Chanterelles are not wormy - all mushroom pickers know this. It is very pleasant to collect them, there is no need to look at every chanterelle, good or wormy. In hot weather they do not dry out, in rainy weather they do not absorb much moisture. And they are also very convenient to transport, they do not wrinkle.
Are chanterelles wormy
Chanterelles grow from June to autumn. As a rule, there are entire families. In one place, you can collect quite a lot of mushrooms, since they are not wormy.
The chanterelle has both a hat and a leg, but they are not separated, but form a single whole. The leg may be slightly lighter than the cap. The skin practically does not separate from the pulp. The inner part of the pulp is dense, fibrous in the stem. Has a sour taste and smell of roots or fruits. In the forest, they are visible from afar, due to their bright yellow color.
Chanterelles are never wormy. However, there is sporadic evidence that sometimes very old fungi still infect worms. This is due to the fact that the resistance to parasites in such specimens is reduced, so the worms settle in them. Isolated cases of worm-eaten chanterelles were noted in hot weather. The worms infect the stem and the central part of the cap.
Experienced mushroom pickers recommend following these rules when collecting:
- Do not take flabby, sluggish and overgrown specimens because they can be wormy.
- Do not take those that have mold.
- Do not collect chanterelles along roads and power lines.
Chanterelles can be kept fresh for a long time, they will not worm. Rinse them thoroughly before use, especially the bottom of the cap.
Why worms don't eat chanterelle mushrooms
Chanterelles are not wormy due to their chemical composition. An organic substance called quinomannose is found in their pulp. The substance is also called chitinmannose, D-mannose. There is also beta-glucan in the pulp. These are certain forms of polysaccharides - natural compounds found in chanterelles.
When worms enter the fungus, quinomannose envelops and blocks them, acting on the nerve centers. Parasites lose their ability to breathe and move. This leads to their death. Even insect pests do not lay eggs in the pulp of the mushroom.
D-mannose, entering the human body, has a detrimental effect on the eggs of worms and the helminths themselves. Further fermentation of the substance in the large intestine leads to the synthesis of fatty acids. They dissolve the shell of helminth eggs, as a result, the parasites die.
This substance has no negative effect on the human body.
Beta-glucan activates the body's defense system. The result is the formation of an increased content of leukocytes. They destroy foreign protein structures.
The worms have no chance to survive in the pulp, and even multiply. Therefore, worms do not eat chanterelles. We can say that everything is happening, on the contrary. The fungus destroys uninvited guests. It is believed that chanterelles growing in different territories may contain different amounts of quinomannose, therefore they are sometimes wormy.
This natural substance is destroyed by heat treatment, already at +50 degrees. It is also destroyed by salt. Alcohol decreases quinomannose content over time. Therefore, for medicinal purposes, it is recommended to use mushroom-based powder. A natural remedy against helminths is better than pharmaceutical preparations, since it acts not only on mature worms, but also on their eggs.
Chanterelles are classified as lamellar mushrooms. Quinomannosis is in their composition.In some - more, in others - less.
In addition to quinomannose, other beneficial substances have been found:
- 8 amino acids, which are classified as essential;
- vitamins, including vitamin A, which is more than in carrots;
- carbohydrates;
- natural antibiotics;
- fatty acid;
- trametonolinic acid, which acts on hepatitis viruses;
- ergosterol restores liver cells;
- minerals and others.
Due to the content of nutrients, chanterelles have valuable properties:
- Anthelmintic. Thanks to chinomannosis, helminths and their eggs are destroyed.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Bactericidal.
- Antineoplastic.
- Restorative. Helps restore vision.
Conclusion
Chanterelles are never wormy - this attracts lovers of quiet hunting. But you still need to remember that you can take strong, young specimens, and not large and old ones. Since in rare cases they are nevertheless wormy.
