Molds Mushrooms And Medicines

"From beneficial fungi that keep bacteria under control and consume dead cells to toxic molds that cause disease, our bodies are constantly navigating a fungus-filled world. And our interactions with fungi are not limited to what happens in our bodies as we interact with these microbes via our diet and as a source of medicines. In short, there exists an incredible range of interactions between humans and fungi. In this book, Nicolas Money describes this relationship between fungi and humans in the context of our health. Readers learn how the field of mycology has been advancing, from studies that reveal the diversity of yeasts that grow on the skin to research on the use of psychedelic mushrooms in the treatment of depression. The book is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on how fungi operate in our bodies from spores in the lungs to the yeasts and filaments that can infect our internal organs. In particular, Money focuses on the mycobiome, which is the fungal part of the larger microbiome, and explains what is and isn't known about the significance of fungi in the health of the gut. In the second half of the book, Money shifts his focus to our relationship with fungi outside the body, including in food, medicine, and agriculture -- and he pulls no punches when it comes to countering misguided notions when it comes to the medicinal powers of mushrooms. Throughout the book, Money explains how the human-fungi relationship is symbiotic, meaning that it is sometimes beneficial and sometimes harmful. Ultimately, the reader comes away with a broad understanding of what scientists are learning about the fascinating role of fungi inside and outside of our bodies"--

Mushrooms magically spew forth from the earth in the hours that follow a summer rain. Fuzzy brown molds mischievously turn forgotten peaches to slime in the kitchen fruit bowl. And in thousands of other ways, members of the kingdom Fungi do their part to make life on Earth the miracle that it is. In this lively book, George Hudler leads us on a tour of an often-overlooked group of organisms, which differ radically from both animals and plants. Along the way the author stops to ponder the marvels of nature and the impact of mere microbes on the evolution of civilization. Nature's ultimate recyclers not only save us from drowning in a sea of organic waste, but also provide us with food, drink, and a wide array of valuable medicines and industrial chemicals. Some fungi make deadly poisons and psychedelic drugs that have interesting histories in and of themselves, and Hudler weaves tales of those into his scientific account of the nature of the fungi. The role of fungi in the Irish potato famine, in the Salem Witch Trials, in the philosophical writings of Greek scholars, and in the creation of ginger snaps are just a few of the many great moments in history to grace these pages. Hudler moves so easily from discussing human history to exploring scientific knowledge, all with a sense of humor and enthusiasm, that one can well understand why he is an award-winning teacher both at Cornell University as well as nationally. Few, for instance, who read his invitation to "get out of your chair and take a short walk" will ever again look without curiosity and admiration at the "rotten" part of the world around them. Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds is full of information that will satisfy history buffs, science enthusiasts, and anyone interested in nature's miracles. Everyone in Hudler's audience will develop a new appreciation of the debt they owe to the molds for such common products as penicillin, wine, and bread.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “brilliant [and] entrancing” (The Guardian) journey into the hidden lives of fungi—the great connectors of the living world—and their astonishing and intimate roles in human life, with the power to heal our bodies, expand our minds, and help us address our most urgent environmental problems. “Grand and dizzying in how thoroughly it recalibrates our understanding of the natural world.”—Ed Yong, author of An Immense World ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—Time, BBC Science Focus, The Daily Mail, Geographical, The Times, The Telegraph, New Statesman, London Evening Standard, Science Friday When we think of fungi, we likely think of mushrooms. But mushrooms are only fruiting bodies, analogous to apples on a tree. Most fungi live out of sight, yet make up a massively diverse kingdom of organisms that supports and sustains nearly all living systems. Fungi provide a key to understanding the planet on which we live, and the ways we think, feel, and behave. In the first edition of this mind-bending book, Sheldrake introduced us to this mysterious but massively diverse kingdom of life. This exquisitely designed volume, abridged from the original, features more than one hundred full-color images that bring the spectacular variety, strangeness, and beauty of fungi to life as never before. Fungi throw our concepts of individuality and even intelligence into question. They are metabolic masters, earth makers, and key players in most of life’s processes. They can change our minds, heal our bodies, and even help us remediate environmental disaster. By examining fungi on their own terms, Sheldrake reveals how these extraordinary organisms—and our relationships with them—are changing our understanding of how life works. Winner of the Wainwright Prize, the Royal Society Science Book Prize, and the Guild of Food Writers Award • Shortlisted for the British Book Award • Longlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize

Molds, Mushrooms, and Mycotoxins was first published in 1975. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. As Professor Christensen has made evident in his earlier books, including The Molds and Man,fungi are significantly interesting in their life-styles and in the many ways in which they affect man. Here he continues his exploration of the lives of the fungi and their relation to man, focusing on the harmful or dangerous effects which certain molds, mushrooms, and other fungi can have on human beings. The first several chapters deal with fungi that are toxic in one way or another: either the fungi themselves are toxic when consumed, as with poisonous mushrooms and ergot, or the fungi secrete toxic compounds that diffuse into the substance on which they grow, making that substance toxic when eaten. He discusses hallucinogenic as well as poisonous mushrooms and provides extensive information about mycotoxins in human and animal foods, which are recently discovered health hazards. Other chapters deal with fungus spores, which are a major cause of respiratory allergies, and with fungi which are predators or parasites of insects and nematodes. A chapter is devoted to fungus infections of man and animals, which at times constitute a serious public health problem. Another chapter discusses the nature, cause, and prevention of wood decay in trees and buildings. In a final chapter the author discusses some aspects of organic evolution in general as a background for presenting theories and facts on the evolution of fungi. He summarizes some of the ways in which fungi enter into our lives and economy, and looks to the role of fungi in the future. The illustrations, in both black and white and color, show some of the fungi and processes that are discussed.

Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease gathers information on various food types providing an explanation of their nutrient composition, sources, roles, and mechanisms in health and diseases. To obtain good health practices and prevent diseases, it is necessary to understand links in the relationship of food, lifestyle, environment, and health. This book is a vital source for research topics related to these issues, including the following: Analysis of various types of food and lifestyles for the prevention and treatment of diseases and disorders, including cardiovascular disorders, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The influences of environmental pollution, synergistic effects of different foods, and synergy of foods with physical activity or medicine. The roles of animal, fungal, and plant source foods in human health and disease. This book is appropriate for health-conscious users, health care providers and practitioners, teachers, and researchers.