Article Title: WHY ALL HOST DEFENSE SUPPLEMENTS ARE POWERED BY MUSHROOM MYCELIUM
Article link: https://fungi.com/blogs/articles/mycelium-explained
Author: Fungi Perfecti
Publication: 03/10/2021 for Fungi Perfecti
Summary :
Mycelium plays a crucial role in healing and regulating ecosystems, acting as a recycling mechanism to nourish other members of the ecological community. By cycling nutrients through the food chain, mycelial networks enrich the soil and allow surrounding plants and animals to thrive. Increasingly nicknamed the “wood network”, mycelium is omnipresent under our feet, with every step on a lawn, in a field or on the forest floor. Studies have concluded that approximately 90% of land plants have a mutually beneficial relationship with mycelial networks. Without mushrooms - without mycelium - all ecosystems would be doomed to failure.
Mycelium and its mycological applications have enormous potential to improve human and planetary health. We are committed to continuing our research efforts to find new and innovative ways to leverage these applications for human and environmental well-being.
Mushroom mycelium is the longest and metabolically active structure of the fungal organism, containing many unique compounds beneficial to human health. Years of industry research, as well as internal and third-party testing, have demonstrated that mycelium-based supplements provide significant support to the immune system.
The benefits of mushroom mycelium are many and varied. For centuries, beneficial mushrooms have been used to support human health in a variety of areas, from cognition and memory, to energy and endurance, to sleep and cardiovascular support. A common feature of all these benefits is the ability of mushroom mycelium and fruiting bodies to support an engaged and modulated immune response.
To better understand the importance of mycelium, it is essential to examine its role in the mushroom life cycle. Mushrooms follow a three-stage life cycle, similar to that of plants.
The first stage is fungal spores, the reproductive cells that initiate the growth of the mycelium.
Next comes the mycelium stage, which constitutes the actual living organism of the fungus. Mycelium is made up of thousands of delicate, interconnected filaments and a single cell wall. It is the main "body" of the mushroom, responsible for its growth and nutrition.
Finally, there is the fruiting body stage, the temporary reproductive phase that produces the spores necessary for the fungus to reproduce. This life cycle highlights the importance of mycelium as a fundamental phase in the life of a mushroom, responsible for its growth, nutrition and ability to support an active immune system.
One aspect that is often misunderstood is the distinction between the mycelium and the fruiting body of the mushroom. The mycelium is the main, living, metabolically active part of the organism, while the fruiting body is the temporary, reproductive, and often more visible part of the fungus. Understanding this difference is essential to fully appreciate the benefits of mycelium as a dietary supplement.
Here is a table listing the benefits of mushrooms according to variety:
In summary, mushroom mycelium is much more than just a network of underground threads. It is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that nourishes and protects plants, animals and soils, while providing significant benefits for human health.