In just a few months, we’ll enter a cold and flu season unlike any we’ve seen before. With the prevalence of COVID-19 in Minnesota and throughout the country, it will be more important than ever to stay healthy this fall and winter. Many of us would prefer to avoid the “Is it Coronavirus?!?” panic when we wake up with a cough or the sniffles, so it’s important to have a strong immune system when those first winter germs hit.
Luckily, you can get a jump on building up your immune system by adding R&R Cultivation’s organic mushrooms to your diet. Here’s how these fascinating fungi can boost your immune system and help keep you healthy this fall.
Providing Valuable Nutrients and Antioxidants
There are numerous nutritional benefits of eating mushrooms that contribute to a healthy balanced diet. The B vitamins in mushrooms aid the body in the creation of red blood cells, which keep the body’s cells properly oxygenated and healthy. Mushrooms are also a great source of antioxidants such as Vitamin C and choline, which protect your body from free radicals (potential harmful compounds your body produces when breaking down food or when you’re exposed to environmental toxins).
Minerals such as potassium, selenium, copper, and magnesium, which can be difficult to obtain through plant-based foods, are all present in organic mushrooms. These minerals are responsible for important tasks in the body, including repairing DNA, turning food into energy, and acting as anti-inflammatories.
Building Your Immune System
The immune system is activated by polysaccharides, terpenes, and other compounds found in mushroom mycelium and fruit. These compounds are key to keeping the immune system working in tip-top shape; they help bolster and maintain the structure of your cells.
For thousands of years, cultures all over the world have known about mushrooms’ ability to boost the immune system. Now, Western medicine has proven through an abundance of scientific research what others have known for millennia. This has ignited an interest in specific mushrooms varieties, like Lion’s Mane and Chaga, which are said to be especially helpful in regulating the immune system.
The newest research shows that medicinal mushrooms modify cytokines, which are both pro and anti-inflammatory messengers secreted by immune cells. Mushrooms can help to reduce the inflammatory response caused by these pro-inflammatory cytokines and allow for T cells, B cells, and antibodies to work more effectively. There are many studies showing that mushrooms can stimulate or suppress different anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines. When you combine these fascinating properties with the plethora of nutrients found in mushrooms, it becomes obvious that they’re great for building our immune systems and keeping us healthy.
Boosting Your Immune System with Local Minnesota Mushrooms
It’s easy to get started strengthening your immune system by adding R&R Cultivation’s mushrooms to your daily routine. Our mushroom powders (Chaga and Lion’s Mane) are a great way to amp up the immunity-boosting powers of your daily smoothie. If you’d like to cook up a healthy dinner, consider adding our versatile Oyster mushrooms or Shiitakes to pasta, pizza, stir frys, and more. We sell our mushrooms and products year-round, including at fall farmers markets, local co-ops, and Lunds and Byerly’s stores throughout the Twin Cities.
Learn more about R&R Cultivation and purchase our local, organic mushrooms.
*The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
