms.

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Edible Mushroom Cultivation in Field and Smaller Surface

2011-08-19T17:13:00.000+07:00

Cultivating Mushroom for food features the growing of edible mushrooms for human consumption, which could be on a large or small scale. When growing them for business, you will have to carry out a market research to be able to understand the market demand. If your potential market is unaware about the benefit of this crucial food commodity, a lot will be considered; in terms of marketing strategies to inform on the uses of the produce. There are different types of edible mushrooms to cultivate among them the shiitake, Oyster mushrooms, white, Enoki and shimej. The white mushroom is the most cultivated type and it comes in different sizes with some being fleshlier and thick. Mushroom cultivation depends on the species you prefer; some types are quite tasty and preferred by most people.

To grow them you need a nursery with appropriate temperatures, which are usually moist. Unlike green plants, mushrooms will not rely on sunlight to grow; hence, they can grow in damp dark areas. Their growth will take only a few days within which you will see results. Cultivated mushrooms have a spontaneous growth, which starts overnight, and these usually take a few days to grow. They grow in two stages of the pin stage followed by the increase in stem size.

Ways to Cultivate Mushrooms:

You can grow mushrooms in different surfaces depending on your need. To grow edible mushrooms for commercial purposes you need a large space but home use cultivation is on small surfaces which you can do it by yourself. You can thus use:

1. field cultivation which is ideal for commercial production

2. in logs which can be home made

3. storage cabinets or containers with dampness

Cultivating mushrooms is a great endeavor since they make good food in gourmet restaurants and hotels. They provide a great garnishing to vegetarian meals and they are rich in vitamin B and essential minerals like copper and potassium. Field mushrooms like the Oyster, Morels, shiitakes and portabella can earn you a good amount of money if you get a good market supply like hotels and grocery stores.

Steps to Cultivate Mushrooms:

To get the most of your cultivation however, consider; the temperature and water levels of the environment. Damp, near dark conditions are great. This cheap venture will require a few seedlings in form of field spore seeds in their good state. To get them to grow, follow the following steps:

1. Prepare a 2-inch deep growth bed for cultivation

2. Fill the bed with damp soil and straw ( fertilizer is optional)

3. Check the humidity level of the bed which should be around 95 to 100%

4. Sprinkle the spawn and cover with wet cloth

5. Give the spores two to three weeks to grow

As they grow to maturity the stem and cap will separate, hence you can harvest them. For the best organic cultivation of the mushrooms, use fertilizer soil. This will give you healthy looking types that will have more quantity and quality in return.

To learn more about mushroom cultivation, please feel free to visit our site.

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Make Salads for the Crowd Including Diabetics: Spinach Mushroom, Turkey Apple, or Almond Orange

2011-08-16T08:51:00.001+07:00

Whether you want a salad with a meal or a salad as an entree, there is a recipe for you in this article. And the great thing about these salads is that you can use them with the diabetics in the crowd, too. Spinach and Mushroom Salad has the nutritional information included. Sorry but I have to get a new nutritional calculator so the other two do not have the values. However, they are great healthy salads!

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM SALAD
4 cups fresh baby spinach greens
1 carton (1/2-lb) fresh white mushrooms, sliced
1/4 -1/3 (depending on taste)thin red onion slices
1/4 cup fat-free balsamic vinaigrette dressing
2 tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients, except Parmesan cheese, in a large salad bowl and toss together well. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the top.

Per 2 cup serving: Approximately 49 calories, 2 g (1 sat)fat, 6 g carbs, 4 g protein, 1 g fiber, 229 mg sodium.
Diabetic exchanges: Carb choices.5, Fat.5, Vegetable 1.5

ALMOND ORANGE SALAD
3 cups assorted salad greens
2 navel oranges, peeled and sectioned
1/2 cup thin sliced celery
2 tbsp chopped green onion

Combine all the ingredients together in a large salad bowl; set aside.

Dressing:
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup Splenda granular
2 tsp canola or olive oil
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

In a small mixing bowl, combine the vinegar, Splenda, and canola or olive oil. Stir with a whisk until mixture is well blended. Drizzle the dressing evenly over the salad and toss gently. Sprinkle the almonds over top of tossed salad.

CURRIED TURKEY APPLE SALAD
1/4 cup diced red onion
1 tbsp canola or olive oil
1 tbsp curry powder
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp Splenda Granular
1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
2 celery stalks, sliced thin
1 medium red apple, cut into small chunks
1 lb roasted turkey breast, chopped
salad greens
1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Place the oil, curry powder and onion in a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Simmer a couple minutes until the onion is tender. Add the lemon juice and Splenda; simmer about a minute or until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

When sauce is cooled, stir in the mayonnaise, blending well. Place the celery, apple, and turkey in a large bowl. Add the sauce and toss until salad ingredients are evenly coated.

To serve: Place salad greens on 4 salad plates. Top greens with the turkey salad and sprinkle with the toasted walnuts.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information visit http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com
For her old fashion recipe collection visit her at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com

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How Do I Pick Wild Mushrooms?

2011-08-03T06:09:00.000+07:00

Whenever I'm going mushroom hunting and picking, I get up early - as soon as the sun rises. I prepare coffee as well as a few sandwiches in order to take them with me for lunch. Mushroom hunting is normally a time-consuming undertaking and a couple of hours of open-air activity on fresh air makes me famished. I grab my tools organized the previous evening and proceed. In order to avoid wasting valuable early morning time I take my snacks along with me and actually eat it while travelling.

It is definitely quite clever to begin mushroom hunting as soon as feasible for the reason that early morning daylight helps you to find edible mushrooms and refreshing atmosphere supports you to smell these. Other mushroom pickers will likely not disrupt you and by lunch break you will be done leaving the complete afternoon for cleaning as well as preparing mushrooms.

So, I arrive to the particular selected woodland and I look at the trees and shrubs. I head towards pine and spruce trees checking at the surface which is coated by pine and spruce fine needles. From time to time, here and there I see green moss. I inspect such sites with moss to begin with as there is more dampness that mushrooms appreciate. I look for the convex (outwardly curved) formed mushroom cap (most of wild edible pore fungi have convex cap form). It will be tinted in any kind of shade of brown from light yellow-brownish right up until dark-brown. Among pine trees tend to be found more typical wild mushrooms with dark brown convex cap.

After that I walk in the direction of oak trees and shrubs where I check out for convex mushroom cap form of the colours as explained earlier on. That is to some degree more challenging activity mainly because in the woods with larch trees there are usually a large amount of leaves on the surface and mushroom heads have themselves disguised just by having colorings of those foliage. Therefore, I must take a look tightly to the ground, flip the foliage about if I think covered mushroom there. Between oak trees are a lot more prevalent wild mushrooms with light or dark brown heads.

And then after that I get nearer to birch trees and shrubs, where the pore fungi have more light brown or reddish cap.

Wild mushrooms from Boletus family are generally just about all edible along with yummy. This is exactly why they tend to be so valuable to any wild mushrooms hunter!

When I discover wild edible mushroom I slice it with my pocket knife (it should be cut to be able to avoid destruction of the spawn left right behind). I slice it as near to the ground as possible so that I really don't miss out on the delicate mushroom flesh and also to uncover the mushroom root as less as achievable so as to retain the spores for the long term.

There are several guidelines I follow:

- If I am picking wild mushrooms I make perfectly sure that I do not collect all edible mushrooms out of the actual place where I have discovered them. I leave behind (really don't even touch!) about 10% of edible mushrooms to develop further to ensure that those species can be protected in the nature.

- I pick up younger edible mushrooms (let's say 7-9 cm in height). Old mushrooms usually are not really as firm and tight as they have to be for transporting; they aren't as tasty as young ones and do not fit for storage.

- If I observe that cut mushroom is eaten by earthworms and there isn't anything I might make use of for cooking, I disperse mushroom cap bits inside the location in order that spores spread on a larger space ("Fungi recreate via spores, which are generally usually produced on specialised structures or in fruiting bodies, such as the head of a mushroom.")

- I don't pick mushrooms near to streets and commercial areas as wild mushrooms take up metals coming from the environment and could possibly grow to be toxic.

- I do not pick wild mushrooms which I do not recognize or cannot fully recognize. Every time I am in doubt I take only a single mushroom of unknown kind and detect it at home using different sources.

The second I get home I take care of cleaning, cooking and preservation of mushrooms on the actual same day. It commonly requires a lot of energy but it requires to be done since freshly harvested mushrooms can not stay fresh through the night (not even in cold water in the fridge!). That's one extra motivation why I get up earlier for mushroom hunting.

Would you like to learn more about wild edible mushroom types, mushroom identification, mushroom hunting and pictures of wild mushroom? Then please visit my blog about wild edible mushrooms: www.wildmushroombasket.com

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Chicken Breasts With Wild Mushroom and Sage Sauce

2011-07-22T05:25:00.000+07:00

Wild mushrooms and Chicken are a marriage made in heaven and the sage complements both well, but if you do not have fresh sage use either the French or Russian tarragon, or basil. No recipe is written in stone and I use different wild mushrooms when the mood takes me, or use mixed mushrooms. I have never tried this with turkey breast but I imagine that it is great, although I have used it with guinea fowl. Sometimes I also wrap serrano ham or parma ham around the chilchen breasts before roasting.

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons butter
3 chopped shallots
10 ounces cremini mushrooms,
1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
1 cup dry vermouth
1 cup double cream
Large handful of chopped purple leafed sage
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/2 kilo chicken breasts,
Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Place the chicken breasts on a metal tray and drizzle with olive oil, season well and roast for twenty minutes, until cooked. Meanwhile melt the butter and sauté the shallots for one minute. Add mushrooms and parsley and sauté for five more minutes, until the mushrooms have browned. Add vermouth and deglaze the pan, scraping up bits that may be sticking to the bottom of the pan. Stir in the cream. Bring to a simmer and cook the sauce down until it is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Stir sage into sauce, adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Plate and spoon sauce over chicken to serve.
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Italian food is simple elegant and fabulous, it makes the most of the freshest ingredients. Italians don't ask how much food is they ask how fresh it is. The concept of a weekly shop is alien to them, their fruit and vegetables are bought every day. The fantastic thing about Italian food is the fact that they have no such thing; Italy was a separate conglomeration of states until 1870.

Each area has its own cuisine and that cuisine has been forged by Centuries of geographical area and history. For instance the food in the North West bears a closer relationship to mid European food because it was influenced by its neighbour the Austro- Hungarian empire. In the South the flavours of the Mediterranean prevail, the olive oils, the fresh and dried fruit influenced by the Moors, the tomatoes brought from the New World.

Read my introduction to Italian food and peruse the general recipes, then follow the links to the tastes of Tuscany, Lombardy and the tastes of Sicily. Italian food is the ultimate comfort food celebrating the family, family life and family celebrations with a passion for food.

Because Italian food celebrates the magnificence of the food and not the chef it is easy to recreate at home. Generally it is fast and flavoursome, you can have home made pasta dish on the table in half an hour even if you have made the pasta yourself.

Antipasti, Lasagna, Chicken Saltimboca, Italian Meatloaf, Spaghetti alla Puttanesca, Zuppa di Pesce, Sole Florentine, Italian Meatloaf, Braised Artichokes, Zucchini Parmesan, and Ricotta Easter Pie are all described so vividly that you can taste them before you make them.

Feel free to reprint any of my articles simply use a citation. Thanks Auntie Katkat.

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Effectiveness of Mushrooms in Cancer

2011-07-13T10:16:00.001+07:00

Mushroom extracts are very effective in preventing and curing cancers. It provides you with anti cancer properties and you can safely consume it for a long time without any side effects.

Mushrooms are vegetables which blend very well with soups, stir fries and salads. But many are unaware of the fact that actually it is a type of fungi which grows and feeds upon decomposing plants and trees. Some mushrooms grow on some specific trees and under certain conditions. Chinese use mushrooms in treating colds, pains and allergies.

Medicinal mushrooms are used as capsules, in tea forms and as extracts. Reishi mushrooms, agaricus mushrooms, maitake and shitake are various medicinal mushrooms. These mushrooms have healing properties and hence they are used by medical fraternity.

Reishi mushroom is found in large numbers in China. This can be consumed everyday and is very good tonic. It is thus termed as mushroom of immortality. It helps you to keep fit for your entire life. This mushroom is effectively used as an immune system for patients who are suffering from cancer. It helps in reducing fatigue. These mushrooms have anti inflammatory properties. It also provides you to be calm and thus helping you to relax. Dried reishi power was very popular in ancient China. It demonstrated anti cancer activity by destroying cancer cells. This mushroom can also act as an dietary supplement because it exhibits therapeutic properties. These mushrooms can act as an alternative therapy for breast cancer and prostrate cancer. Thus, reishi mushrooms provides cures for multiple diseases. It helps in maintaining body's independent balance. These mushrooms can be consumed for a long time and that too without any side effects. It also helps in maintaining natural resistance of the body.

Mushrooms have low calories and have 80-90% water. Maitake mushrooms have low molecular polysaccaharide which helps in increasing immunity of people. It energises the immune system and helps in attacking pathogenic system. Maitake mushrooms reactivate immune competent cells thus enhancing the functions of macrophages and T cells. In this way it helps in efficiently providing solution as an anti cancer solution. It contains beta glucan which is used very effectively in anti cancer therapy. These glucans produce T cells and NK cells which safeguards you against cancer.The Shitake mushroom is very effective in providing immunity to your system.

The consumers are required to be very cautious about false advertising of mushroom extracts for preventing and curing cancer. This is because many beta glucan products which are available are not 100% pure. It may so happen that these mushrooms may contain only 1% beta glucan. Thus you are required to read on the labels about its purity before you purchase it.

For more information about Effectiveness of mushrooms in Cancer please visit our site http://www.howcurecancer.com.

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Cancer Diet - 6 Medicinal Mushrooms to Eat Every Day to Beat Cancer

2011-07-12T21:14:00.000+07:00

Mushrooms are an amazing, and often overlooked, dietary essential. They enhance the flavors of foods, and deliver a number of health benefits from reduction of tumor size (and some claim cure cancer completely), to regulating the immune system, to adding needed vitamins and nutrients to the diet. They are low in calories, easy to prepare and versatile enough to go into just about any dish you can imagine.

The biggest health concern most people have is with cancer. Cancer will be diagnosed in one out of every 2 people in North America in our lifetime. That is a HUGE number. What is interesting for us to note is that we can help influence those statistics by what we eat.

Cancer cells show up in our bodies all the time. When we are healthy, our immune system and other systems in the body function to destroy the cancer cell. It is only when our immunity is low, our bodies are busy dealing with some other threat, or the immune system is so completely overwhelmed with the job of destroying toxins and fending off viruses that illness takes hold. In the case of cancer, left unchecked, it will grow and spread until eventually it has completely taken over and the body dies.

Cancer is not the only concern though. Many people frequently have cold and flu viruses that trigger a temporary illness, and yet some people, exposed to the same virus won't become sick. Some people have an out of control, over active immune system. These people end up with allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, chemical sensitivities or other auto-immune diseases. (diseases where the immune system has lost the ability to identify a threat, and attacks normal cells or systems. Mushrooms can help keep your immune system running properly so these issues of illness hat plague others don't have to bother you.

So how do you eat mushrooms every day? Don't you get tired of them? Mushrooms are so versatile that you can brew them as a tea, or broth, cut up on salads, or sauteed with onions as a side dish. You can buy dehydrated mushrooms and rehydrate them with water, broth, green tea, vegetable or fruit juices or wine and then use them in just about any kind of dish you could imagine.

Following are just a small handful of the most well known medicinal mushrooms and how they can assist in your goal of optimal health.

* SHIITAKE (shitake) - The famed shiitake mushroom had a polysaccharide called lentinan. Lentinan has been isolated from the mushroom and is used as an anti-cancer drug in Japan. Lentinan also boosts immune system allowing it to fight off cold and flu viruses, over come infection, and even improves the immune profile of a patient with HIV. Other substances in the shiitake mushroom have been proven to lower blood cholesterol. Yet another compound in this Asian mushroom, L-ergothioneine, is a very powerful anti-oxidant. Shiitake contain selenium, iron, protein, fiber and vitamin C.

* ABM (agaricus blazei murill) - The ABM is rich in minerals and fiber, and contains vitamins and amino acids. It helps diabetics control sugar, lowers cholesterol, reduces stress, prevents ulcers, and helps prevent osteoporosis. It also boosts immune function and is a powerful anti-tumor food, helping beat back cancer.

* REISHI - is particularly helpful in lung illnesses as it helps to strengthen the lungs, and aid breathing in asthma and pneumonia. Reishi also is loaded with anti-oxidants, fiber, selenium. It fights off viruses, relieves inflammation, aids with allergies, and is anti-bacterial. It is also is a powerful anti-cancer agent. As well, Ling Zhi-8, a protein isolated from this fungi helps reduce risk of transplant rejection.

* MAITAKE - Also called "Hen of the Woods", the maitake is another powerful cancer inhibitor and tumor suppressant. It also lowers blood sugar in diabetics, and helps lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure. It has anti-bacterial properties and immune system boosting which helps ward off viral infections.

* CHAGA - as with most all of the mushrooms, chaga helps modulate the immune system. It also helps with detoxification, stimulates the central nervous system, and improves elasticity and youthfulness of the skin.

* OYSTER - The protein quality of the oyster fungus is nearly that of animal protein, making it a great meat substitute for vegetarians. It contains fiber, vitamins B1 and 2, iron and minerals as well as being a potent anti-oxidant. It is also a strong anti-tumor agent, and has anti-viral and anti-biotic properties as well as reducing cholesterol.

These are only 6 of over 300 medicinal mushrooms available. Most are easily obtainable in North America at local grocery stores. Keep cancer and other illnesses at bay. Eat some of these mushrooms every day.

Shelley Penney is a retired registered nurse with a continued, insatiable thirst for health and wellness information. Although Shelley hails from traditional medical training, she is always searching for ways in which the natural world of healing herbs, foods and supplements can intersect with traditional medicine and benefit us all.

Visit ShelleyPenney.com for books, articles, tips and advice.

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Four Meals From One Roast, Including Roast Beef and Mushroom Oven Stew

2011-07-04T06:45:00.000+07:00

The discount store I shop at carries Angus beef only. It's top-quality meat and shoppers pay for this quality. I bought a boneless roast beef and it cost $32. Though the price is shocking, I was able to get four meals (there are four in our family) from this roast.

I don't know if the beef is certified Angus, but it may be. According to the Certified Angus Beef website, this beef is better quality than USDA Prime. Angus beef has more marbling (lines of fat) than other beef and this keeps it moist.

A standing rib roast is the most expensive. Boneless roasts are also available. Before I roast the meat, I season it with low sodium salt, freshly ground black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. To sear the outside of the roast, I cook it at 425 degrees for 25 minutes and then lower the heat to 350. After it comes out of the oven, I cover the meat with aluminum foil and let it rest before my husband carves it. Four delicious meals came from this roast.

1. Our first meal was Christmas dinner. It was a traditional British dinner of sliced roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, green beans, salad, and store-bought chocolate cake. I froze the remaining beef and gravy.
2. French dip sandwiches were our second meal. I make the dip with beef bullion and two tablespoons of leftover gravy for flavor. Buttering and toasting the rolls beforehand is the secret to this famous sandwich. When I'm short of meat, I add a slice of Romano of Cheddar cheese.
3. Roast beef salads came next. They're a meal on a plate: lettuce (Romaine or Iceberg), cooked green beans, cooked sliced potatoes, and strips of cooked beef. I drizzle the salads with homemade dressing or bottled Italian dressing with Romano cheese.
4. Our fourth meal was Roast Beef and Mushroom Oven Stew. Easy to make, this is an ideal recipe for a chilly winter night. You can make it too.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked roast beef, cut into one-inch cubes
8-ounce box of sliced mushrooms
6 green onions (white and green parts), chopped
1 cup petite carrots
6 Klondike red potatoes, thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 one-ounce envelopes Herb Gravy Mix for Beef
2 cups cold water

Method

Cut off any extra fat before cubing the beef. In a large mixing bowl, combine beef, mushrooms, green onions, carrots, potatoes and seasoning. Make gravy mix according to package directions. Pour over stew mixture and toss gently. Transfer stew mixture to a large, buttered casserole and cover. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. Ladle into stew bowls and serve with crusty bread and a green salad. Makes 4-6 servings.

So you see, buying an expensive roast beef may be a smart move. It makes four or more meals and cuts down on grocery shopping, which saves gas. Every so often, it's nice to indulge yourself and at my house, that indulgence is roast beef.

Copyright 2011 by Harriet Hodgson

http://www.harriethodgson.com

Harriet Hodgson has been an independent journalist for 30+ years. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD is available from Amazon. Centering Corporation published her 26th book, "Writing to Recover: The Journey from Loss and Grief to a New Life" and a companion journal with 100 writing prompts. The company has also published her latest book, "The Spiritual Woman: Quotes to Refresh and Sustain Your Soul."

Hodgson has another new book out, "101 Affirmations to Ease Your Grief Journey: Words of Comfort, Words of Hope," also available from Amazon. Please visit her website and learn more about this busy author and grandmother.

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Deluxe Portobello Mushroom Burgers

2011-06-25T06:04:00.000+07:00

If you're trying to cut back on meat, or eliminate it from your diet entirely, this recipe for portobello mushroom burgers makes an excellent and novel substitute for ground beef patty burgers at your next barbeque. Each burger has only about 200 calories, 14 grams of fat, and 20 mg of cholesterol. Compare that to about 320 calories, 23 grams of fat, and 106 mg of cholesterol in your average beef burger patty, and you'll see why this is a very smart alternative.

Mushrooms also happen to be a great source of minerals and anti-oxidants, and promote a healthy heart and circulatory system. Mushrooms are one of the best sources of selenium found naturally occurring in food; selenium consumption has been associated with decreasing the risk of prostate cancer by more than half. They are also rich in potassium, which has been shown to help lower blood pressure.

Portobello mushrooms have become one of the more widely-known varieties of mushroom. Recognized for their delicate yet earthy flavor, meaty, chewy texture, and large size, portobellos (or portabellas, as they're sometimes marketed) are basically a mature version of the crimini mushroom, a brown variety of mushroom common in Europe. They are moderately priced and are available in most supermarkets. There are a few theories as to where they got their name. One is that portobellos were named for the Portobello Road in London, England, which is the home of a great many upscale shops and pricey eateries known for including unusual gourmet ingredients in their dishes. Another is that the name portobello is a loose, colloquial derivative of the Italian word "cappellone," which means "large hat."

Deluxe Portobello Mushroom Burgers

4 portobello mushroom caps, thoroughly washed
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cloves of garlic, chopped fine
salt and pepper to taste
4 slices of provolone, swiss or mozarella cheese (optional)

Place the mushroom caps, gills down, in a 8 x 8 dish or baking pan. Whip the vinegar, oil, basil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Pour the oil mixture over the mushrooms, and let them marinate at room temperature for about 15 minutes, turning twice.

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and brush the grate with oil to stop the mushrooms from sticking. Place the mushrooms on the grill carefully, reserving any leftover marinade for basting. Grill for five to eight minutes on each side. Brush them with the marinade frequently as they cook. Top with cheese slices during the last two minutes of grilling, if desired.

Are there SAM-e benefits for osteoarthritis? Get the info you need at How To Feel Better Naturally.

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Mushrooms 'SpongeBob' Found in Borneo Forest

2011-06-19T12:27:00.000+07:00

This fungus is found in the rainforest, under a tree, rather than on the seafloor such as shelter Spongebob Squarepants, pants sponge square, a character in animated American television film. However, the hollow shape very much like a sponge-like marine animals so that new species of fungus was named Spongiforma squarepantsii.

"The fungus is found in the forests of Borneo," said Dennis Desjardin, San Francisco State University researcher. He estimates there are still many other species, which has a unique character in the world of fungi, have not been found until now.

Shaped like a sea sponge, S. Squarepantsii found in 2010 at the Bukit Lambir in Sarawak, Malaysia. Fungal species that has a bright orange color, although color can be changed to purple when sprinkled with strong chemicals. It smells like fruit at first glance or a very rancid smell of mildew, "said Desjardin and his team in the journal Mycologia.

Under scanning electron microscope, the fungal spore-producing area that looks like a tube sponges on the seafloor, so that the scientists got the idea to call him as Bob, the famous sea sponge.

Reversing Heart Disease Naturally and Effectively With Reishi Mushroom

2011-06-17T05:51:00.000+07:00

Ever wonder what the leading cause of death here in America is? No it's not homicides nor cancer, but the number one killer here in the United States is Heart Disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most ethnicities in the United States, including African Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Hispanics, and whites. It is now estimated that one in four Americans will die of heart disease. This is a serious disease that affects all age groups and ethnicities. More and more Americans have sub come to this deadly disease. We are in hope; this disease can be treated, reversed and prevented, with this time-tested herb used for more than 3,000 years. Reishi Mushroom, a medicinal mushroom will help prevent and reverse all heart disease.

First, Heart Disease is made up of many diseases and conditions that affect your heart. Some of these diseases are coronary artery disease, which is a disease that affects your blood vessels. It is also the most common heart disease in our country. The main cause of coronary artery disease is the accumulation of plaque build-up in the arteries that supply oxygenated blood to your heart. These plaques consist of bad cholesterol deposits. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body needs. But, when you have too much in your blood, it can build up on the walls of your arteries. This can lead to heart disease and stroke. Another form of heart disease is heart rhythm problems also known as arrhythmias.

Heart arrhythmias are irregular or abnormal heartbeats, either too slow or too fast. Another heart condition of many relating to heart disease is infections of the heart. Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves or heart's inner lining. This sort of infection occurs when germs, primarily bacteria, but also fungi and other microbes enter the blood stream and attack either the heart valves or lining of the heart. It's important to know that this disease can affect men and women and both children and adult. It will be of great value to take the necessary steps not only to educate you of this number one killer, but adapting an improved lifestyle, one that includes a herbal/natural regime. The top herb with great history and use, as well as both clinical and scientific research in treating/preventing heart disease is the Reishi mushroom. Scientific studies show, the Reishi mushroom treatment is effective and improves 81.77% of heart disease patients. The best result where 93.3% in one study.

What is a Reishi Mushroom? Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) or Ling Zhi is a medicinal mushroom with long use in ancient China dating back thousands of years. Unlike other herbs and medicinal mushrooms, the health benefits of Reishi are extremely broad. This queen of herbs is known to have miraculous health benefits. Some of its benefits include immune modulating, aids in autoimmune diseases, potent antioxidants, improve cardiovascular system (Heart), anti-cancer, anti-stress, improve memory and concentration, radiation protection, promotes liver cell recovery and many more. As you can see Reishi mushroom has many health benefits, this is why it is considered a superior in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Reishi mushroom is beneficial for the heart health. The main compounds in Reishi mushroom that aid in improving heart health are sterols, polysaccharides (Beta-D-glucans), triterpenes (Ganoderic Acids) and adenosine. As mentioned above the most common heart disease is coronary artery disease, the accumulation of plaque build-up in the blood. This accumulated plaque is bad cholesterol, just to make things clear not all cholesterol is bad. There are two types of cholesterol, good (HDL) and bad (LDL). The cause for bad cholesterol in the body is poor nutrition. Artificial, chemically changed fats such as margarines are a leading CAUSE of heart disease. Numerous clinical studies have shown Reishi mushroom extract to be effective in coronary heart disease. In one study 14 cases out of 15 had LDL levels substantially decreased. These benefits were obtained after 1 week of Reishi extract treatment. The main compound found in Reishi responsible for the improvements is the polysaccharides. The polysaccharides found in Reishi also have also been found to improve the circulation of the myocardium (the innermost muscle of the heart), increase blood flow and lowers oxygen consumption.

One clinical study showed Reishi improved heart disease patients in up to 92%. Another important compound found in the Reishi mushrooms are triterpenes. Triterpenes are responsible for blood pressure and blood lipid improvements (cholesterol). Patients (taking Reishi extract) from another clinical trial showed significant decrease in total cholesterol. Their HDLs or good cholesterol did not change, but their LDLs or bad unwanted cholesterol was decreased, which is the proper way to lose cholesterol. Triterpenes also have an adaptogenic effect, helping the body to adapt to large range of environmental, biological, and sociological stress (protection from excess stressors). A final major component of Reishi for heart health is adenosine. Adenosine, a nucleotide and derivative of RNA, is connected with inhibiting platelet aggregation and regulating energy. Alleviating bad blood, dislodging blockage (blood clots) in the body. Reishi has a harmonizing effect on the body, immune system as well as the circulatory system.

It's clear, that this time tested medicinal mushroom has very positive effects on body, especially the heart. Clinical studies have shown that Reishi has the ability to alleviate many of these issues. We read often how as Americans we need to reduce our cholesterol and blood-fat levels. Not only has Reishi extract been shown to do this, it also balances the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol. Clinical studies and trials have shown Reishi to help over 80% of people with heart problems. Every negative issue relating to the heart along with the use of Reishi was lowered/reversed/alleviated in as little as 10 days. Reishi mushroom extract is the key for heart health and vitality.

5 Easy Strategies to Reverse Heart Disease Naturally

1. AVOID MARGARINE AND ALL HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OILS. Use Coconut oil instead or raw butter

2. Added in Reishi Mushroom Extract

3. Exercise, some form of cardiovascular activity (jogging, biking, swimming, powerwalk, yoga, etc) few times a week.

4. Eat more organic fruits and vegetables with EVERY meal

5. Go vegetarian, but if you choose to eat meat. Go with Hormone free, Organic grass-fed and pastured animals. Add in wild-caught fish.

An excellent source for organic reishi mushroom extract to aid in improving your heart health. Visit http://www.invincibleherbs.com

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Secrets of Successful Gourmet Mushroom Growers

2011-06-15T10:00:00.000+07:00

The popularity of mushrooms is continuing to climb. In particular, gourmet mushrooms are selling better than ever. Over a million and a half gourmet mushrooms were planted just last year. So how can you become a successful gourmet mushroom grower? What can put you on top? Here are the secrets of successful mushroom growers. Follow these, and you'll be on top before you know it:

1. Grow oyster mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are perhaps the best gourmet mushroom to grow. They're enjoying a high level of demand, are selling for about $6 a pound, and are easy to grow. Oyster mushrooms can be grown in about six to eight weeks' time, making it possible for you to make good money quickly and repeatedly.

2. Maintain a high level of cleanliness

Like anything you grow, maintaining a high level of cleanliness will lead to better results and produce a higher quality product. Make sure to keep all possible contaminates away from your mushrooms. In your growing room, take care of any drafts that might be present to prevent spores from entering. Use weather-stripping or caulk to stop that threat. Wipe down any surfaces that will come into contact with your mushrooms and other substances with rubbing alcohol. Spray the air with a 10% bleach solution. And finally, wash your hands thoroughly before handling any of your substances. If you take special care to keep a high level of cleanliness, you'll get top dollar for your mushrooms.

3. Monitor temperatures

As your mushrooms are growing to maturity, they'll need to be in a room with certain temperatures. This is important to ensure a healthy growth. During the incubation process, the temperature needs to be around 78 degrees F. During the fruiting phase, your fruiting room should be between 65 and 70 degrees F. Do your best to follow these temperature guidelines and your likelihood of success will go way up.

4. Sell fresh

Your mushrooms will be at their best when they're fresh. Sell them as soon as you can. If you're not able to sell your entire yield right away, freeze or dry the remaining mushrooms so you can sell them at a later date.

5. Use supplements

Supplements are a great way to improve flavor and increase yields. Popular supplements include alfalfa meal, soy meal and cottonseed meal. Just add a small amount, usually 2 to 8 percent, to the growing material,and that should be enough for great results.

6.Give out free samples

In order to drum up some excitement about your gourmet mushroom-growing business, hand out some free samples. When you try to sell to restaurants and grocery stores, they'll probably want a taste of your mushrooms before they agree to buy some from you. Set up a demo stand, and saute mushrooms in butter to give away as free samples, and that'll greatly increase your chances of future business.

Follow these six secrets, and you too could have success with a gourmet mushroom-growing business. To learn more, read Golden Harvest, available at: http://extraincomebulletin.com.

Craig Wallin is the author of twelve best-selling books about home-based businesses you can start for just a few hundred dollars, and the editor of EXTRA INCOME BULLETIN, an online resource about honest businesses you can start on a shoestring. To learn more, visit: http://extraincomebulletin.com.

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The Nutritional Value of Mushroom

2011-06-14T05:54:00.000+07:00

Being nutritious and delicious, mushroom has been regarded as one of the best food since the ancient time. It is a kind of high-protein but low-fat health food, which is rich in essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins and polysaccharides and other nutrients. Often eating mushrooms can well coordinate the absorption and utilization of other food by the body, and increase the nutritional efficiency of the food. Mushroom not only can provide a large amount of nutrients to the body, but also can enhance human resistance against diseases. But different types of mushrooms have different nutritional value, so in the following section we will give a detail introduction of this.

First, straw mushroom
Straw mushroom contains a high content of vitamin C. It can promote human metabolism, and improve the immunity of the body. What's more, it has a detoxifying effect, so it can combine with lead, arsenic and benzene when they enter into the human body, and expel them out with the urination. In addition, it can slow down the absorption of carbohydrates by the body, so it is the best food for the patients with diabetes. Moreover, straw mushroom can also prevent scurvy, promote wound healing, and protect the liver and stomach, so it is an excellent nutritious and healthy food.

Second, hericium erinaceus
Hericium erinaceus contains unsaturated fatty acid, which is beneficial to blood circulation, and can lower the level of cholesterol in the blood, so it is an ideal food for the patients suffering from hypertension and cardiovascular disease. What's more, hericium erinaceus can improve the immune function of human body, and has great benefit for the patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Third, oyster mushroom
Oyster mushroom contains anti-tumor polysaccharides, which can improve the body's immune system, and has strong inhibitory effect on tumor cells. Eating oyster mushroom also has the function of lowering blood pressure and blood cholesterol, so it can prevent cardiovascular disease and obesity, and can help prevent the hardening of the arteries.

Fourth, needle mushroom
Needle mushroom is particularly rich in lysine, and it also contains a relatively high content of zinc, which has the effect of promoting the children's mental development. Needle mushroom can effectively enhance the biological activity and promote the metabolism in the body. What's more, it is conducive to the absorption of various nutrients in food and is also very beneficial to the growth and development of human body. Often eating mushrooms can prevent hepatopathy and intestinal ulcers, so it is especially suitable for the patients with hypertension, obesity. This is mainly because needle mushroom is a kind of high-potassium and low-sodium food.

Lv Hongyu is the freelance writer for e-commerce website in the chemistry. LookChem.com is just a place for you to Look for Chemicals! Our LookChem provide the most convenient conditions for the international buyers and let these leads benefit all the business person.

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Peru Travel Guide: Mushroom Festival

2011-06-09T10:00:00.000+07:00

Peru is famous of all kind of festivals, but this year the country will be hosting a new one. From May 13 to May 15 2011, the region of Lambayeque in northwest Peru will hold its first Mushroom Festival. This will be celebrated in conjunction with marking the 20th anniversary of San Isidro Labrador de Marayhuaca, a peasant community. Specifically, the celebration will take part in the district of Incahuasi.

The peasant community San Isidro Labrador de Marayhuaca is organizing and promoting this event with assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) and AgroRural in Lambayeque. The goal is to increase awareness of edible mushrooms and the farmer who harvest them. The hope is that the event will help improve the productiveness of this activity. It is also to highlight the relationship between different communities in Peru and how they can work together to be productive.

The event will feature mushrooms cooked in the indigenous and local way. Marayhuaca is a community where the dominate language is Quechua. Quechua was the language of the Incas and is considered an official language of Peru, along with Spanish, by the Peruvian government. As such, those on a Peru vacation who attend this event will learn a lot about how indigenous culture still thrives in Peru. Additionally, the event planners intended to have numerous exhibitions and tastings. There is even an official "dance of the mushroom" that will take part on Saturday, a day that is locally called "Festihongo."

The local chefs, as well as a few national chefs, will have a culinary competition to see who can cook the best mushroom dishes. One example of a popular mushroom dish is a platter called "chicharron" made from fresh mushroom, egg, and several other ingredients. In most places of the world, chicharron is a dish made of fried pork rinds.

Those who are interested in attending this festival can do so from the city of Chiclayo, one of the closest main cities to the rural community when it will take place. A Chiclayo tour is a great addition to any trip to Peru. The area is famous remains from Moche, Sican, and Lambayeque civilizations. Chiclayo is also the capital city of the Lambayeque region, so it has many tourist facilities, such as hotels, restaurants, and museums. To get to Chiclayo, guests can choose to travel via plane or bus. The bus journey takes about eight to ten hours.

This article about the Mushroom Festival in Peru, was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less, specializing in customizable Peru vacations.

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