Nutrition and Health Benefits of Mushrooms

Mushrooms like Amanita Muscaria are one of the controversial food sources across the globe. It comes in different sizes, shapes and colors. While there are kinds of mushrooms that can be poisonous, there are also mushrooms that happen to be quite tasty and healthy as well. Over the years, mushrooms are used in some industries because of their unique ability to add flavor in many cuisines from different cultures. Technically speaking, mushrooms belong to the class of fungi and they are sometimes lumped in the category of vegetables because they are usually used in cooking. Mushrooms are a good alternative for sodium. But as a consumer, it is important that you be careful when buying mushrooms because poisonous mushrooms can be difficult to identify.

Hence, it is advisable to only buy mushrooms from a reliable and reputable grocery stores. Some of the common mushroom types that you can find in grocery stores are: oyster, maitake, beech, shiitake, crimini, portobello, enoki, white mushroom or also known as button and others. All of these mushrooms have their unique taste and look so you can easily distinguish them from one another. As recommended by experts, it is smart that when choosing mushrooms, they should feel firm, not moist to the touch and free from molds. Mushrooms can also be stored in a paper bag inside your fridge for about 5 days. Before using them in cooking, make sure to rinse them and take the dirt off.

Lots of studies and researches claim that mushrooms have lots of health benefits. Mushrooms have low sodium, low-calorie, and fat and cholesterol free. Most of the mushrooms are also packed with minerals, vitamins and fiber. The nutrition that you can get from mushrooms depends on the type of mushrooms. But in general, non-poisonous mushrooms are a good source of nutrients. One of those nutrients is antioxidants. We all know that antioxidants have the ability to protect our body from damaging free radicals that can be a cause of health conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Mushrooms are also a good source of B vitamins like pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and niacin. These elements are helpful in protecting the health of our health.

They are also good for maintaining healthy skin, digestive system and red blood cells. Mushrooms are also rich in potassium which is very important in maintaining the health of our muscle, heart and nerve function. Copper is another nutrient that we can get from mushrooms. This element helps in making our red blood cells healthy so we can have enough oxygen in our body. This is also important in maintaining healthy nerves and bones. Another benefit of mushroom is Beta Glucan. It is a form of soluble dietary fiber which is claimed by studies as a strong nutrient that helps in improving cholesterol and boosting the health of our heart. Beta glucan can also help our body to regulate our blood sugar which help us to reduce the risk of getting diabetes.