6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World

Mycologist Paul Stamets studies the mycelium -- and
lists 6 ways that this astonishing fungus can help
save the world.

Video: Ted
Source: www.mercola.com

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Paul Stamets has the kind of forward-thinking mind
that stands to make a real difference for the future
of the planet. At first it may seem strange to be as
passionate about fungus as Stamets is, but his vision
is in many ways parallel to mine: improve the health
of the population and the planet using natural means.

"There are more species of fungi, bacteria, and
protozoa in a single scoop of soil than there are
plants and vertebrate animals in all of North
America," Stamets writes in his book Mycelium Running:
How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World (which, by the
way, is well worth reading if you find this topic as
intriguing as I do).

And it seems there is virtually no limit to what these
fungal spores -- which Stamets calls "the neurological
network of nature" -- can do:

* Restore habitat that's been devastated by pollution
* Naturally fight flu viruses and other diseases
* Kill ants, termites and other insects without using pesticides
* Create a sustainable fuel known as Econol

It’s hard to imagine that in one cubic inch of soil,
there could be eight miles of mycelium -- or that it
can hold 30,000 times its mass. But, then again, the
best solutions are often the most obvious -- and the
simplest. And as the first organism to come to land --
many thousands of years ago and still going strong --
fungi must be doing something right.

Mushrooms for Your Health

Just as mushrooms can strengthen the immune system of
the environment, they can also strengthen the immune
system in your body. Aside from being rich in protein,
fiber, vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium and minerals,
there are about 50 species of medicinal mushrooms that
are so rich in antioxidants they can do everything
from boost your immune function to lower your risk of
cancer, heart disease and allergies.

In ancient times, Egyptians and Asians created
longevity tonics from mushrooms -- and even the
5,000-year-old "Ice Man" that was found in Europe a
few years back had dried mushrooms with him.

Interestingly, if grown and dried in the right way,
mushrooms are also one of the few foods that can
provide you with vitamin D. As many of you may know,
sun exposure is still the best route to make your
vitamin D, but one study found that exposure to
ultraviolet light could enrich growing, or just-picked
mushrooms with a large supply of vitamin D.

Stamets' book that I mentioned above also describes
this topic in detail, including a study in which
shitake mushrooms increased in vitamin D from 110 IU
when they were dried indoors to 21,4000 IU when they
were dried in the sunlight!

Getting Back to Sustaining the Earth:

It’s always been apparent that the health of your body
is intricately tied to the health of the land, but
lately it seems the tides are turning in regard to how
we view our connection to nature. Increasing numbers
of people are choosing to honor the laws of nature and
are reverting to the more sustainable practices of
long-ago generations.

I believe that future health depends on creating
sustainable farming practices that will provide pure,
nourishing food -- and along the way this requires
cleaning up the soil that has been pilfered by
industry. And what could be a better start to this
than Stamets "life boxes" -- which are cardboard
boxes full of fungi and seeds that can grow food,
clean up toxic wastes and even provide a new beginning
for old-growth forests?

Once again, it seems, the simplest ideas will be the
ones that ultimately improve the world.