I’m still experimenting with edible mushrooms, and I recently grew some chestnut mushrooms in my garden, which I was excited that they turned out. I took a photo of them developing over a few days to see how much they changed in 24 hours. It’s kind of fun seeing them develop.
I feel like chestnut mushrooms are a little known mushroom in a lot of circles. I wanted to grow them because I thought they looked cool and read that they taste quite good (which is true).
Like most mushrooms, they are a notable source of several essential nutrients, such as:
- B vitamins: A rich source of riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3), which are vital for energy production and a healthy nervous system.
- Vitamin D: Like other mushrooms, they can produce vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, which helps with bone health and immune function.
- Selenium: A powerful antioxidant that protects cells and supports the immune system and has been shown to be anti-cancer.
- Potassium: An important mineral for heart health and blood pressure regulation.
- Copper: Essential for the formation of red blood cells and maintaining nerve function.
In addition to their basic nutritional content, chestnut mushrooms offer other potential health benefits. They contain beta-glucans, which have been shown to help boost immune function. Also, they contain antioxidants such as ergothioneine (yeah, I had to look that one up too, never heard of it, basically a naturally occurring fungus amino acid) which may protect against oxidative stress.
Anyhow, here is a little 10 second video of their growth.
Carrots Over Cancer 