Fungi Fascination: Why Are Mushrooms So Trendy
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By PAGE Editor
Mushrooms are making waves across several industries in the world today. There are hundreds of mushroom-themed books, restaurants are making tasty recipes out of them, skincare brands are incorporating shrooms in their products, celebrities are talking about them, and shroom vendors in Canada and other countries are seeing a surge in demand as a result.
For many decades, mushrooms have been studied, and various discoveries have been made. So why are they so trendy now? There are many reasons why the world is now crazy about mushrooms more than ever.
The 2020 Pandemic's Surge in Health Interest
The fascination with fungi can be closely linked to the 2020 pandemic. During the pandemic, maintaining optimal health became a top priority for everyone. Supplement sales hit an all-time high, and people increasingly sought natural remedies to boost immunity and overall well-being.
Since multiple studies suggested that mushrooms support healthy immune function, more people have begun to take an interest in them and have never stopped ever since. Some studies even proposed that fungi should be considered an adjunct therapy for cancer patients. So, at the heart of the recent fascination with fungi is the quest for healthier living.
The Rise in Mental Health Concerns
In 2020, people also developed a keen interest in their mental well-being. The isolation, millions of deaths, job losses, and economic downturn during this period led to a nationwide mental health crisis.
Although things have now returned to normal, the impact of the pandemic, on mental health especially, is still being felt. In response, people have turned to mushrooms for their mind-altering effects to improve their mental well-being. These fungi have proven to help reduce anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders when used in controlled dosages.
However, researchers have only truly paid attention to the psychedelic varieties of mushrooms in previous years, which may not be suitable for everyone. The growing desire for non-mind-altering substances has steered the conversation away from psychedelic varieties, fueling the current wave of fascination with fungi.
The Vegan Leather Craze
Vegans and fashion brands are finally finding common ground, as top designers now use vegan leather made from fungi mycelium to create new designs. With this vegan alternative, high fashion is no longer tied to animal cruelty. Eco-friendly and sustainable leather bags, shoes, and clothing require fewer resources to produce and are just as durable.
Unlike animal leather, Fine Mycelium takes less time to create. Brands no longer have to wait years to bring their designs to life—mycelium leather can be grown on a tray in just weeks. These trays can also be customized to fit specific design needs, reducing waste from excess scraps. With top brands like Lululemon, Adidas, and Hermès debuting their mycelium leather apparel, the fascination with fungi continues to grow.
Conclusion
The mushroom trend is expected to keep growing as scientists continue to discover new uses for these fungi. Recently, researchers have explored mushrooms' potential to act as decomposers in purifying soil and water, sparking another wave of interest among environmental enthusiasts. So, the mushroom trend will not go anywhere in the near future.
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