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Frequently Asked Questions
Mushrooms
Mushrooms play a very important role in nature. They are vital in the recycling of life by providing essential substances for other plants. They have been used for thousands of years worldwide for both their nutritional and medicinal values. They are considered to be a higher plant also known as the Third Kingdom. There are over 1.5 million species of mushrooms, however not all are considered medicinal.
No, there are millions of different types of mushrooms, some are poisonous others are edible. A very small percentage are actually medicinal.
Research shows that compared to other medicinal mushrooms, ABM contains the highest concentration of Beta-D-Glucan and are rich in Ergosterol, Linoleic Acid, Palmitorenic Acid and Vitamins D, B6 and B12. They are the strongest of all medicinal mushrooms.
Yes, mushrooms have been extensively researched and many clinically important drugs have been made as for example, antibiotics, Penicillin and Griseofulvin, steroids and hormones (progesterone), pain medications (aspirin, cortisone and morphine) anti-fungal drugs and anti-cancer drugs. The first chemotherapy drug approved by the FDA was derived from mushrooms.
How to Use
For best results the extract should be taken on an empty stomach for maximum absorption in a glass of water with powdered vitamin C.
Beta-D-Glucans are large organic molecules and are not easily absorbed by either the stomach or the intestines. Vitamin C helps break the polysaccharide chains into smaller segments and make them more bio-available for the digestive system.
1000 mg of powdered vitamin C or buffered Ester C would be best. We do not recommend capsules as they too dissolve slowly.
Safety
No, unless you are have a specific food allergy to mushrooms.
No, Toxicity studies have shown that the mushrooms have very low toxicity. They are considered and classified as GRAS or Generally Recognized as Safe
About A.B.M.
ABM mushrooms are rich in minerals, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, polysaccharides, anti-oxidants, dietary fibers, SOD (Super Oxide Dismutase) heteroglucans, sterols and saponins.
SOD’s are one of the most important anti oxidants in our body. They decrease as we age. They are frequently used in skin creams, for burns, wounds and as an anti inflammatory.
It depends on the quality and grade of the mushroom. Most ABM mushrooms grown outside of Brazil range from 3 to 4 %. It is important to note that it took the Japanese around 30 years, after considerable investments, to be able to market and cultivate the ABM mushroom artificially, something which grows naturally in Brazil. This is mainly due to the harsh climatic conditions. In its natural environment, the ABM mushroom can contain 7% to 10% on average. The Japanese have the highest Beta-D-Glucan requirements of at least 4.8%. Ultra Gold quality ranges above these levels. Companies selling ABM mushrooms claiming to contain 45% or more beta-D-Glucan are selling a standardized product, where Beta-D-Glucan has been added because 45% in nature does not exist. The beta-D-glucan levels are tested using a special method of analysis, which is expensive.
There are basically 3 grades of ABM mushrooms available: silver, gold and ultra gold. The lower the grade the lower the amount of polysaccharides they will contain. The higher the grade the more effective they will be. Climatic conditions play a critical role in the final product. Brazilian mushrooms are usually graded gold or ultra gold while mushrooms grown outside of Brazil are usually graded silver. Since ABM only grows under very special conditions, attempts to achieve constant yields in laboratories proved unsuccessful until the 1990’s.
Price. Mushrooms from Brazil are usually of a higher grade and quality and thus more expensive while ABM from other markets, especially Southeast Asia, are usually very inexpensive. This is also true with lower grade mushrooms grown in Brazil. Japan, which in the past purchased mushrooms from Southeast Asia, is currently purchasing about 90% of the mushrooms cultivated in Brazil because of its international reputation for quality and safety. This has prompted the Southeast Asian producers to seek alternate markets. Presently the U.S., Canada and Europe are experiencing an influx of AbM mushrooms grown in southeast Asia. The true AbM mushroom product should state “Product of Brazil” on the label. Our mushrooms ARE 100% authentic Brazilian.
The Japanese market are still the largest consumer of ABM mushrooms, importing 90% of the ABM grown in Brazil. Why is that? Brazilian ABM have a reputation for being of the best quality in the world. The bottom line is that you can copy technology but you can’t copy the natural resources, especially the soil and climatic conditions. Also, the Brazilian AbM have shown to have higher levels of polysaccharides, which make them more effective.
Benefits
ABM mushrooms are rich in polysaccharides including 1-4 β-D-glucan and 1-6 β-D-glucan . Their major function is to restore a weakened immune system but they also help suppress an overactive immune system. This balance is known as homeostasis (bringing the body into balance). The immune System is our natural defense responsible to keep our body healthy by destroying any viruses, bacteria, inflammation or any other toxins that attack the body. A person with a healthy immune system has a better ability to ward of disease.
Various factors can affect your immune system but the most common are poor diet, lack of sleep, stress, and toxic chemicals. Individuals with a weakened immune system are more susceptible to diseases, viruses and infections of all types.
To be healthy you need a balanced immune system. Common conditions associated with immune dysfunction are: cancer, chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hepatitis B & C, high cholesterol, autoimmune conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Crohn’s Disease and Hashimoto Thyroiditis.
There are basically 3 grades of ABM mushrooms available: silver, gold and ultra gold. The lower the grade the lower the amount of polysaccharides they will contain. The higher the grade the more effective they will be. Climatic conditions play a critical role in the final product. Brazilian mushrooms are usually graded gold or ultra gold while mushrooms grown outside of Brazil are usually graded silver. Since ABM only grows under very special conditions, attempts to achieve constant yields in laboratories proved unsuccessful until the 1990’s.
Functional foods are nutrient rich foods that can have a potentially positive effect on overall health. Mushrooms fall into this group.
Origin
Yes it does. Since mushrooms absorb everything from the soil, mushrooms grown using contaminated water or soil will absorb these impurities and will also be contaminated. This is why mushrooms grown organically under strict quality controls are extremely important. For example, Mushrooms grown in soil or water contaminated with heavy metals may have serious health implications for those who consume them. In many industrialized countries soil contamination can be a problem.
Yes, our mushrooms are grown organically in Brazil on a farm adjacent to the environmentally protected Atlantic Rain Forest. We cultivate our own mushrooms. We are not a co-op of growers as is common in Brazil. Quality control can be more difficult if you have many different growers and qualities mixed together.
ABM mushrooms from reputable companies with strict quality controls, which test each lot for vitamin and nutritional values, heavy metals and toxins. The high purity mushrooms are more expensive. Ask for a copy of their certificate of analysis.
Products
The FDA regulates medical drugs. Food products do not need FDA approval. Our product is a whole food product.
ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) was established by the Brazilian Ministry of Health in 1998 to regulate and enforce Good Manufacturing Practices according to the World Health Organization and Mercosul guidelines. ANVISA regulates the installation of equipment, technologies, environment and the manufacturing procedures for medical devices and equipment, pharmaceuticals, food and supplements, cosmetics and tobacco. Products must be registered with ANVISA prior to sale in Brazil. ANVISA also supervises and inspects the above-mentioned products prior to exportation to other countries. ANVISA requires that all products from foreign countries have a representative in Brazil, similar to the regulations established in 2002 by the FDA in the U.S. For more information on ANVISA please visit: http://www.anvisa.gov.br/eng/index.htm
Quality Control
Yes, We test EVERY single lot. Third party internationally recognized laboratories test our products. A permanent technical team specializing in edible mushroom cultivation supervises the entire cultivation process from the production of the mycelium to the final packaged product. The entire cultivation process is also inspected by ANVISA (Brazilian Health Survelliance Agency) as well as inspected again before being exported from Brazil. The FDA upon arrival also inspects our products. Our company is registered with the FDA and is in compliance with the new regulations for Food Importation Bioterrorism Act of 2002.
No, our product is a whole food product, which means it maintains all of its original nutritional composition. When you standardize a product you extract only one ingredient or constituent but you lose all of its nutritional value in the process. The ABM mushroom has 192 nutrients, including anti-oxidants, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, dietary fibers, Heteroglucans, SOD, Triterpenes, natural sterols and Saponins. AbM mushrooms contain the highest levels of beta-D-glucan and Ergosterol. Studies show that both of these nutrients together make ABM so effective.
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* The Information provided by Desert Forest Nutritionals LLC on this site is for informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical
professional. Desert Forest Nutritionals LLC is not providing the services of a physician or offering any medical advice; The information provided by Desert Forest Nutritionals LLC is not meant to diagnose or treat
a health problem or disease, nor is it meant to prescribe any medication. That medical problems should promptly be brought to the attention of your health care provider. The information and statements
regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.