Mushrooms are widely known for their use as an entrée accessory, making a hearty addition to salads and sauces, as well as a meat replacement. But there is much more to this spongy, porous, and fruity fungus. The mushroom has been increasingly recognized for its medicinal and nutritional values, not to mention its naturally gluten-free nature, leading to a rising demand for a broader selection of varieties.
And those benefits are adding up: The global market for mushrooms was valued at $29,427.92 million in 2013. This market is projected to reach $50,034.12 million by 2019, according to MarketsandMarkets.com. At this growth rate, it makes sense to pay attention to potential mushroom uses.
We’re seeing a number of interesting trends in the mushroom industry, with a variety of uses and markets.
News Drill Down
- Protein powerhouse: According to InStyle magazine, actress Gwyneth Paltrow made news when she shared her recipe for a morning smoothie that included several mushroom varieties, as well as a vanilla mushroom protein powder.
- Umami bombs: Nation’s Restaurant News notes the growing popularity of foods that appeal to the fifth flavor the human tongue is able to sense: savory. Restaurants and even college cafeterias are blending mushrooms with meat to create flavorful hybrid burgers with fewer calories.
- Nutritionally sound: Also via InStyle, dietician Keri Glassman says mushrooms are the only fruit or vegetable with vitamin D. She also indicates that the fungi are rich in antioxidants like selenium and ergothioneine, which can help improve immune function and resist cell damage that can lead to heart disease, some cancers, and other aging-related diseases.
- Cosmetic benefits: Natural News reports that several types of mushrooms are used in topical creams, serums and facial treatments for their anti-aging qualities. The extracts can act as potent antioxidants and natural moisturizers which can also help to brighten and hydrate skin, lighten age spots and even out overall skin tone. Check out this Prospector News Brief: The Anti-Aging Benefits of Mushrooms
How are you using mushrooms in your products? Share your experiences with this trending ingredient in the comments below.
Top Searched Mushrooms and Edible Fungi on ULProspector.com
- CordycepsPrime™ Extract 8% from NuLiv Science USA, Inc.
- CORDYCEPS MYCELIUM EXTRACT 4 from Huisong Pharmaceuticals
- Lion’s Mane from Synergy Production Laboratories
- Agaricus Blazei Mushroom from Woodland Foods
- Reishi Mushroom from HerbaKraft, Inc.
Reading List
MarketsandMarkets: Mushroom Market worth $50,034.12 Million by 2019
InStyle: The Next Beverage Trend is…Mushrooms?
Nation’s Restaurant News: NRN Predicts 2016 Menu Trends
Natural News: Mushroom Extracts for Even-Toned, Hydrated Skin
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