From food, drinks, medicine, fashion, and interior design, mushrooms are everywhere. With a higher collective knowledge of mushrooms, they’ve become quite the prominent aspect to modern life.

You may only be familiar with them in your food and are  just now  hearing about how trendy these little fungi have become.

Is that all it is, though? A trend? I like to think not but if it is, this is one trend wagon you’ll want to jump on.

Mushrooms are an amazing benefit to your overall health and can be added to everyday meals or even drinks. Each type of mushroom is unique in its ability to heal or promote good health.

For example: Lion’s mane may help protect our memory and fight against dementia, quell symptoms of depression, promote healthy and speedy nerve cell recovery, reduce the risk of stomach ulcers, and reduce inflammation all while supporting the immune system. Always consult with a doctor if you are taking any form of medication.

Besides being trendy decor for your house in the form of wallpaper or paintings and printed on blankets as botanical patterns, mushrooms were once named the “food of the gods” by the Romans and the “elixir of life” by the Chinese, mushrooms are now so much more than a food source.

They have made their way into skincare such as face masks, serums, cleansers, and moisturizers. You’ll find them in lifestyle products that use leather, like wallets, purses, and furniture. Interestingly enough, mushrooms have begun sprouting (pun intended) into brick production.

Researchers and architects are testing the strength and viability of using fungi-based materials due to the high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions released from construction sites. According to a report by the International Energy Agency, the building and construction industry accounted for 39% of CO2 emissions in 2018, 11% of which came from building materials such as steel and cement.

Mycelium-based building materials are proven to be safer and healthier than traditional building materials and help maintain better air quality within the building.

Mushrooms are all around us and though they are extremely helpful, some are deadly. Be sure you can correctly identify them if you decide to forage. If you have any doubt, do not eat it.

We have a plethora of books in our libraries and on our Libby app to help you learn more about mushrooms and where to find them, how to grow them, as well as how to identify them.