At 100% Natural we have started the training course for health professionals in the best possible way, with an interesting and practical webinar on fungi given by Dr. Andoni Jauregui and Paula Saiz, responsible for the technical and training department of 100% Natural.
In this first training of the season dedicated to the fungi kingdom, there has been a lot and in-depth talk about the origin and qualities of fungi and how they can be used in clinical practice, led by a renowned professional with extensive experience, Dr. Andoni Jauregui, Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of the Basque Country, specialist in Physical Education and Sports Medicine, Euro. D.O. osteopath and head of the CMM-Clínic clinic in Bilbao. We also talked about MicoVital®, our line of medicinal mushrooms from Finland, of which we are very
proud.
The Power of Mushrooms
The truth is that the fungi kingdom has differentiating characteristics that make it unique. In fact, until relatively few years ago fungi were classified as vegetables, however, they are currently considered to constitute an independent kingdom of equal rank as animals and plants.
Fungi cannot perform the chlorophyll function, so they have no choice but to create a series of substances, especially enzymes, that can break chemical bonds of substances that are either found in the roots of trees or in the soil, or in some cases, such as Chaga, in the tree itself. In fact, fungi take advantage of the ability of trees, through photosynthesis, to generate glycogen and glucose; while fungi can provide trees with nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and other minerals that are very good for their development. The need for fungi to survive in an ecosystem and atmosphere full of microorganisms causes them to create powerful substances, mycochemicals, and active molecules that allow them to survive
.
Because they have a high nutritional profile of proteins, micronutrients and important bioactive compounds, they are considered an important nutritional tool for taking care of our health.
Dr. Jauregui emphasized during his presentation that there is currently a consensus of peace of mind regarding mushroom safety. Studies have been done that indicate that most nutritionally active mushrooms are safe at doses of 2000 mg/kg. In addition, he emphasized the importance of the place where they are grown, since it makes a difference in their composition
.
The keys to MicoVital®
Throughout the webinar, both Dr. Jauregui and Paula Saiz talked about the importance of the origin of the fungi and the extraction method. In this regard, Paula Saiz emphasized the key points of the MicoVital ® line, which are: the origin of the raw material, the part of the fungus that is used and the extraction method
.
We cannot ignore that fungi are bioaccumulators, which means that they absorb everything in the Earth and the atmosphere in which they are born. Therefore, it is very important that they are cultivated in a highly ecological area. All the fungi in our MicoVital ® line come from Finland, one of the countries with the purest air and water and the largest area of organic forests. On the other hand, Paula Saiz highlighted the importance of the part of the mushroom that is used: “We use the fruiting body, that is, the outer part of the mushroom, what everyone knows as a mushroom. This choice is due to the fact that we found a higher concentration of beta-glucans and, in addition, they will contain important secondary metabolites such as terpenes. In the case of chaga, which is a parasitic fungus on birch, we use the external sterile head that grows on the
birch.”
Regarding the extraction method, our mushrooms are extracted using the innovative ultrasonic extraction technique. “The benefits,” Saiz points out, “that this technique has for MicoVital ® are that the quantity of mycochemicals is greater than in other types of extractions and is more sustainable
, economically speaking.”
Chaga Silvestre, Lions Mane, Reishi and Shiitake: the 4 jewels of the MicoVital® line
The wild chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a birch parasite. Our chaga is born wild in the birch forests of Finnish Lapland, these are organic forests with FSC or PEFC certification. Lions Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is an edible mushroom used in Asian medicinal cuisine to “nourish the intestine” and Buddhist monks used to use it as an infusion to improve their concentration when meditating. Fruiting bodies are used for the preparation of our extracts.
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is one of the best-known fungi. Our extract is made through an exclusive method of cultivation in the form of an antler, on birch bark, which maximizes the surface area of the fruiting body and, therefore, its yield. It contains more than 400 active substances.
Dr. Jauregui emphasized that it has germanium, which is a key trace element of immunity.
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is the last mushroom in our MicoVital ® line and another of the best known and widely used as food. For the preparation of our extract, only the fruiting body is used. Shiitake is of great nutritional interest, since it contains all the essential amino acids and a good amount of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. Its compounds make it an ally for the immune system and cholesterol
.
The four mushrooms in the MicoVital ® line are available in liquid alcohol extracts and lions mane and wild chaga are also available in capsules. Dr. Jauregui highlighted the liquid presentation of mushrooms: “I like working with 100% Natural products because they give me results, they are effective. Thats why I like to combine them. I love the liquid version of mushrooms because you can put in more or less doses. Adapt them to the needs of each person”.