Guest guest Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Some of you may have heard me talk about possible vitamin D from mushrooms. Those of us in the NW (and some other climates) tend to be lacking in Vitamin D, the sunshine nutrient. I was tested for vitamin D for the first time a couple years ago. According to standard interpretation, I was very low. That was pre-spring and I hadn't been out in the sun much. Last year I was tested (my annual blood testing, which I have done for decades) a little later and after a trip or two to sunny L.A. My D level was quite a bit higher, but still considered low. I realize many people may not focus on testing and values. I don't worry about it, but find it interesting. With a history of annual tests I can always compare results, even if they are based on " standards " from people on Standard American Diets (which, IMO, are sub-optimal). It may be that the " standards " are far from optimal, so I don't stress about results (but still find them interesting.) My N.D. seems to find them fascinating (I'm his only raw patient)! I had come across information last year on the idea that mushrooms contain Vitamin D. The last couple weeks, I have been eating some mushrooms (shiitake and portabella. Normally, I rarely eat mushrooms). I plan to have my annual test soon, including the Vitamin D test. I'll some more mushrooms and see if there is a difference. I have made no L.A. trips recently and have not been in the sun much. The mushrooms I've been eating, I have not been intentionally exposing to the sun (even if overcast or cloudy), but will prior to my test. While mushrooms may not be an ideal (or natural) food for humans, is there a benefit to consuming them, especially if they are found in seasons where plant-based foods are less available (and where sunlight- created vitamin D is lacking)? Mushrooms, however, may also be toxic. Agaritine, a potentially carcinogenic substance is found in mushrooms, such as portabella. (article link below) I suggest that caution should be used in consuming mushrooms, but there may be some answers there, as well. As toxicity and carcinogenic effects may have been realized with subjects on Standard American Diets, how much difference is there on subjects on 100% (or a majority) raw food diets? Perhaps we don't need as much Vitamin D as is believed. Perhaps we do. I do recognize that the natural environment/climate for humans is in the tropics, where sunshine is plentiful and we don't stay inside or have clothes bundled on us, covering our skin. It is said that we may not get vitamin D during the winter in Seattle, because of the angle of the sun. But, again, this was not based on subjects on 100% raw diets. I recognize my skin is working far more efficiently on a 100% raw food diet. This is confirmed to me when I spend a day in a bright sun and do not experience the symptoms I did a decade or more ago (painful burns, and skin pealing off in sheets). If my skin (and other tissues) work more efficiently, might I actually get vitamin D in Seattle in the winter, when in the sun, contrary to the idea that I won't? Just some thoughts to consider. Below are the article links. Jeff Light-zapped mushrooms filled with vitamin D Bringing 'shrooms out of the dark packs them with sunshine nutrient Tues., April. 18, 2006 WASHINGTON - Mushrooms may soon emerge from the dark as an unlikely but significant source of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin that helps keep bones strong and fights disease. Full story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12370708/ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Vitamin D-Rich Mushrooms: A Research Success! By Marcia Wood November 12, 2008 Now there's an even better reason to add fresh mushrooms to your breakfast omelet, noontime burger, or dinner salad. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Albany, Calif., have teamed with Monterey Mushrooms, Inc., of Watsonville, Calif., to boost the vitamin D content of white, brown and portabella mushrooms. Thanks to UV-B light—like that in sunshine—the company's new Sun Bella line of fresh mushrooms offers at least 100 percent of the recommended intake of vitamin D in each 3-ounce serving. Full story: http://www.ars.usda.gov/IS/pr/2008/081112.htm * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Article: Eating Raw Mushrooms Causes Problems Jan Lindgren. MushRumors, Oregon Mycological. Society., March – April 1997 http://fungi-zette.com/mush12.htm#raw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Fascinating, Jeff! I had read something beneficial about white mushrooms last month, and I bought a few about two weeks ago to add to salad, but I forgot, and they went bad and I threw them away. It will be very interesting to hear the results of your anecdotal study. (Would you like to publish it on RawFoodsNewsMagazine.com?) Judy Pokras vegwriter http://Green-Advertising.blogspot.com Specializing in promoting raw vegan and other green businesses. Editor/founder/publisher Raw Foods News Magazine www.rawfoodsnewsmagazine.com An online magazine celebrating raw vegan cuisine since March 2001, and featuring authoritative info, breaking news, and fun interactive features on the raw vegan lifestyle. Have you signed up for our free e-newsletter? STOP GLOBAL WARMING GO VEGAN bumper sticker: http://www.cafepress.com/rawfoods.86920766 On Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 2:44 PM, Jeff Rogers <jeffwrote: > Some of you may have heard me talk about possible vitamin D from > mushrooms. Those of us in the NW (and some other climates) tend to be > lacking in Vitamin D, the sunshine nutrient. I was tested for vitamin > D for the first time a couple years ago. According to standard > interpretation, I was very low. That was pre-spring and I hadn't been > out in the sun much. Last year I was tested (my annual blood testing, > which I have done for decades) a little later and after a trip or two > to sunny L.A. My D level was quite a bit higher, but still considered > low. I realize many people may not focus on testing and values. I > don't worry about it, but find it interesting. With a history of > annual tests I can always compare results, even if they are based on > " standards " from people on Standard American Diets (which, IMO, are > sub-optimal). It may be that the " standards " are far from optimal, so > I don't stress about results (but still find them interesting.) My > N.D. seems to find them fascinating (I'm his only raw patient)! > > I had come across information last year on the idea that mushrooms > contain Vitamin D. The last couple weeks, I have been eating some > mushrooms (shiitake and portabella. Normally, I rarely eat mushrooms). > I plan to have my annual test soon, including the Vitamin D test. I'll > some more mushrooms and see if there is a difference. I have made no > L.A. trips recently and have not been in the sun much. The mushrooms > I've been eating, I have not been intentionally exposing to the sun > (even if overcast or cloudy), but will prior to my test. > > While mushrooms may not be an ideal (or natural) food for humans, is > there a benefit to consuming them, especially if they are found in > seasons where plant-based foods are less available (and where sunlight- > created vitamin D is lacking)? Mushrooms, however, may also be toxic. > Agaritine, a potentially carcinogenic substance is found in mushrooms, > such as portabella. (article link below) > > I suggest that caution should be used in consuming mushrooms, but > there may be some answers there, as well. As toxicity and carcinogenic > effects may have been realized with subjects on Standard American > Diets, how much difference is there on subjects on 100% (or a > majority) raw food diets? Perhaps we don't need as much Vitamin D as > is believed. Perhaps we do. I do recognize that the natural > environment/climate for humans is in the tropics, where sunshine is > plentiful and we don't stay inside or have clothes bundled on us, > covering our skin. It is said that we may not get vitamin D during the > winter in Seattle, because of the angle of the sun. But, again, this > was not based on subjects on 100% raw diets. I recognize my skin is > working far more efficiently on a 100% raw food diet. This is > confirmed to me when I spend a day in a bright sun and do not > experience the symptoms I did a decade or more ago (painful burns, and > skin pealing off in sheets). If my skin (and other tissues) work more > efficiently, might I actually get vitamin D in Seattle in the winter, > when in the sun, contrary to the idea that I won't? > > Just some thoughts to consider. > > Below are the article links. > > Jeff > > > Light-zapped mushrooms filled with vitamin D > Bringing 'shrooms out of the dark packs them with sunshine nutrient > > Tues., April. 18, 2006 > > WASHINGTON - Mushrooms may soon emerge from the dark as an unlikely > but significant source of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin that helps > keep bones strong and fights disease. > > Full story: > http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12370708/ > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > > Vitamin D-Rich Mushrooms: A Research Success! > By Marcia Wood > November 12, 2008 > > Now there's an even better reason to add fresh mushrooms to your > breakfast omelet, noontime burger, or dinner salad. Agricultural > Research Service (ARS) scientists in Albany, Calif., have teamed with > Monterey Mushrooms, Inc., of Watsonville, Calif., to boost the vitamin > D content of white, brown and portabella mushrooms. > > Thanks to UV-B light—like that in sunshine—the company's new Sun Bella > line of fresh mushrooms offers at least 100 percent of the recommended > intake of vitamin D in each 3-ounce serving. > > Full story: > http://www.ars.usda.gov/IS/pr/2008/081112.htm > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > > Article: Eating Raw Mushrooms Causes Problems > Jan Lindgren. MushRumors, Oregon Mycological. Society., March – April > 1997 > http://fungi-zette.com/mush12.htm#raw > > > > > > --- > > Visit the Seattle Raw Foods Community: http://.org! > Groups Links > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 I'll try to remember to post some results on the list and we can put something on your site (we can chat later). I realize there could be other effects (negative or positive) on my blood test, post-mushrooms. I'll try to eat a similar raw diet to past years with the exception of the shrooms. Jeff On Mar 1, 2009, at 11:57 AM, Judy Pokras wrote: > It will be very interesting to hear the results of your anecdotal > study. > > (Would you like to publish it on RawFoodsNewsMagazine.com?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Excellent! Thanks, Judy On Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 3:18 PM, Jeff Rogers <jeffwrote: > I'll try to remember to post some results on the list and we can put > something on your site (we can chat later). > > I realize there could be other effects (negative or positive) on my > blood test, post-mushrooms. I'll try to eat a similar raw diet to past > years with the exception of the shrooms. > > Jeff > > > On Mar 1, 2009, at 11:57 AM, Judy Pokras wrote: > > > It will be very interesting to hear the results of your anecdotal > > study. > > > > (Would you like to publish it on RawFoodsNewsMagazine.com?) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Jeff, this is interesting, not many RFs (or anyone else) can put together such a history on their own. I appreciate your sharing ... would be fun " some day " to go through all that data and look for some things you might not be aware of. One day, perhaps. One more-than-semantic point: The interpretation of the test results may be based upon some set of standards, but the data themselves are just that, raw data. Exposing the mushrooms to the sun may damage or destroy them. We are designed to live in the light. They are designed to live in relative darkness. I appreciate your overall sense of caution. I do not find fungi (a term which subsumes " mushrooms " ) to be food for our species, as the cleansing and eliminative overhead outweighs whatever benefit one might receive. Rarely do people think in this way, because we have all been entrained to fractional thinking: we simply look at a list of " what's in food X " , we don't look beyond that. So we draw many, many incorrect conclusions about food choices. Best regards, Elchanan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Hi again Judy, Jeff, et. al., For perspective, and to continue my comments from my last post, even a table leg contains SOME nutrients for humans, given enough preprocessing. But this does not likely lead us to conclude that a =table leg is food. Make sense? Best to all, Elchanan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 On Mar 1, 2009, at 1:19 PM, Elchanan wrote: > For perspective, and to continue my comments from my last post, even > a table > leg contains SOME nutrients for humans, given enough preprocessing. > But this > does not likely lead us to conclude that a =table leg is food. > > Make sense? I think so, but I seriously doubt mushrooms could be used for table legs! While your example is very exaggerated, it supports my comment suggesting that mushrooms are not ideal. I think of mushrooms as more from northern climates, though I'm sure they are found in various forms all over the planet. As humans migrated away from their natural climate and natural foods, I'm sure they began eating all kinds of things in an effort to survive, one reason for so much animal flesh and cooked foods today. While our ancestors likely began eating mushrooms to survive (even if not natural for them), I suspect they did not try eating table legs (though soaked wood or wood chips may yield them some sustenance). Even if their proper climate, in times of lack, I'm sure humans ate outside their ideal diet in order to survive. So, while not ideal, I'm still curious about the Vitamin D effects of mushroom consumption (as well as other possible effects.) I don't notice any toxic effects when eating them. When eating a mushroom by itself, I don't notice anything that turns me off, although it may not be as pleasing as ripe fruit. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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