Do You Like Mushrooms?

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Wikipedia says that "A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing, fruiting body of a fungus..." A mushroom contains a cap, stem and gills under the cap. Forms deviating from the standard are the puffball, stinkhorn, truffle, bolete and morel. The truffle, for example, grows under the ground. In the 15th and 16th centuries mushrooms were referred to as mushroms, mousheroms, etc. In the 14th century in England the word toadstool appears. The word possibly means an inedible, poisonous fungus which a toadstool is. Mushrooms may be edible, poisonous or unpalatable. There are approximately 14,000 species. Some of the edible varieties are chanterelles, shitake, oyster, button, lobster, crimini and portobello. Some poisonous varieties are toxic, mind-altering, death cap, false parasol, jack o' lantern, inky cap, brain, angel wing and laughing Jim. Mostly water, a mushroom contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Mushrooms can lower cholesterol, are good for gut health, safe for diabetics, can lower blood pressure and are anti-inflammatory which boosts the immune system. Do you like mushrooms? What kind? Do you cook with them? *****Do not forage for mushrooms unless you are an expert or in the company of an expert.***** Photo Credit: Pixabay