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Mushrooms have been consumed and used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks believed mushrooms provided strength for warriors in battle, and the Romans perceived them as “food of the Gods.” For centuries, the Chinese culture has treasured mushrooms as a health food, labeling them as an “elixir of life.” Traditional Chinese medicine continues to highly value mushrooms, believing they offer numerous health benefits and play a role in preventing and treating various ailments.
Mushrooms are often placed in the vegetable category for dietary recommendations. However, they are actually neither a plant nor animal, but belong to the fungal kingdom. One key difference that distinguishes fungi from plants and animals is that fungi lack chlorophyll and exist on decaying material.