AL Baraka Mushrooms

Suthamalli Vilakku, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (synonym Cordyceps sinensis), known colloquially as caterpillar fungus, is an entomopathogenic fungus (a fungus that grows on insects) in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. It is mainly found in the meadows above 3, 500 metres (11, 500 ft) on the Tibetan Plateau in Tibet and the Himalayan regions of Bhutan, India, and Nepal.
The Tibetan name is transliterated in Nepali as , , yarshagumba, yarchagumba or yarsagumba. The transliteration in Bhutan is yartsa guenboob.
In India, it is known as keera jhar, keeda jadi, keeda ghas or ghaas fafoond in Nepali, Hindi and Garhwali.
Most supplements use cordyceps that is made in a lab. Although cordyceps is sometimes called a mushroom, the type of cordyceps that is made in a lab does not grow a mushroom. Cordyceps might improve immunity by stimulating cells and specific chemicals in the immune system. It might also help fight cancer cells and shrink tumor size, particularly with lung or skin cancers. Natural cordyceps is hard to get and might be expensive.
People most commonly use cordyceps for athletic performance, kidney disorders, liver problems, and sexual problems, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Lion’s mane mushrooms are large, white, shaggy mushrooms that resemble a lion’s mane as they grow. They contain bioactive substances that have many beneficial effects on the body, especially the brain, heart, and gut.
The brain’s ability to grow and form new connections typically declines with age, which may explain why mental functioning worsens in many older adults Trusted Source
Studies have found that lion’s mane mushrooms contain two special compounds that can stimulate the growth of brain cells: hericenones and erinacines Trusted Source
Additionally, animal studies have found that lion’s mane may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative brain disease that causes progressive memory loss.
In fact, lion’s mane mushroom and its extracts have been shown to reduce symptoms of memory loss in mice, as well as prevent neuronal damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques, which accumulate in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease Helps relieve mild symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The reason? They 're only grown in the wild.

• Morel mushrooms, or just morels, are a type of wild mushroom with an earthy, nutty flavor.
• They have a meaty texture, unlike the more slimy texture of other mushroom varieties.
• These mushrooms are a highly desired ingredient among chefs and mushroom enthusiasts.

Morels vary greatly in size and appearance. Their shape can range from oblong to bulbous, and their color from blonde to gray. They are easy to distinguish by their exterior, which resembles a honeycomb. The inside of a morel is white and hollow.
Although there have been efforts to cultivate morels, they 're extremely difficult to farm, meaning they must be foraged and harvested from where they naturally grow.

Why Are Morel Mushrooms So Expensive?So here 's the catch when it comes to morel mushrooms: they 're expensive. Really expensive. There 's a few reasons for this :

• They 're hard to cultivate. But you already know this. For this reason they are mostly foraged from the wild, meaning your morels were hand-picked by someone who traveled a great distance to harvest them.
• They have a short growing season. Morels are spring mushrooms that can be found between March and June, depending on climate, weather, and elevation.
• They 're highly perishable. Because morels are hollow, they don 't hold up well in transport, so getting them to the market can be difficult.

Health Benefits of MorelsIn addition to their luxurious taste and texture, morels are loaded with all kinds of vitamins and minerals. They will generally contain significant quantities of iron, copper, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin D, folate, niacin, riboflavin and a decent dose of potassium, magnesium, calcium, selenium, thiamine, vitamins E and B6. The fresher the mushrooms, the better the nutrient content.

“Maitake” means dancing mushroom. This mushroom is a type of adaptogen. Adaptogens assist the body in fighting against any type of mental or physical difficulty. They also work to regulate systems of the body that have become unbalanced. While this mushroom can be used in recipes for taste alone, it’s considered to be a medicinal mushroom.
Compared to other mushrooms, maitake has shown better results in preventing and treating cancer and other health conditions. Maitake also has a positive effect on overall immunity.

Turkey tail (Coriolus versicolor) is a mushroom. It contains polysaccharide peptide (PSP) and polysaccharide krestin (PSK), which are used as medicine.
Turkey tail mushroom grows on stumps and the decomposing wood of trees. The PSP and PSK in turkey tail mushroom might help slow cancer growth and boost the immune system.
People use turkey tail mushroom to improve response to cancer medicines and radiation. It is also used for muscle strength, fatigue, UTIs, and many other conditions.

Possibly Effective for :Cancer. Taking polysaccharide krestin (PSK), a substance found in turkey tail mushroom, by mouth might improve the response to chemotherapy by a small amount in some people with certain types of cancer.

Cordyceps spp. mushrooms have a long tradition of use as a natural raw material in Asian ethnomedicine because of their adaptogenic, tonic effects and their ability to reduce fatigue and stimulate the immune system in humans. This review aims to present the chemical composition and medicinal properties of Cordyceps militaris fruiting bodies and mycelium, as well as mycelium from in vitro cultures. The analytical results of the composition of C. militaris grown in culture media show the bioactive components such as cordycepin, polysaccharides, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), ergothioneine and others described in the review. To summarize, based on the presence of several bioactive compounds that contribute to biological activity, C. militaris mushrooms definitely deserve to be considered as functional foods and also have great potential for medicinal use. Recent scientific reports indicate the potential of cordycepin in antiviral activity.

• May Boost Exercise Performance.
• Cordyceps are thought to increase the body’s production of the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is essential for delivering energy to the muscles.
• Anti-Aging Properties.
• Several studies have found that Cordyceps increase antioxidants in aged mice, helping improve memory and sexual function.
• Antioxidants are molecules that fight cell damage by neutralizing free radicals, which can otherwise contribute to disease and aging.
• Potential Anti-Tumor Effects
• In test-tube studies, Cordyceps have been shown to inhibit the growth of many types of human cancer cells, including lung, colon, skin and liver cancers.
• May Help Manage Type 2 Diabetes.
• Possible Benefits for Heart Health.
• May Help Fight Inflammation.

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a type of fungus that grows mainly on the bark of birch trees in cold climates.
It has also been used to treat diabetes, certain cancers and heart disease.
Traditionally, chaga was grated into a fine powder and brewed as an herbal tea.
Nowadays, it’s not only available as a tea but also as a powdered or capsuled supplement. The tea may feature chaga alone or in combination with other mushrooms, such as cordyceps.
Taking chaga with either warm or cold water is believed to release its medicinal properties.
Keep in mind that reliable information on chaga’s nutritional content is extremely limited.
That said, they’re low in calories, very high in fiber and loaded with antioxidants. Boosts Your Immune System and Fights InflammationPrevents and Fights CancerLowers Blood SugarLowers Cholesterol. Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOPS) is supposed to be one of the major bioactive components in Inonotus obliquus, which possesses antitumor, antioxidant, anti-virus, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities.