12 Amazing Gucchi Mushroom Benefits That You Didn't Know

A mushroom, commonly known as a toadstool, is the fleshy fruiting body of Fungi that contains spores that are units of reproduction in Fungi. Among these wonderful organisms, one such mushroom is the Gucchi mushroom also called the Morel mushroom which has numerous health benefits.

Gucchi mushrooms are wild mushrooms that are easily recognized by their spongy, perforated, yellowish-white caps. Gucchi mushroom benefits are infamous and understanding them unlocks the doors to a healthy and prosperous life. Today we will look at various Gucchi mushroom benefits in depth in this article.

Gucchi Mushroom: Key Facts

Botanical name	Morchella esculenta
Common names	Gucchi mushroom, common Morel, yellow Morel, true Morel, Morel mushroom, and Sponge Morel
Cap	Conical or ovate
Cap length	2-10 cm
Edibility status	Edible
Color of fruiting body	Yellow-brown
Identifying feature	Large yellow-brown, spongy fruiting body with large pits and ridges.
Soil preference	Acidic or alkaline
Cultivation	Wild species of mushrooms. Difficult to cultivate domestically
Season	Found for short durations during the spring season
Habitat	Grown under hardwoods and conifers, and found in old orchards, woods, and disturbed grounds

Description

The Gucchi mushrooms, also known as Morel mushrooms are species of fungus that can easily be identified by the peculiar shape of their fruiting body. They possess large spongy caps that begin as a tightly compressed greyish sponge and then expand to form a large yellowish sponge with numerous ridges. This gives them a honeycomb structure that is used to easily identify them. The hollow caps measure 2-10 cm in length and 2-7 cm wide. The caps are attached to a stem that is white or pale yellow colored. The stem is straight and hollow with a wide base.

Gucchi Mushrooms | Gucchi mushroom benefits — Gucchi Mushrooms

Where are Gucchi Mushrooms Found?

Gucchi mushrooms are found in the foothills of the Himalayas in Jammu and Kasmir, and the foothills of the mountains in Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal.

They are grown under hardwoods and conifers in the forests. They grow in the forests for a very short period during spring. The fruiting bodies are mostly found in groups but are also seen growing alone. Alkaline soils are much preferred by Gucchi mushrooms over acidic soils.

How are Gucchi Mushrooms Cultivated?

Gucchi mushrooms haven’t yet been commercially cultivated and are found only in the wild. Due to their high demand and impressive prices, attempts have been made by various people and organizations to domesticate Gucchi mushrooms. Some have succeeded in growing the Morels in domestic conditions, but the methods were so expensive that gaining profits through the method seemed bleak.

Nutritional Information of Gucchi Mushrooms

The revered benefits of Gucchi mushrooms stem from the incredible nutrient content of the mushrooms. The therapeutic activities of Gucchi mushrooms are due to polysaccharides and phytochemicals like tocopherols, ascorbic acid, and vitamin D.

Gucchi mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, protein, fiber, vitamin D, and B vitamins. The presence of such invaluable nutrients gives the mushrooms anticancerous, bone strengthening, immunity boosting, and many other health benefits.

Now let us look at the nutritional profile of Gucchi mushrooms and understand the Gucchi mushroom Benefits.

Gucchi Mushroom: Nutritional Profile

Protein	3.12 g
Fibre	2.8 g
Calcium	43 mg
Iron	12.2 mg
Magnesium	19 mg
Phosphorus	194 mg
Potassium	411 mg
Sodium	21 mg
Zinc	2.03 mg
Manganese	0.59 mg
Copper	0.63 mg
Selenium	2.2 mcg
Vitamin B1	.069 mg
Vitamin B2	0.2 mg
Vitamin B3	2.25 mg
Vitamin B5	0.44 mg
Vitamin B6	0.136 mg
Folate	9.0 mcg
Vitamin D	206 IU

The mushrooms contain dietary fibre, iron, and calcium which are essential for the maintenance of the human body. The Gucchi mushroom benefits stem from the presence of these nutrients in significant amounts making them superfoods.

Gucchi Mushroom Benefits

The Gucchi mushrooms have been able to command enormous demand in recent years due to increased penetration of information pertaining to their health benefits in the public society. However, due to the constraints in the commercial cultivation of these splendid fungi, the supply side is weak. The mushrooms supplied currently are harvested in the wild areas and fermented in culture for use as functional food and food flavoring.

The high demand coupled with low supply has escalated the Gucchi mushrooms to an expensive product that is considered a luxury.

With 500 g of good quality Gucchi mushrooms costing Rs.18,000, it is an entity that is exclusively affordable by celebrities and millionaires.

1. Culinary Uses

They are the most expensive edible mushrooms. The mushroom can be stuffed with meat and vegetables and later baked or fried with the addition of butter. Gucchi mushrooms contain 8 carbon volatiles that give them an exquisite aroma and a savory flavor that is appealing to many people. A great way to improve the flavor of the Gucchi mushroom is by threading the caps on a string and hanging them outside in the sun to dry. Fruit bodies that are old or showing signs of decay must be avoided since they may be poisonous. The presence of gastrointestinal irritants is also a concern, but parboiling or blanching the mushrooms before consumption will remove them.

2. Industrial Application

The Gucchi mushrooms are used in the solid-state fermentation process in Industries. In this process, an insoluble substrate is fermented with sufficient moisture without free water. The Morels are known to bind to inhibit the effects of furanocoumarins, chemicals found in grapefruit that inhibit human cytochrome p450 enzymes and are responsible for the grapefruit/drug interaction phenomenon.

3. Nutrient Rich

Gucchi mushrooms are rich in potassium, vitamins, and copper. But what makes it famous in the world of nutrition is its vitamin D content. Gucchi mushrooms contain 206 IU of vitamin D which is a significant amount. Apart from vitamin D, the Morels are rich in several B vitamins.

4. Prevents Heart Diseases

Mushrooms in general are proven to increase heart health and prevent heart diseases. The consumption of Gucchi mushrooms increases the level of HDL cholesterol which is the good cholesterol and reduces the level of LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol in our body. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the Morels are responsible for regulating these metabolic markers in the body.

5. Morels Helps in Healthy Ageing

Aging in the human body is caused due to the presence of free radicals. Excess amounts of free radicals in the body cause damage to both the DNA and Mitochondria. This damage leads to premature aging which is characterized by the presence of wrinkles in the skin, hair loss, decrease in eyesight, and many other symptoms. The compounds present in Gucchi mushrooms act as free radical scavengers that help to regulate the amount of free radicals in the body.

6. Helps in Weight Management

If there is one food that you can safely include in your diet plan for weight loss, it is Gucchi mushrooms. They have 2.8 g of fiber and 3.12 g of protein in 100 g of the mushroom and low calories. Morels contain polysaccharide beta-d-glucans and flavonoids, terpenes, and alkaloids which are polyphenols. Since obesity is increasingly becoming the greatest peril of the 21st century, consuming Gucchi mushrooms in the form of food or as supplements can really help in preventing and curing obesity.

7. Great for Preventing Oedema

Oedema is a medical condition in which fluid build-up occurs in the body parts that later become swollen. This causes the skin to seem ore, heavy, and tight. This is caused due to continuous standing or sitting in the same position for too long. The anti-inflammatory properties of Gucchi mushrooms play a great role in preventing edema caused due to inactivity and arthritis.

8. Bone Strengthening

Calcium is the major component of bones. An increase or decrease in the level of calcium leads to the strengthening or weakening of the bones respectively. Here vitamin D has a role to play. Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium by the bones. Since Gucchi mushrooms have high amounts of vitamin D, they help in the strengthening of bones.

9. Diabetes Management

Improper eating habits and lack of exercise are the main reasons for the occurrence of Diabetes. This leads to high glucose assimilation in the body which leads to diabetes. Gucchi mushrooms contain polyphenols like flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenes which bring down blood glucose levels. Therefore, Gucchi mushrooms are the best food items to prevent and manage Diabetes.

10. Anti-tumour Properties

Gucchi mushrooms contain polysaccharides that prevent the proliferation of cells and prevent tumors.

11. Oral Health Benefits

According to research, Gucchi mushrooms can prevent oral diseases like plaque. Diseases and infections of the oral cavity are gruesome and affect the intake of food. Gucchi mushrooms contain 194 mg of phosphorous per 100 g of mushroom and phosphorous is found to improve the strength of teeth and the oral cavity. Apart from that, phosphorous partake in important functions like the removal of waste from kidneys, promotes healthy nerves, and is good for cellular functions.

12. Boost Immunity

Vitamin D and B vitamins are known to improve a person’s immunity. The Gucchi mushrooms contain Vitamin D, vitamin B1, B2, B3, and B5 which are great immunity boosters.

Gucchi mushroom benefits — Gucchi Mushroom Benefits

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To Sum Up

Through the length of this article, we attempted to highlight the Gucchi mushroom benefits. We have come to the conclusion that Gucchi mushrooms are one of the most beneficial mushrooms in India. They have numerous health benefits that we have discussed in this article. But what is worrying is their price. Gucchi mushrooms are the most expensive mushrooms in the market today. The difficulty to cultivate them domestically has fueled such exorbitant prices. However, if you get a hold of Gucchi mushrooms, you should definitely eat them without thinking twice.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are Gucchi mushrooms edible?

Yes. Gucchi mushrooms are edible mushrooms. But be careful to eat only fresh ones. Decayed ones are poisonous.

2. What is the cost of Gucchi mushrooms?

Gucchi mushrooms are the most expensive mushrooms in the world. 500 g of good quality Gucchi mushrooms cost Rs. 18,000.

3. Can we cultivate Gucci mushrooms domestically?

Sadly, no. Although some methods of domestic production were discovered by researchers, they were not economically viable. Hence, Gucchi mushrooms are still harvested from the wild.

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