Biolife only uses organic log-grown fruiting body extracts of functional mushrooms. This is exactly why we never use mycelium.
Many of you have asked why we use fruiting bodies. This topic matters so much to all of us (and for you) that we are putting it all on paper for you to really grasp.
So, What Are Fruiting Bodies?
Fruiting bodies are the part of mushrooms that create spores, which help to reproduce the fungi and spread their genes around the environment. However, many people think that these fruiting bodies aren’t really important to human health. But this couldn’t be further from the truth; in fact, having proper fruiting bodies in your diet can greatly improve your mental acuity and help you to focus better throughout the day. In addition, mushroom fruiting bodies contain unique enzymes that boost your immune system, making it easier to fight off disease and sickness in your everyday life.
What Is Functional Mushroom?
Functional mushrooms are mushrooms that have been used for centuries for their medicinal properties. These mushrooms have been linked to boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and providing an overall feeling of wellness. Functional mushrooms come in a variety of forms, including fruiting bodies and extracts. Fruiting bodies are the part of the mushroom that is harvested for consumption and can be found in fresh or dried form. Extracts are created from boiling down the liquid from a mushroom broth into a concentrated product with medicinal properties.
Mycelium Vs. Fruiting Bodies
The difference between mycelium and fruiting bodies can be difficult to understand, but the basic answer is that mycelium grows underground in what are called rhizomorphs, while fruiting bodies are mushrooms that grow above ground from the mycelium. So how do you choose which one you need?
Fruiting bodies are the reproductive structures of fungi that produce spores. Mycelium refers to the network of thin, thread-like cells called hyphae that make up a fungus’s vegetative body. The hyphae grow from the center outward and branch out, forming a dense web of cells. As these filaments grow through their environment, they take nutrients from the soil around them and use those nutrients to fuel their growth. When conditions are right, these filaments will reproduce by releasing spores into the air.
Humans have been using useful mushrooms for at least 5,000 years in cultures from China to Europe. You might be surprised to know that mushroom products that have been dominating market for years do not have real mushrooms. They are formed of mycelium, which is basically the "root system" of mushroom. However, during the hundreds of years that people have utilized mushrooms, every single civilization has used only the fruiting body and never the mycelium.
The Benefits Of Each
Mycelium are fine, but it's the fruiting body that does all the work! Mycelium mostly just acts as a support system and do not produce any of the active ingredients. Fruiting bodies, on the other hand, produce things like beta-glucans and polysaccharides that have been shown to have numerous health benefits.
Mycelium is a brand-new developing area in the field of research, whereas fruiting body research is supported by thousands of years of research. The results of current studies indicate that fruiting bodies may contain 15 times as many active chemicals as mycelium. The substances that truly assist your body are known as "active ingredients," and they include ergosterol, triterpenes and many more.
If you have any other questions, reach out via team@biolifenutrition.co.uk
