Royal mushroom
There are about 150 varieties of the scaly mushroom and among them the type of golden scaly, or royal honey, stands out. All of them belong to the genus Scalychatka of the Stropharia family. These mushrooms, royal mushrooms, are a delicious edible product that is used in medicine and cooking. The extract obtained from them has an immunomodulatory effect. But there are false, health-threatening species similar to it.
Mushroom Royal honey
Description of the appearance of the mushroom
Royal honey agaric grows singly or in small groups (5-7 pcs.) On living and dead trees, birch, willow stumps, as well as conifers. The mushroom is found before cold snaps from late August to mid-autumn. Somewhat less often, mushrooms are found in old pine forests or spruce forests. They are harvested in the morning, carefully cutting off the leg with a knife. Young specimens look like common and false mushrooms.
The caps of golden scales have a pink-yellow tint and are covered with reddish flaky scales. Young specimens have a broad-bell-shaped cap, and with age they change to a flat-round one. In older plants, the golden cap takes on a dull color with a rusty color. They reach a maximum diameter of 20 cm (usually this size is 5-18 cm) and 15 cm in height.
Under the caps are yellow-white plates that turn brown over time. The pulp is white, with a pleasant smell. According to the species description, the legs of the golden mushroom are thin and dense, reaching up to 2 cm in thickness and up to 14 cm in height. They are a little shaggy.
Please note! The royal mushroom is characterized by the presence of poisonous twins:
- alder flakes, or moth: her cap is brighter in color, the flesh is bitter, with a sweetish odor, mycelium populates fires;
- scaly mucosa: the leg is hollow, slimy and sticky, the surface of the cap is unpleasant to the touch;
- cinder flakes: the skin of the cap is red, there is no ring on the leg (remnants of a private bedspread), brown scales are located at its base, and remains of the bedspread remain on the edges of the cap.
Beneficial features
Royal mushrooms contain a large amount of fatty acids, protein, vitamins B1, B2, C, E, PP and about 16 types of amino acids. They also include dietary fiber, monosaccharides and mineral components:
- sodium - 5 mg;
- magnesium - 20 mg;
- iron - 0.8 mg;
- calcium - 5 mg;
- phosphorus - 45 mg.
The content of the above components is 3 times more than in other types.
This species is considered low-calorie, because in terms of 100 g of fresh product accounts for:
- proteins - 2.2 g (40%);
- fats - 1.2 g (49%);
- carbohydrates - 0.5 g (9%).
Also in the composition of flake is present per 100 g:
- water - 89.1 g;
- dietary fiber - 5.1 g;
- ash elements - 1 g.
The golden flakes are pickled, fried, boiled, added to salads or salted. These mushrooms are nutritious, but low in calories, so they are eaten with diets. Honey mushrooms are also consumed during church fasts by supporters of vegetarianism.
The golden scales normalizes the conduction of impulses along the nerve endings. The mucus from the caps has an antibacterial effect. It increases immunity and activity, restores tone and activates blood circulation in the brain.
By the way. Regular consumption of golden scales stabilizes cerebral circulation, which prevents the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes, and also significantly reduces the likelihood of a person developing thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis and varicose veins.
Contraindications
Royal mushrooms harm people with bowel problems and those who are allergic to them. Mushrooms cause poisoning if consumed immediately after harvest. Doctors do not recommend eating fruiting bodies collected in contaminated areas or near the road. Such specimens are literally saturated with heavy metals and carbon monoxide.
You can not use royal honey with the following diseases:
- pancreatitis;
- ulcer;
- gastritis;
- stomach cancer.
Mushrooms can be poisoned
You can not introduce royal mushrooms into the diet for pregnant women and those who are planning to have a child. It is also forbidden to eat mushrooms for children under 3 years old: they do not have enough enzymes to process them. The golden scales cause poisoning if combined with alcohol.
In case of mushroom poisoning, the following symptoms appear:
- severe stomach pain;
- nausea;
- hallucinations;
- tachycardia;
- redness of the face;
- vomiting;
- temperature increase.
If symptoms are detected, it is imperative to consult a doctor. Neglected cases cause not only stomach diseases, but also a disorder of consciousness.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
When eating poorly processed flakes, one must not forget about the possible consequences of this unreasonable act.
As medical practice shows, as a result of the consumption of a large amount of raw or poorly thermally processed mushrooms of golden scales, a person may experience pyrone syndrome caused by the presence of one of the opium components in the pulp of the mushroom - meconic acid. In this case, visual hallucinations appear, the duration of which can reach a maximum of 2 hours, and a minimum of 30 minutes. It is virtually impossible to determine the average concentration of an active substance in mushrooms, because it changes depending on the following factors:
- habitat;
- season of the year.
Attention! Severe intoxication with this type of mushroom can cause a coma.
Application
Royal mushrooms are edible, but they are consumed only after heat treatment. Golden flakes are often added to salads or gravies. It is used both in cooking and in medicine, because it is a valuable product containing proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins.
Scale gold promotes the production of hormones by the pituitary gland of the brain, therefore it is added to the diet for the treatment and removal of excess cholesterol from the blood. The weekly consumption of these mushrooms improves the condition of the skin and hair, strengthens blood vessels.
In cooking
Popular dishes made from the fruit bodies of the flake are soups, sauces, stews, and saltiness. Famous chefs make them marinades and pies. For such dishes, only caps are used, for preservation, they take the whole mushroom. Before any preparation of the royal mushroom, the following processing is carried out:
- cut off the lower part of the leg;
- thoroughly wash the mushroom from dirt and possible insects;
- boil for about 20 minutes in salted water;
- allow the excess liquid to drain by discarding the mushrooms in a colander.
There are several ways to store mushrooms, depending on the heat treatment. Salted or pickled foods are stored in a room with a temperature of + 2 ... + 10 ° C.
In medicine
Squarrozidine is a part of the golden scaly fungus. It is a unique substance responsible for the crystallization of uric acid in the kidneys and joints.It prevents the loss of urate salts: it reduces the severity of a painful attack in a patient with gout.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
Urates are plasma-soluble sodium and potassium salts found in uric acid. In the human body, urates can be deposited in:
- kidney and bladder in the composition of stones;
- joints in the form of gouty deposits.
Thus, squarrozidine, present in royal mushrooms, suppresses the work of the xanthine oxidase enzyme and prevents it from forming crystallization of uric acid in the joints. If this occurs, the disease develops gouty arthritis. Therefore, at the moment, active development of anti-gout drugs based on squarrozidine scales is underway.
From these honey mushrooms, tinctures and decoctions are made that help in the treatment of diabetes and thrombophlebitis. The drink contains anticoagulants that reduce blood clotting. To do this, once every six months, the tincture is drunk for 2 weeks. Drinking this drink also helps prevent the onset and growth of tumors.
A decoction of royal honey agaric treats atherosclerosis and varicose veins. It increases blood flow to the heart and brain without increasing blood pressure. By using the tincture, you can improve your eyesight and relieve eye inflammation.
100 g of mushrooms saturate the body with the daily intake of copper and zinc. For those suffering from anemia, they are useful for their high content of iron and magnesium, which are involved in hematopoiesis.
Conclusion
Royal mushroom is an edible mushroom that differs from ordinary mushrooms and has false varieties. It has a positive effect on the body, improves performance and blood circulation. It has a medium-sized cap and a thin leg. It is used in various dishes and medicinal tinctures, thanks to the thiamine and riboflavin present in the pulp.
