Contrary to what a majority of the population believes, these fungal organisms that we call mushrooms are made up of three different parts. The one we all know and eat is called the mushroom (fruiting body), and it comes in all shapes and sizes. Under the mushroom (fruiting body or cap) you'll find spores (the seed) of the mushroom, which facilitate reproduction.
Then, there's the mycelium—the root system or vegetative body of a mushroom. It is a dense mass of thread-like tissue filaments called hyphae. These web-like structures spread into the substrate the fungus is growing on. This could be wood, soil, compost, coffee, sugar cane, or grains like rice and oats.
The purpose of the mycelium is to find and break down food sources in the substrate and collect nutrients and water for the final creation of the mushroom.
When the mycelium has gathered enough energy and the environmental conditions are optimal, it will begin producing mushrooms. However, even under the right conditions, some species of mycelia don't produce mushrooms (the fruiting body).
As this article will outline, mycelium has other useful properties that can enable humans to use it for a number of environmentally-friendly purposes.
In this article:
The mycelium is a part of a mushroom that is very similar to the root system of any plant.
It is a rich network of thin filaments called hyphae that collect food, water, and nutrients to nourish the fungus. It also provides the mushroom with support and anchorage.
The mycelial network remains unseen, as most of it is intertwined with the substrate it's growing on to form an inseparable mass.
Many supplement manufacturers grow mycelium on a grain substrate to produce "mushroom supplements." Using myceliated grain to produce "mushroom supplements" is misleading as the resulting supplements have no mushrooms. Therefore, supplements made from mycelium grown on grain have low potency, contain undesirable starch filler, and are lower in essential active compounds like beta-glucans. Beta-glucans are the primary active compound found in mushrooms and mycelium.
The mushroom (fruiting body) is most ideal for manufacturing mushroom supplements because it:
Mushrooms, like any other fungi, are essential to the ecosystem as they help to recycle nutrients and avail them to other organisms in the environment.
The mycelium helps to close the energy cycle of the ecosystem by decomposing organic matter and recycling it into beneficial compounds for the soil food web.
Enzymes secreted by the mycelium facilitate this cycle. The enzymes break down the substrate and the surrounding dead organic matter.
The hyphae facilitate the movement of the nutrients to the mushroom and recycle the dead plant matter into beneficial compounds that are again absorbed by the soil.
The mycelium also intertwines with other plant and tree roots to form a symbiotic ecosystem.
The mycelial network extends farther to connect vast root systems of trees and plants than a plant’s roots could. It delivers nutrients such as phosphorus, which plants, especially in a scarce nutrient environment, can’t reach on their own.
It also facilitates the exchange of sugars and carbohydrates from the plants to the fungus.
Simply put, mycelium allows the exchange of nutrients all over the forest, which helps to improve the health of the entire ecosystem.
Below are some of the ways that humans can use mycelium as a sustainable tool for sustainable material production and for reducing pollution.
Mycoremediation is the use of fungi to remove waste from the environment.
It involves maximizing the production of fungi to reduce waste generation. It can be used to encourage treatment and conversion of waste into a useful form.
The process of mycoremediation relies on enzymes produced by mycelium to degrade substrate (in this case, waste and pollutants) and generate products fit for consumption.
How? Unlike other living organisms, mycelium breaks down food sources before ingesting the nutrients. This process allows the fungi to eliminate any nonbiodegradables like hydrocarbons, plastics, unrefined oil, or even nuclear waste.
As such, mycoremediation can help to decontaminate our environment in the following ways:
Mycelium is highly absorbent, and it has the potential to break down and absorb even the most toxic human-created waste.
It ingests nutrients from the substrate, decomposes, and redistributes them as bioactive compounds to other plants in the ecosystem.
Read more about the vast potential of mycoremediation in our article, Mycoremediation: 8 Ways Mushrooms Can Mitigate Pollution.
Vegan and vegetarian eating is an effective way of reducing the environmental carbon footprint by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Mycelium is a delicious substitute for meat that can be found in ground form or grown and shaped into different meat-like textures.
Mycelium-based meat takes on the fibrous and tender consistency of animal-based meat but has a slightly different taste and significantly more benefits.
Mycelium meat is nutritious as it is a complete protein because it contains all the essential amino acids. It also includes a sufficient supply of fiber, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and low cholesterol content.
Furthermore, growing fungi-based meat requires up to 99% less energy, land, and water compared to what’s used to rear cattle.
Since mycelium feeds on waste, it can be used to detoxify waste and transform it into usable, eco-friendly, and sustainable materials. But its potential for positive environmental impact doesn’t end there.
Mycelium can be used to manufacture a variety of durable, biodegradable materials, such as:
The following images show some of the consumer objects that are being manufactured from mushroom mycelium.
Using mycelium as an alternative material is great for the environment in the following ways:
While regulated by the FDA, the dietary supplement industry still allows for confusing marketing and labeling, which has created uncertainty about the best part of a mushroom to use for supplements.
Is it the mushroom (fruiting body) or the mycelium?
The mushroom (fruiting body) is the best part to use for supplements because it contains a vast abundance of active compounds that support a variety of the body’s functions.
In more technical terms, the mushroom (fruiting body) can contain up to 10 times as much as many beta-glucans—polysaccharides that support your health and your immune response—as the mycelium when it is grown on a grain substrate.
However, because mycelium is inexpensive to grow, manufacturers often use this instead by growing it on grains like rice and oats. The resulting mycelium is inseparable from grain, therefore both end up in the final supplement product. Even worse, certain brands mislead customers into buying products made using the myceliated grain by using the term "mushroom" on the product label when the product itself contains no mushrooms.
The table below presents the differences between supplements made from mushrooms (fruiting body) and the mycelium or myceliated grain.
At Real Mushrooms, we understand the significance of these differences. Therefore, we strive to create high-quality supplements with only the mushroom and no mycelium or residual substrate.
This helps us deliver high-potency mushroom supplements that contain all the health benefits of real health-promoting mushrooms.
Our customers love our supplements and believe we provide them with value for their money. Here’s what they’ve got to say:
“The quality of these supplements seems to be far superior to most others on the market.” - Allie
“Impressed by the quality and transparency of this company, even explaining why the products are sourced from China and the process of how the mushrooms are harvested.” - Stacey D Avraham
“I really appreciate the fact that Real Mushrooms is so detail oriented on their web site and products enough to focus on concentrating the beta-glucans, and verifying for active compounds.” - George
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