IT’S time for mushrooms again but due to the delay of rains we seem not to have different types of mushrooms yet, but Wart Hog was happy to see that still there were some people along the road sides selling mushrooms. But really what is a mushroom?
Mushrooms are not plants! Recently it has been discovered that they are more closely related to animals. But at one time, Fungi, including mushrooms, were believed to be close relatives of plants so much of their nomenclature (names for parts of the mushroom) are close to the names used for plant parts. It is the fruit (like an apple) of the mushroom “body” and contain mushroom “seeds” called spores.
The body of the mushroom is called mycelium and its individual parts are microscopic. Since the body of the mushroom is usually dispersed over a relatively large area it is rarely noticed. In nature some species of mushrooms may have a body that spreads over hundreds of square miles!
Mushrooms are fungi, and are usually placed in a Kingdom of their own apart from plants and animals. Mushrooms contain no chlorophyll and most are considered saprophytes. That is, they obtain their nutrition from metabolising non living organic matter. This means they break down and “eat” dead plants, like your compost pile does.
The body of the mushroom stores nutrients and other essential compounds, and when enough material is stored and the conditions are right they start to fruit – produce mushrooms. It is a hidden kingdom. The part of the fungus that we see is only the “fruit” of the organism.
The living body of the fungus is a mycelium made out of a web of tiny filaments called hyphae. The mycelium is usually hidden in the soil, in wood, or another food source. A mycelium may fill a single ant, or cover many acres. The branching hyphae can add over a half mile (1 km) of total length to the mycelium each day. These webs live unseen until they develop mushrooms, puffballs, truffles, brackets, cups, “birds nests,” “corals” or other fruiting bodies. If the mycelium produces microscopic fruiting bodies, people may never notice the fungus.
Wart Hog started thinking if we do get any medicinal benefits from mushrooms and yes he come across information about Oyster mushrooms, botanically named Pleurotus ostreatus, which have light brown to white meaty gills which are mild in flavor and resemble the scalloped design of shellfish.
They grow in the wild on decaying logs and trees and are low in cholesterol and fat (studies indicate that it is the healthier unsaturated kind). They also contain substantial amounts of protein, fiber, vitamins B1, B2, C, niacin, folic acid, minerals calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, amino acids, the antibiotic compound benzaldehyde, and the phytonutrient ergothioneine (ET).
Wart Hog was told that oyster mushrooms have been tested quite a bit in laboratories and clinics to determine benefits to human health. They have proven to be a superior antidote for high cholesterol, cancer, viruses, bacteria, and inflammation. The phytonutrient ET is an antioxidant and does a great job protecting cells from free radicals. It also gives a boost to the immune system. Coming back to Zambia, the common mushroom Termitomyces titanicus mushrooms, which is the largest edible mushrooms, grow wildly at the beginning of the rainy season.
The impressive nutritional profile of termitomyces titanicus mushrooms underscores the healing power of nature and exemplifies the nutritional superiority of village style diets.
Generally, mushrooms have robust amounts of vitamin D, a potent mood booster effective for fighting depression and easing stress.  Plus, vitamin D is widely recognized for successfully controlling blood pressure and cutting the risk for stroke.
Mushrooms are also abundant in plant based protein, used by the body to build new cells, boost the immune system, and perform various essential cell functions.
Termitomyces titanicus mushrooms are packed with a wide array of anti oxidants including phenols, flavonoids, and beta carotene.
These anti oxidants reduce damage to body cells therefore enhancing immunity and improving the body’s ability to fight hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, and just about any disease.
Anti oxidants in termitomyces titanicus mushrooms also have anti aging qualities that fight wrinkles and give you a youthful appearance.
Also present are compounds known as tocopherols which are equipped with tremendous scavenging power to eliminate toxins from the system, profoundly cutting the possibility of disease.
The combination of antioxidants in termitomyces titanicus mushrooms possesses extremely formidable anti cancer properties that not only reduce existing cancerous cells but also prevent new cancer cells from forming.
Anti oxidants in termitomyces and other types of mushrooms are capable of suppressing prostate and breast cancer cells.  Like other mushrooms, termitomyces are a great source of selenium, another powerful nutrient proven by research to be exceedingly effective for fighting prostate cancer.
In addition to all these nutrients, termitomyces and other mushrooms are high in beta glucans, compounds that have an overwhelmingly positive influence in building a strong immune system.
The nutritional composition of termitomyces titanicus corroborates some traditional African beliefs that eating termitomyces microcarpus mushrooms, a similar variety to termitomyces titanicus, can restore health.
For comments write to Wildlife & Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia, Po Box 30255, Lusaka. Telefax: +260-211-251630, Cell: 0977-780770