No More Empty Pots proudly participates in the statewide “Harvest of the Month” program, celebrating locally grown and seasonal foods. Each month, we highlight a Nebraska-grown item, encouraging the community to taste, explore, and learn more. This March, we’re featuring microgreens and mushrooms! Join us in celebrating the flavors of Nebraska and the importance of eating local!
This week we are diving into Lion’s Mane mushrooms and the farmers bringing these yummy morsels to our CSA!
Farmer Spotlight!
Flavor Country Farms - Honey Creek, IA
“Nestled in the majestic Loess Hills of western Iowa, Flavor Country Farms has a diverse line up of products to offer. Our mushrooms and microgreens are produced year round in indoor controlled environments, while the greenhouses and fields take care of the seasonal produce. Our produce selections are chef inspired with a wide variety to choose from. You can find our products at your favorite restaurants in the Omaha Metro Area, as well as select grocery stores, co-op's, CSA's, produce stands, and farmers markets.”
“Feed the soil and the soil will provide. The core principle we abide by with our compost, cover crop, and green manure programs. We take great pride in what we do and take tremendous responsibility in how we grow our products.
Keeping the soil teaming with life is of utmost importance to our model to preserve the Earth and soil for future generations.
Using organic technique, and biological pest control, we feel we are always in a healthy symbiotic relationship with nature as it should be. Being certified with the Produce Safety Alliance of Iowa, assures our customers with proper handling and sanitation guidelines.”
Check out their website to learn more about all their awesome products!
https://flavorcountryfarms.com
Rawr, the Lion’s Mane Mushroom!!
Lion’s mane mushrooms are big, white mushrooms that resemble a lion’s mane. Although they’re generally thought of as a single type of mushroom, there are three different species. Hericium erinaceus is the one that’s most widely available.
Lion’s mane mushrooms usually look like white pom-poms and are used as both food and medicine. They are extensively used in Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, India, and China.
Lion’s mane mushrooms have a flavor that many describe as similar to seafood. They can be eaten raw, dried, or cooked. As a supplement, the mushroom comes in powders, liquids, and capsules.
Lion’s mane mushrooms are rich in vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. They are also a good source of essential minerals such as manganese, zinc, and potassium.
The preliminary evidence suggests lion's mane mushrooms might help in these ways:
Fighting inflammation and free radicals
Many health conditions, including heart disease, arthritis, and cancer, involve chronic inflammation and the effects of unstable molecules in our bodies called free radicals. Lion’s mane mushrooms contain potentially potent antioxidants, which are substances that limit the damage of free radicals. They also contain anti-inflammatory substances that show promise in animal studies.
Fighting dementia and other brain diseases
Some studies in animals and small, preliminary studies in people suggest lion's mane mushrooms might have a role in the prevention or treatment of cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's disease.
For example, in one study of 30 older adults with mild cognitive impairment, those who took tablets containing Hericium erinaceus powder for 4 months showed a temporary improvement on cognitive tests. The mushrooms have also been shown to slow Alzheimer's symptoms and brain changes linked to the disease in mice.
In another small human study, younger adults who took capsules of lion's mane mushroom powder showed improved mental performance speed.
Lab studies show the mushrooms are a good source of hericenones and erinacines, two chemicals that accelerate the growth of brain cells.
Reducing anxiety and depression
Lion’s mane extracts could help treat some mental health conditions. To test this possibility, a study was carried out on Japanese women with many health conditions, including menopausal symptoms and poor sleep. Some were given cookies made with lion’s mane extracts while others were given placebo cookies for 4 weeks.
The women who got the lion’s mane cookies reported lower levels of depressive symptoms and stress compared to the placebo group.
Hericenones and erinacines, two kinds of chemicals in lion's mane mushrooms, may be responsible for any antidepressant effect, researchers believe. These chemicals affect the release of nerve growth factor (NGF), a substance that regulates the growth and survival of brain cells.
https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-lions-mane-mushrooms
