I have never liked mushrooms. I’ve tried them in every “delicious” recipe that people have concocted, but I just can’t enjoy them. I’ve had crispy Portobello mushroom fries, steak with a mushroom and tequila sauce, and pretty much every creative method of cooking mushrooms, but they’re not for me.
For those of you who like mushrooms, though, you’ll be thrilled to find out that they’re actually quite good for your health!
Health Benefits of Mushrooms
According to Mercola.com [1], here are some of the benefits you can obtain by eating mushrooms:
Manage Your Weight — A study found that using mushrooms in place of red meat can make it easier to lose weight. A group of obese people were fed a diet that used mushrooms in place of meat, and they were able to lose 3.6% of their body fat over the course of 12 months – without making any other changes in their lives. They had better body fat composition, slimmed down around the waist, and were more easily able to control their weight.
Get More Vitamin D — Dried white button mushrooms contain both Vitamin D2 and D3, and taking the extract from these mushrooms has been proven to be as effective as taking the vitamins in supplement form.
Boost Your Immune System — Mushrooms are rich with long chain polysaccharides, which can help to boost your immune system’s function. The alpha and beta glucan molecules found in mushrooms can help to increase your immune response, and can even help your immune system adapt to new threats.
Increase Energy Production — A type of fungus known as the caterpillar fungus or cordyceps is popular among athletes, simply because it increases the body’s production of ATP energy from protein. ATP is the only form of energy that your muscles can use to build new muscle fibers, so getting more ATP energy is the best way to increase both muscular strength and muscular endurance.
Fights Inflammation — The cordyceps mushroom contains anti-inflammatory properties, which means that it can deal with a lot of different health problems. The anti-inflammatory effects of the mushroom means that it can help to reduce the growth of tumors, as well as deal with asthma problems, rheumatoid arthritis, damage to your brain cells caused by stroke, and even renal failure. It can not only help to prevent these problems, but can even prove beneficial in the speedy healing of those suffering from the health issues.
Why Mushrooms Rock!
The main reason that mushrooms are just such a great choice for anyone is the fact that they are so low in calories. You’ll find that 100 grams of shiitake mushroom has just 34 calories, while a whole Portobello mushroom has just 18 calories. It’s an incredibly low-calorie ingredient to add to your food, and yet it can be quite filling at the same time.
The mushroom is composed almost entirely of fiber, so it’s nice and filling without adding too many calories to your diet. For diabetics, it’s one of the best foods to cook with thanks to its low calorie content. It also is loaded with a lot of enzymes that aid in healthy digestion, so it’s an intestine-friendly food that deserves its place on your menu.
To top it off, mushrooms are loaded with protein, B vitamins – such as Niacin – and Vitamin D. Mushrooms also contain polyphenols and other antioxidants, some of which are unique to mushrooms. Some of the best mushrooms to add to your diet are:
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Reishi mushrooms
- Turkey tail mushrooms
- Himematsutake mushrooms
You’ll find that adding these delicious fungi to your meals will go a long way towards boosting your health!
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