Is silver ear a fungus? Where does it grow, what nutrients does it contain, and is it good to eat too much of it?

Silver ear, also known as white wood ear, snow ear, silver ear seed, etc., belongs to the fungal family Tremellaceae and the genus Tremella, and is the fruiting body of the basidiomycete fungus Tremella fuciformis, and has the laudatory title of “crown of fungi.” So, where does the fungal “silver ear” grow? What nutrients does it contain? Is it good to eat too much of it?

1. Where does the fungal “silver ear” grow?

Silver ear is a mesophilic fungus; its mycelium can grow at 16°C to 30°C, among which it grows normally at 20°C to 28°C and best at 23°C to 25°C, while below 20°C or above 28°C the mycelium is weak. The temperature for fruiting body differentiation is between 16°C and 28°C; below 16°C growth is slow, and above 28°C differentiation is poor; the most ideal temperature should be 22°C to 25°C. Silver ear is a specialty of China, and wild silver ear is mainly distributed in China's Sichuan Province, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Jiangsu Province, Jiangxi Province, Anhui Province, Taiwan Province, Hubei Province, Hainan Province, Hunan Province, Guangdong Province, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Tibet and other regions.

2. What nutrients does silver ear contain?

The chemical components contained in silver ear are relatively complex. Preliminary analysis proves that silver ear contains 6.7%-10% protein, 65%-71.2% carbohydrates, 0.6%-12.8% fat, 2.4%-2.75% crude fiber, 4.0%-5.4% inorganic salts, 15.2%-18.76% moisture and a small amount of B vitamins. The protein of silver ear contains 17 amino acids including leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, valine, serine, glutamic acid, valine, proline, arginine, lysine, alanine, threonine, aspartic acid, tyrosine, cystine, histidine and methionine, among which the most abundant is proline. The inorganic salts mainly contain sulfur, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium and other ions.

Silver ear has the effects of strengthening essence, tonifying the kidney, moistening the intestines, benefiting the stomach, supplementing qi, harmonizing blood, strengthening the heart, strengthening the body, nourishing the brain, refreshing the mind, beautifying, smoothing the skin and prolonging life. It can improve the liver's detoxification ability and protect liver function. It can not only enhance the body's antitumor immunity, but also enhance the tolerance of tumor patients to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It can nourish and promote body fluids; moisten the lungs and nourish the stomach, and tonify the lungs and supplement qi. For consumptive cough; blood-streaked sputum; dry mouth and thirst with little fluid; post-illness weakness; shortness of breath and fatigue.

3. Is it good to eat too much silver ear?

Silver ear should not be eaten in large amounts. Silver ear is rich in protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamin D, dietary fiber, carotene and various mineral elements, and has effects such as protecting the liver and detoxifying, preventing and fighting cancer, clearing the lungs and nourishing blood, and beautifying and caring for the skin. Eating an appropriate amount of silver ear is very beneficial to the body, but extremes meet, so silver ear should also not be eaten in large amounts.

What harm is there in eating too much silver ear:

1. Although silver ear has the effect of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, long-term consumption will produce phlegm, and if people with a yin-deficiency constitution eat too much, symptoms such as cold hands and feet and decreased resistance may occur.

2. Silver ear has the effect of clearing heat and nourishing, and excessive consumption may damage the spleen and stomach; excessive tonification can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

3. Silver ear is not very easy to digest. Eating too much at one time can easily cause indigestion, especially in older people; if eaten too much at one time or over several consecutive meals, it may cause intestinal obstruction.