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16 Benefits of mushrooms and side effects

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mushrooms

Discover the 16 shocking health benefits of mushrooms and side effects.

Mushrooms are edible mushrooms with various scientific names and their last name is “Agaricus.”

They are essentially Saprophytes, the organisms (plants without chlorophyll) that thrive by extracting nutrients from dead and decomposing plants and animal matter.

They vary widely in color, texture, shape, and properties.

There are approximately 140,000 species of mushroom-forming fungi in the world, but science is only familiar with about 10%, while only 100 species are being studied for their potential health benefits and medicinal applications.

The health benefits of mushrooms include relief from high cholesterol levels, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and diabetes.

They also help you lose weight and increase the strength of your immune system.

Most of us are familiar with mushrooms and their miraculous and beneficial powers.

Particularly those who have read or listened to many fairy tales like Alice in Wonderland, ThreeBears, and a baby or even those who have played the video game Super Mario Bros.

You have probably seen mushrooms making someone bigger or acting as a shield against some dangerous monster.

These are not just popular culture references but are symbolic representations of the actual health benefits of mushrooms.

They can make you grow and protect you against disease and infection, as they are packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antibiotics, and antioxidants.

Mushrooms are not nature’s most glorious, beautiful, or fragrant creations, but mushrooms certainly carry their weight in terms of health.

As unappetizing as budding mushrooms may be, the benefits of mushrooms are incredibly powerful, making them healthy food that can unconditionally elevate yourself to superfood status.

Types of mushrooms

White mushrooms may already be a staple of your diet, but there is a wide range of edible mushrooms available at your grocery store.

Learn about the six most common types and learn how to prepare mushrooms (to wash or not to wash?), And you’ll be ready to use them in a variety of recipes.

1.- Rope

• With a fruity aroma, chanterelles range from yellow, orange, and brown to pale white or black.

• The funnel-shaped lids have wrinkles instead of gills on the bottom, which must be washed quickly but carefully before use.

2.- White

• The most common type, white mushrooms range in size from the small so-called button, which is harvested when young and has the mildest flavor, to the jumbo, which can be stuffed and baked.

• Creamy to pale white, they have a firm texture and a delicate flavor.

3.- Oyster

• Velvety trumpet-shaped oyster mushrooms have delicate brown, gray, or reddish caps on gray-white stems.

• They have a spicy flavor that becomes very mild when cooked. Small and young specimens are considered the best.

4.- Portobello

• Up to 6 inches wide, portobellos have a great steak-like flavor and texture; in fact, giant umbrella-like caps are often eaten as vegetarian hamburger substitutes.

• Remove woody stems before eating.

5.- Shiitake

• With meaty brown to dark brown taquitos, shiitakes have a distinctly smoky flavor and taste best when cooked.

• Available fresh or dried, they work well in stir-fries as the flavor doesn’t fade along with the ginger and garlic.

• Although the stems are too difficult to eat and should be removed from the heads before cooking, you can use them to season sauces before discarding.

6.- Cremini

• Like white mushrooms, but with a firmer texture and a deeper flavor, creminis are immature portobellos.

• Button caps range from light brown to deep brown. The stems are edible.

Health benefits of mushrooms

The health benefits of mushrooms are plentiful, for thousands of years the health benefits of mushrooms have been revered as a central part of traditional oriental medicine, but only recently have they gained the credit they deserve in the rest of the world.

Of all the mushrooms eaten in the U.S., 90 percent are white button (or crimini) mushrooms.

Mushroom varieties run the gamut, and their taste, flavor, and texture are as nuanced as their health benefits.

White mushrooms will be the focus of this list, considering their popularity, but the benefits of much more unique mushrooms are also highlighted as they bring incredible health benefits and uses to the table.

1.- Benefits of mushrooms for cholesterol

• Mushrooms provide you with lean protein as they have no cholesterol or fat and are very low in carbohydrates.

• Fiber and certain enzymes in them also help lower cholesterol levels.

• Also, the high content of lean protein found in them helps burn cholesterol when digested.

• Balancing cholesterol levels between LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and HDL (“good” cholesterol) is essential in preventing various cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.

2.- Benefits of mushrooms for anemia

• Anemic patients are characterized by low levels of iron in the blood, resulting in fatigue, headaches, reduced neuronal function, and digestive problems.

• Mushrooms are a good source of iron, and more than 90% of the nutritional value of iron can be absorbed by the body, which promotes the formation of red blood cells and keeps people healthy and functioning at their maximum potential.

3.- Benefits of mushrooms for cancer

• Mushrooms are very effective in the prevention of breast and prostate cancer due to the significant presence of Beta-Glucans and Conjugated Linoleic Acid, which have anti-cancer effects.

• Of these two, linoleic acid is particularly helpful in suppressing the harmful effects of excess estrogen.

• This increase in estrogen is one of the main causes of breast cancer in women after menopause.

• Beta-Glucans, on the other hand, inhibit the growth of cancer cells in cases of prostate cancer, and numerous studies have shown the antitumor properties of mushrooms when applied medicinally.

4.- Benefits of mushrooms for diabetes

• Mushrooms are an ideal low-energy diet for diabetics.

• They have no fat, no cholesterol, very low carbohydrate levels, high protein content, and a large number of vitamins and minerals. They also contain a lot of water and fiber.

• In addition, they contain natural insulin and enzymes that help break down sugar or starch in food.

• They are also known to contain certain compounds that help the liver, pancreas, and other endocrine glands function properly, thereby promoting the formation of insulin and its proper regulation throughout the body.

• Diabetics often suffer from infections, especially in their extremities, which tend to last for long periods.

• The natural antibiotics in them can help protect diabetics from these painful and life-threatening conditions.

5.- Improves bone health

• Mushrooms are a rich source of calcium, which is an essential nutrient in building and strengthening bones.

• A steady supply of calcium in your diet can lower your chances of developing conditions like osteoporosis, and it can also reduce joint pain and the general lack of mobility that is associated with bone breakdown.

6.- Helps in the absorption of nutrients

• Vitamin D is a relatively rare vitamin to find in vegetables, and, edible forms, in general, are not particularly common.

• However, mushrooms do, and this essential vitamin can facilitate the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorus.

• Calcium and phosphorus are also present in good amounts in mushrooms, so the combined effects of having all of these nutrients make it a good idea to eat them whenever possible.

7.- Stimulates the immune system

• Ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant found in mushrooms, is very effective in providing protection against free radicals and boosting the immune system.

• It’s a sulfur-containing amino acid, which is something many people are deficient in, despite not knowing about it or seeing its effects.

• That being said, the presence of this “master antioxidant” that is unique to mushrooms can give a huge boost to the health of your immune system.

• Ergothioneine helps to scavenge free radicals, which are dangerous compounds released during metabolic processes in cells, and they can float throughout the body causing significant damage and disease.

• Mushrooms contain natural antibiotics (similar to penicillin), which inhibit microbial growth and other fungal infections.

Those same polysaccharides, beta-glucans, can stimulate and regulate the body’s immune system.

• They can also help heal ulcers and ulcerative wounds and protect them from developing infections.

The good combination of vitamin A, complex B, and C found in them also strengthens the immune system.

8.- Helps to lower blood pressure

• Studies of various types of mushrooms, including shiitake and maitake mushrooms, have shown that they are high in potassium.

• Potassium acts as a vasodilator, relaxing the tension in the blood vessels and therefore lowering blood pressure.

• High blood pressure is linked to several deadly conditions, particularly heart attacks and strokes.

• Potassium also increases cognitive function, because increased blood and oxygen flow to the brain stimulates neural activity.

Studies have shown that increasing potassium levels improves memory and knowledge retention.

9.- Increases iron absorption

• Copper has several beneficial effects on the body and can be found in mushrooms.

• Copper can regulate and stimulate the absorption of iron from food, and utilize it appropriately by releasing it from primary storage sites in the body, such as the liver.

• Mushrooms also have high levels of iron, so the two work together to build healthy bones and prevent anemia.

10.- Rich in Selenium

• The selenium content in mushrooms is one of the most beneficial elements that is often overlooked.

• The primary source of selenium is in animal proteins; however, due to their classification as mushrooms that eat plant and animal matter, mushrooms are the best way for vegetarians to obtain the necessary amount of selenium.

• Selenium is found in large amounts in mushrooms and can benefit bone health by increasing bone strength and increased durability.

• It also strengthens the teeth, hair, and nails, in addition, this essential nutrient is a powerful antioxidant, which eliminates the body of free radicals and generally strengthens the immune system.

• The bioavailability of selenium in mushrooms differs by species, but most commonly eaten mushrooms have significant levels of this important mineral.

11.- Benefits of mushrooms for Weight loss

• Would you believe me if I said that a completely lean protein diet is great for losing fat and building muscle mass? Well, believe it or not, it’s true.

• Most fats are burned to digest the proteins found in our food, especially when the protein is accompanied by a very low carbohydrate count, no fat or cholesterol, and a good amount of fiber, this is exactly the combination offered by mushrooms to help you lose weight.

• Due to their nutrient density, they rank higher than most fruits and vegetables, and some researchers say mushrooms are one of the rare foods that people can eat as often as possible, with no side effects…

• One study replaced red meat with white button mushrooms, about a cup per day, and found that those test subjects who ate these not only lost a significant amount of weight over a standard period but also decreased their waists and better able to maintain their new weight, rather than return to the original weight as in most crash diets.

12.- Benefits of mushrooms for skin

• For smooth and supple skin, use products that are infused with fungus.

• According to a Chinese study, white button mushroom extract increases collagen fibers and benefits skin regeneration after injury.

13.- Help in patients with hepatitis B

• Maitake mushrooms also aid in the recovery of hepatitis B patients.

• In a study among 32 patients with chronic hepatitis B, there was a 72 percent recovery rate in the Maitake group compared to a 57 percent recovery rate in the control group.

14.- Everyday spice

• You will often see dried mushrooms, such as shiitakes, sold in ethnic food stores or health food stores.

• Grind these dried mushrooms into a fine powder and use them to complement your meals: from soups and salads to scrambled eggs and pasta sauces, their salty flavor brings much more than just delicious flavor to your meals.

• Get the essential amino acids and nutrients mushrooms have to offer in every bite without making them the center of the plate.

15.- Reduces inflammation

• Even compared to other mushroom superstars, such as shiitake, oyster, and maitake varieties, white button mushrooms are exceptionally advanced in reducing inflammation.

• Adding white mushrooms to the diet has been shown to change the body’s microflora and create metabolic changes that ultimately lead to fewer inflammatory cells.

16.- Benefits of mushrooms for HIV

• In a 2004 study funded by the National Institutes of Health and its department of alternative medicine, doctors found that there was a benefit to ingesting a tea made from freeze-dried wood-grown oyster mushrooms on antiretroviral-induced hyperlipidemia in HIV patients.

Warning and side effects

Seriously, mushrooms can be very dangerous. Most species of mushrooms are inedible, highly poisonous, and look remarkably similar to their edible counterparts.

Never attempt to collect them for forest consumption unless you have been trained to identify them very well.

Mushrooms have the unique ability to absorb the material they grow on, be it good or bad.

This quality is what gives them much of their beneficial power, but also their dangerous aspects.

Many mushrooms, when collected from the wild, contain heavy metals, which can be very toxic, as well as air and water pollutants.

Also, don’t trust any unfamiliar seller when buying mushrooms.

Always trust sealed products from reputable companies or ones that you have grown yourself under controlled conditions after purchasing your seeds (called spawn) from a trusted source.

A single poisonous mushroom, among others, on a plate can threaten a large number of people, causing comas, severe symptoms of intoxication, nausea, vomiting, seizures, cramps, and dementia.

Many species can even be fatal if ingested. Always avoid eating faded colors or those that are a different color than the typically accepted color of your species

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5 Ways a Qualified Marijuana Doctor Can Streamline the Process of Obtaining Your Medical Card

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5 Ways a Qualified Marijuana Doctor Can Streamline the Process of Obtaining Your Medical Card

A qualified cannabis physician will perform a physical exam, complete and document a full assessment of your medical history and determine whether you qualify for a marijuana card. This process typically takes 20 – 30 minutes. If you meet the qualifications, a medical marijuana doctor will give you a patient ID number that you can use to register with your state.

Streamlined Appointments

Whether you’re a current medical marijuana patient or are seeking an evaluation to become one, your experience with your doctor can be a huge factor in the success of your treatment. A qualified doctor will take the time to examine and question you about your symptoms thoroughly. They will listen to you and provide an honest opinion on whether they think medical cannabis can help. Medical marijuana doctors like Texas 420 Doctors are educated on cannabis as a medicine and can determine if your conditions qualify you for the drug. This means they can create a personalized marijuana treatment plan for you. A great way to streamline your appointment is by offering telemedicine consultations. Unlike traditional MD or DO assignments, these can be done at any time of day. In addition to the streamlined appointment, medical marijuana doctors can help expedite the process of completing the state’s application. They will make sure you have the correct paperwork, forms, and medical records ready to go so that you can complete your registration or renewal. Additionally, they will alert you if your physician certification is approaching its expiration date so you can schedule an appointment to get recertified.

Convenient Locations

A qualified marijuana doctor knows that patients are eager to get relief from their debilitating symptoms and will work hard to schedule appointments that accommodate their busy lives. They are also familiar with state laws and understand the limitations on physician access to medical marijuana patients. Depending on your condition, medical marijuana may ease the pain of cancer treatment, reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, or help you sleep better. Medical marijuana can come in various forms, including dried flowers, edibles, tinctures, and topicals. A qualified marijuana doctor will ask you to bring a government-issued photo ID and a list of your current medications. They will also review your health records and determine if cannabis is an appropriate medication to treat your symptoms. They will explain how to use the medicine and discuss the risks. They will also recommend entering your name into the medical marijuana registry. Your certifying doctor must do this for each patient before you can purchase from a dispensary. You will be subject to legal repercussions if you do not complete this step.

No Waiting

Marijuana is a plant with multiple medicinal properties. It contains two active compounds; one is cannabidiol (CBD), and the other is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It has several therapeutic properties and has been found to help with chronic pain, PTSD, seizures, and many other conditions. Although it remains illegal on a federal level, 29 states and DC have legalized marijuana. While medical marijuana is still a very new industry, physicians are working to navigate uncharted legal territory to provide patients with the relief they need. It is important to find a doctor willing to work with state regulations and stay up to date on the latest research on medical cannabis.

Qualified doctors are also able to expedite the process of getting your card. They can provide a medical marijuana recommendation to eligible patients, which is needed to register online with the state. This will allow patients to purchase medical marijuana at a dispensary. In addition, the doctor can provide a government-issued photo ID to the patient and caregivers for identification purposes.

Knowledgeable Staff

Providing patients with the information and advice they need to treat their conditions effectively is one of the most important tasks of any doctor. A medical marijuana doctor is no different. They will take the time to explain the benefits, side effects, and contraindications of cannabis. They will also be knowledgeable about the current state of medical marijuana research, ensuring that their recommendations are based on the latest scientific evidence.

Marijuana has several medicinal compounds, including CBD and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Both have been shown to have therapeutic effects for many health conditions. However, it is still illegal at the federal level and must be obtained through a qualified physician’s recommendation. Medical marijuana doctors are willing to navigate uncharted legal areas and make it possible for their patients to access a medication that can help ease pain, anxiety, nausea, spasms, and more. These doctors are dedicated to reducing the burdens and time associated with obtaining your medical card and helping you find relief from your symptoms. They are a true lifesaver for many people who need the natural treatment that marijuana can provide.

Experience

Many people are still unsure about the process of qualifying for medical marijuana. So many factors are involved, from self-reporting health symptoms to the cost of multiple appointments to get a formal diagnosis.

A qualified marijuana doctor can help make this process as simple and stress-free as possible. A physician who is familiar with the medical benefits of cannabis can help patients find the right products and dosages to treat their specific health conditions. Marijuana physicians should also be able to answer any questions that patients may have about the law or regulations in their state. This will ensure patients receive the most accurate information to avoid potential issues. A medical marijuana recommendation is valid for one year, and annual renewals are required. Finding a qualified, compassionate, cannabis-friendly doctor is important in obtaining your medical card. By understanding the benefits of working with a qualified marijuana doctor, you can save time and money while ensuring you receive the treatment you need to alleviate your symptoms.

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Understanding the Role of Neurologists in Colorado Integrated Neurology

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Understanding the Role of Neurologists in Colorado Integrated Neurology

Colorado Integrated Neurology provides chiropractic neurology and functional medicine care for patients with complex neurological conditions such as concussions, POTS, vertigo, balance disorders, movement disorders, and dysautonomia. 

The survey revealed that most neurologists do not understand (or disagree with) the concept of death that BD fulfills and that brain functions often remain in patients diagnosed dead using accepted clinical tests confirming the BD criterion.

What Is Integrated Neurology?

Integrated neurology services treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, epilepsy, and other less common neurobehavioral disorders. These specialists use a comprehensive approach to assess a patient’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning and develop individualized treatment strategies for each case.

Advanced radiology imaging can detect blood clots in the brain and perform a procedure called a thrombolysis or clot-busting injection. A tiny tube (catheter) is inserted through the neck or groin to access the blocked artery in the brain. Once the clot is removed, blood flow to the brain resumes, and brain cells are no longer deprived of oxygen.

Providing a one-stop shop for patients, they offer sleep studies, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), Botox treatment for migraines, electromyography, electroencephalograms (EEG), and other diagnostic procedures. 

What Are the Benefits of Integrated Neurology?

Colorado Integrated Neurology neurologists offer the latest diagnostic tools, including CT and MRI scans. They also perform procedures like spinal cord stimulators and deep brain stimulation (DBS). Additionally, they provide extensive treatments like sleep studies, CPAP, Botox for migraines, and telemedicine to help patients control their symptoms and enhance their quality of life.

The team specializes in neurobehavioral disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury. They work with various healthcare professionals, including general neurologists, psychiatrists, and therapists, to create a treatment plan that addresses the neurological and behavioral aspects of these disorders.

Many neurologists hesitate to learn about and incorporate integrative health into their practice because they believe it is not evidence-based, focuses on unconventional methods, or promotes unnecessary or harmful therapies. However, taking a don’t-ask-don’t-tell approach to this issue may lead to suboptimal care for their patients by implicitly endorsing unconventional medicine and perpetuating the misperception that alternative therapies are safe and effective.

How Can Integrated Neurology Help Me?

During integrated learning, students must make connections between different fields of study. These connections are further reinforced through case studies and presentations/seminars. The more a student is forced to recognize diseases that intersect neurology and psychiatry, the more likely they will identify them as they continue their education and career.

Integrated Neurologists can access state-of-the-art technologies like ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize a patient’s brain and spinal cord. It allows them to identify and treat problems like stroke, blood clots, seizures, head trauma, and multiple sclerosis.

Integrative neurologists can also help patients with lifestyle practices that may positively or negatively affect their health. They can help patients differentiate unconventional therapies from safe and effective ones. For example, they can help their patients with MS distinguish a diet that helps manage symptoms from those that do not.

What Is the Role of the Neurologists in Integrated Neurology?

A neurologist is a medical doctor trained to investigate, diagnose, and treat neurological disorders. These diseases affect the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, autonomic nervous system, and neuromuscular junction. Symptoms may include weakness, uncontrolled movement of body parts, lack of coordination or loss of sensation, chronic pain, or changes in behavior and emotional states.

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Untreated Sleep Apnea and Its Hidden Dangers

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Untreated Sleep Apnea and Its Hidden Dangers

Millions of people all around the world are impacted by sleep apnea, a prevalent but sometimes ignored sleep disorder. Unfortunately, a sizable portion of cases go unidentified and untreated. We will delve into the world of untreated sleep apnea in this blog, looking at its possible effects on physical and mental health as well as providing management tips.

Understanding Sleep Apnea

Breathing pauses or short breaths while sleeping are symptoms of sleep apnea. Multiple apneas, also known as interruptions, can take place in a single hour and can cause irregular sleep patterns. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most frequent type, results from an obstruction of the airway, usually caused by the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapsing.

The Unknown Threat

Sleep apnea can seriously harm a person’s general health if left untreated. Although the acute symptoms can appear to be unimportant, the long-term consequences might be serious and widespread.

Heart Complications

The effects of untreated sleep apnea on the cardiovascular system may be the most concerning side effect. Apneas stress the heart and can cause hypertension, arrhythmias, and even heart failure because of the intermittent shortage of oxygen they cause. Untreated OSA clearly increases the risk of stroke and heart attack, according to studies.

Daytime Sluggishness and Reduced Cognitive Abilities

Daytime tiredness and cognitive impairment are frequently the results of the fragmented sleep patterns brought on by sleep apnea. People could have trouble focusing, making choices, or remembering information. This may have a substantial impact on daily tasks, such as working and driving, and may even increase the risk of accidents and lower productivity.

Mood Disorders and Mental Health

A close connection has been shown between sleep apnea and mood disorders like anxiety and depression. The equilibrium of neurotransmitters in the brain can be upset by persistent sleep loss and the physiological stress response brought on by apneas. This imbalance may eventually play a role in the onset or worsening of mental health issues.

Gaining Weight and Metabolic Problems

Untreated sleep apnea can cause weight gain or make it more difficult to lose weight. Sleep disturbance can cause hormones that control hunger to become unbalanced, which increases appetite, especially for high-calorie, carbohydrate-rich foods. Additionally, untreated sleep apnea is linked to insulin resistance, which may result in type 2 diabetes.

Strained Relationships

Untreated sleep apnea frequently has an effect on not only the affected person but also their spouses and family. The sleep of those who share a bed can be disturbed by loud snoring and irregular sleep patterns, which can cause resentment, frustration, and marital tension.

Management and Treatment

Thankfully, there are practical methods for treating sleep apnea. Symptoms can be reduced by making lifestyle adjustments such as losing weight, exercising frequently, and refraining from alcohol and sedatives. Positional therapy, which involves switching up sleeping positions, can also occasionally be successful.

Sleep apnea is commonly treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) equipment, which are also very successful. These gadgets keep the airway from contracting as you sleep by providing a constant flow of air through a mask.

Oral appliances that keep the airway open may be advised for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea. Surgery may be an option in extreme circumstances to address structural problems restricting the airway.

Conclusion

Untreated sleep apnea is a major medical issue that could have catastrophic effects on a person’s physical and mental health. For reducing these risks, it is essential to be aware of the symptoms and seek the right therapy. People can regain deep, rejuvenating sleep, enjoy improved general health, and improve their quality of life by treating sleep apnea. Take action right away to stop the silent threat of untreated sleep apnea.

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