Possible changes to the serotoninergic and immune systems, although more research is needed. Strong hallucinations including altered visual and auditory perceptions increased heart rate and blood pressure nausea burning sensation in the stomach tingling sensations and increased skin sensitivity. Commercial NamesĭMT is Schedule I **, but plants containing it are not controlled For more information, see Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs. It was used historically in Amazonian religious and healing rituals. It takes about 1.8 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of mushrooms.For information on alcohol’s health effects, please visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) website.Ī tea made in the Amazon from a plant ( Psychotria viridis) containing the hallucinogen DMT, along with another vine ( Banisteriopsis caapi) that contains an MAO inhibitor preventing the natural breakdown of DMT in the digestive system, which enhances serotonergic activity. They require less water than other crops.Mushrooms often grow in the dark and a small amount of electricity is used to harvest or monitor the mushrooms. Once used up, these materials can be composted and repurposed for other uses. Mushrooms are grown in various growing mediums such as straw, corn cobs, cocoa hulls, or oats. In fact, 1 acre can produce up to 1 million pounds of mushrooms annually! Indoor growing is a very efficient use of space. Mushrooms are one of the most sustainably-produced food sources in the United States. In fact, 63% of all white mushrooms are grown in Pennsylvania. The majority of commercial mushroom growers are located in the state of Pennsylvania. Check out your local farmers’ market or local produce market to find a local grower. Mushrooms grow on a year-round cycle indoors, and edible mushrooms are grown everywhere! There is likely a local producer near you. Wondering why we love Vitamin D so much? Learn more about the benefits of Vitamin D by downloading our fact sheet. Mushrooms that have been exposed to UV light are the only source of Vitamin D on the produce aisle! Ask your produce buyer if they source mushrooms enriched with Vitamin D. White mushrooms, crimini or brown mushrooms, portabella mushrooms, and maitake mushrooms are excellent producers of Vitamin D2 when exposed to ultraviolet light. When some mushrooms are exposed to ultraviolet light such as from sunlight or an ultraviolet lamp, they produce a nutritionally significant amount of Vitamin D2. Mushroom farmers use a variety of growing mediums such as straw, corn cobs, cocoa hulls, or oats. Unlike green plants that convert sunlight to food through photosynthesis, the mushrooms gather nourishment from their growing medium, called compost. Mushrooms produce Vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet light, but they don’t need light to grow. Store mushrooms in their original packaging – they’ll keep longer! 3. Pro-tip: mushrooms need good air flow, so never store them in a plastic bag (instead, store in their original packaging, or a clean brown paper bag). Mushrooms grown for human consumption are grown in a very sterile environment to prevent any contamination. Each variety of mushrooms prefers a certain amount of heat, humidity, and air flow. Mushroom farms are typically indoors so farmers can replicate nature’s perfect conditions. Mushrooms flourish under precise conditions.

Mushroom farmers start from fungal spores to grow and harvest delicious mushrooms. When mycelium is mature, it produces a mushroom which will spread its spores in the forest to continue the lifecycle of the mushroom. Mushrooms are decomposers and break down dead plants to recycle their nutrients. Have you ever seen a mushroom grow in the wild? What you cannot see is the underground network of mycelium that scavenges the soil for food. When spores germinate, they grow into a lacy, filament-like root network called mycelium. Mushrooms are fungi and grow differently than fruits and vegetables. The lifecycle of a mushroom is very unique.

Mushroom infographic