A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus.
Mushrooms have been used for thousands of years both as food and for medicinal purposes. They are often classified as a vegetable or a herb, but they are actually fungi. While there are over 14,000 mushrooms, only about 3,000 are edible, about 700 have known medicinal properties, and fewer than one percent are recognized as poisonous.
Mushrooms are enjoyed for their flavor and texture. They can impart their own flavor to food or take on the flavor of other ingredients. Their flavor normally intensifies during cooking, and their texture holds up well to usual cooking methods, including stir-frying and sauteing.
Many people like mushrooms but they do not know that mushrooms have a number of amazing health benefits. Surprisingly, mushrooms have health benefits that many people are unaware of, and they contain natural ingredients to naturally help prevent certain types of cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions.
Mushrooms have been used for thousands of years both as food and for medicinal purposes. They are often classified as a vegetable or a herb, but they are actually fungi. While there are over 14,000 mushrooms, only about 3,000 are edible, about 700 have known medicinal properties, and fewer than one percent are recognized as poisonous.
Mushrooms are enjoyed for their flavor and texture. They can impart their own flavor to food or take on the flavor of other ingredients. Their flavor normally intensifies during cooking, and their texture holds up well to usual cooking methods, including stir-frying and sauteing.
Many people like mushrooms but they do not know that mushrooms have a number of amazing health benefits. Surprisingly, mushrooms have health benefits that many people are unaware of, and they contain natural ingredients to naturally help prevent certain types of cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions.
Fiber
People rarely think of mushrooms when considering adding fiber to their diets, but they are a fantastic source of fiber. Mushrooms are comprised mostly of water, but about 10% is natural fiber, and this helps keep the digestive system running smooth. Eat four to five medium-size mushrooms each day, either raw or cooked, to add daily fiber to your diet. Not only will you add fiber, but you'll gain a number of other wonderful health benefits in the process.
Potassium
Potassium is a naturally occurring mineral that helps prevent strokes, and it reduces blood pressure. Most people think of bananas when they want to add potassium to their diet, but unbeknownst to many, mushrooms have a high potassium content. An average-size portabella mushroom has as much potassium as a serving of orange juice or a banana. This is great news for those who want to gain the health benefits of potassium but want to add greater variety to their diets.
Selenium
Mushrooms contain selenium, and along with vitamin E, selenium protects the cells of the body from free radicals as selenium acts as antioxidants. It would be better to eat delicious mushrooms and other natural foods rather than taking expensive multivitamins. Natural foods have greater health benefits than processed vitamin and mineral supplements. (The last two sentences are my own opinion).
Copper
Many people do not know much about copper but it has health benefits that helps keep the cardiovascular system in check. Those who like mushrooms can greatly benefit, and eating mushrooms a tasty way to get up to 40% of the recommended daily amount of copper in just one single serving.
Niacin
Niacin has a number of fantastic health benefits. Many of the enzymatic functions of the body rely on niacin. This includes the production of estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Niacin also helps keep the nervous system functioning properly as well as many other working components of the body. Mushrooms, which contain niacin, also help the body produce energy from blood sugar, and they help give the skin a healthy texture and brilliant glow.
Cancer Fighting Properties
Many of the foods provided by nature contain cancer fighting ingredients, and mushrooms are no exception. According to recent studies, consuming just 3 ½ ounces of the white button variety each day, can decrease the risk of developing prostate cancer and breast cancer. Shitake mushrooms are also said to inhibit tumor growth.
Studies have shown that Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms also have extensive health benefits. As a result they have become increasingly available.
Shiitake mushrooms have been used for centuries by the Chinese and Japanese to treat colds and flu. Lentinan, a beta-glucan isolated from the fruiting body of shiitake mushrooms, appears to stimulate the immune system, help fight infection, and demonstrates anti-tumor activity.
Maitake mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to enhance the immune system. Researchers have also indicated that whole maitake has the ability to regulate blood pressure, glucose, insulin, and both serum and liver lipids, such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids, and may also be useful for weight loss. Maitake is rich in minerals (such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium), various vitamins (B2, D2 and Niacin), fibers and amino acids.
Mushrooms are 90 percent water. The followings are minerals and vitamins found in mushrooms:
- phosphorous
- potassium
- iron
- copper
- zinc
- selenium
- salt
Their vitamin content may include:
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- panthotenic acid
- folic acid
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
