Page 130 - FoodFocusThailand No.199 October 2022

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Is Mycelium or Fungus Meat Good
for You?
Honestly, the potential health benefits of fungus
meat are primarily not well understood. There’s
simply not enough information about this topic
to provide an informed description. However,
there are many possible advantages that this
meat could provide, including benefits like:
• A nearly fat-free design that minimizes
weight gain and could help with weight loss as
well
• High concentration of iron, zinc, and other
nutrients make it a high-quality meat
replacement
• Suppression of appetite thanks to
decreased levels of ghrelin caused by a higher
protein level.
• High levels of fiber could help to improve
your digestion and enhance your potential
weight loss
• Complete protein that helps minimize your
risk of deficiency and improve your bodily health
• Enhanced physical beauty thanks to better
hair, skin, nails, and muscles.
• Decrease in bad cholesterol and an
increase in good cholesterol that helps to make
your body healthier
• Better sugar control than standard types
of meat-based protein, keeping your body
found in fungus. For now, just now that mycelium, fungus, or mycelium or healthier
fungus meat all refer to the same item. While different firms may use slightly
different methods to produce their product, they’ll more or less all operate Are There Any Dangers in Mycelium
similarly. Fungus-based meat has interested many for years because this or Fungus Meat?
food has a dense protein footprint, a surprisingly rich taste, and is very Although mycoprotein products are available
easy to grow. Cutting back on meat production by developing fungus-based in limited amounts in the U.S, even in the form
alternatives has been a potentially robust solution for global warming and of fungus meat, these products have the
other issues. potential to cause nausea, vomiting, hives, and
diarrhea. This issue is known as mycoprotein
How is Mycelium or Fungus Meat Made? allergy and is something to be tested for before
The methods used to produce this product include fermenting various fungi buying any of these products. Doing so should
in a controlled environment, carefully removing them from the containment minimize any risks that you might otherwise
center, processing their fibers, and fashioning them into an edible form. In experience here.
addition, companies can pack this mycelium with a surprising number of This problem is concerning because most
high-quality vitamins and minerals for consumers’ needs by producing a people probably don’t realize that they have a
nutrient-rich environment. Just as significantly, this process naturally cuts fungal allergy because it is so rarely discovered
back on fat. Thus, fungus meat is naturally fat-free and provides a healthy or tested. As a result, some people may just
meat alternative for many people, like other meat alternatives. assume that mushrooms don’t agree with them,
A startup in Spain uses fungal tissue cultures to create complex which usually means they feel nauseous eating
structures that replicate meat’s fibrous and tender consistency. The them. When this happens, an unknown allergy
company explains that filamentous fungi have structures that are similar is likely the main culprit. This allergy problem
to the muscles of animals. They can modify the shape, color, and flavor of is likely to be the most common concern
the filamentous structures in mycelial matrices to make products that taste centered around mushroom-based meats.
like meat. Not only is fungi-based meat faster to produce, but it also has Manufacturers are attempting to work around
additional benefits, including antioxidants and being cholesterol-free. this fact but are unlikely to eliminate it.

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