20 Science-backed Health Benefits of Mushrooms!

The mushroom is a spongy fleshy fungus, consumed from thousands of years due to its therapeutic properties. You must have seen in the Super Mario video game mushrooms making someone bigger or act as a shield against some dangerous monster. Well, this is not the only depiction but the truth. They protect against diseases and infections, as they are full of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

The name “mushroom” is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agarics bisporus. It is grown in a sterilized environment and considered edible. The word “mushroom” is most often applied to those fungi that have a stem, cap, and gills present on the underside of the cap. They are essentially Saprophytes, the organisms (plants without chlorophyll) which live by extracting nutrients from dead and decaying plant and animal matter. Many varieties of mushrooms vary greatly in color, texture, shape, and properties. The wild varieties are very poisonous. China is the largest producer and consumer of mushrooms in the world.

The health benefits of mushrooms include lowering high cholesterol levels, preventing cancer risks mainly breast cancer, prostate cancer, and diabetes. It also aids in weight loss and increases the strength of your immune system.

There are approximately 140,000 species of mushrooms in the world, but only 10% are known to us, and only 100 species are being studied for their health benefits and medicinal applications.

Nutritional value

Nutritional value per 100g

Health Benefits of Mushrooms

1. Cholesterol

Mushrooms have no cholesterol or fat and are very low carbohydrates. Moreover, the fiber and certain enzymes in mushrooms also help lower cholesterol levels. The high lean protein content found in them burns cholesterol when they are digested. Balancing levels of cholesterol are essential for the prevention of various cardiovascular diseases.

2. Anemia

Anemic patients generally suffer from fatigue, headaches, and digestive issues. Mushrooms are a great source of iron which promotes the formation of red blood cells and keeps people healthy and functioning.

3. Breast Cancer & Prostate Cancer

Mushrooms contain Beta-Glucans and conjugated Linoleic Acid and both have anti-carcinogenic effects and inhibit the growth of cancer cells in both breast and prostate cancer. Moreover, linoleic acid is particularly helpful in suppressing the harmful effects of excess estrogen because the increase in estrogen is one of the causes of breast cancer in women after menopause.

4. Diabetes

Mushrooms are an ideal diet for people suffering from diabetes. They have no fats, cholesterol, low levels of carbohydrates, high in protein content, vitamins, and minerals with water and fiber. Moreover, they contain natural insulin and enzymes which help in the breaking down of sugar in the food. They also help in the proper functioning of the liver, pancreas promoting the formation of insulin, and its proper regulation throughout the body.

5. Bones

Mushrooms are rich in calcium, which is essential in the formation and strengthening of bones. A supply of calcium in the diet reduces your chances of developing conditions like osteoporosis and also keeps you away from joint pain and bone degradation which makes walking difficult.

6. Nutrient Absorption

Vitamin D is the rarest vitamin to find in vegetables, and in fact, edible forms are not particularly common. But, mushrooms have this essential vitamin, which facilitates the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorous. The combined levels of these two nutrients along with other nutrients make mushrooms a powerful source and healthy option to eat.

7. Immune System

Mushrooms contain Ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant, providing protection from free radicals as well as boosting the immune system. It is an amino acid containing sulfur, which is something people are most deficient in. the presence of this antioxidant which is unique to mushrooms can give you a major boost to immune system health, by eliminating free radicals that are dangerous for health.

8. Blood Pressure

Mushrooms are high in potassium content. Potassium acts as a vasodilator, relaxing tension in blood vessels and reducing blood pressure which prevents severe conditions of heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, potassium also promotes cognitive function as increased blood and oxygen flow to the brain stimulate the neural activity.

9. Selenium

The selenium content in mushrooms is one of the most beneficial elements having great benefits to health. The primary source of selenium is in animal proteins, but mushrooms are the best way for vegetarians to obtain the necessary amount of selenium. Selenium benefits bone health by adding to bone strength increasing enduringness. It also helps strengthen the teeth, hair, and nails. Well, this magic element is an antioxidant too, which rids the body from free radicals and strengthens the immune system.

10. Weight Loss

Mushrooms due to their nutrient density, actually rank higher than most fruits and vegetables. It has been researched that most fats are burnt to digest proteins found in our food. Mushrooms have lean proteins accompanied by no fat, a good amount of fiber, and low carbohydrate count, a combination that mushrooms offer to help in losing weight.

11. Hydration

Hyaluronic acid moisturizes the body from inside and plumps up your skin. It also helps to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Mushrooms contain an equally beneficial polysaccharide and function in hydrating and plumping your skin up.

12. Hair loss

The iron deficiency in the body i.e. anemia is one of the most common causes of hair loss. Mushrooms are a great source of iron which involved in the formation of red blood cells, can help combat hair loss thus strengthening your hair.

13. Skin Lightener

Some of the mushrooms contain kojic acid which is a natural skin lightener. Kojic acid inhibits the production of melanin on the surface of the skin. This makes the new skin cells lighten formed after the dead ones are exfoliated. This has been proved to be a great alternative to chemical lighteners like hydroquinone that has the risk of causing skin cancer.

14. Anti-Aging

Kojic acid is used in creams and lotions as a remedy for signs of aging. Mushrooms work by enhancing the natural defenses of the skin and improving its appearance by making it healthy and supple.

 15. Respiratory problems

Consuming mushrooms strengthen the lungs and also cures the respiratory disorder, like asthma. Mushroom capsules or its extract are advised to people with respiratory problems to make breathing easy.

16. Healthy sperm

Mushrooms contain selenium and zinc, which are essential for healthy and fertile sperms. The richness of folate in mushrooms makes it popular among expecting mothers. It is advised to include this nutritious food in your diet if you are trying to conceive a baby.

17. Strengthens Nails

Well, again a benefit of selenium here, which is generally not found in other vegetables or fruits. Selenium content in mushrooms keeps nails healthy and makes them stronger preventing their breakage.

18. Energy booster

Mushrooms being a good source of vitamin B, fill your body with instant energy. So if you are up for an exercise of tired with work then have some mushroom pasta or any mushroom dish to energize yourself.

19. Teeth

Mushroom has great calcium content that helps strengthen the teeth and also protects them from cavities. Hence, it is good to consume mushroom to prevent bacterial infections

20. Acne

Mushroom extracts are used extensively in the skincare products and acne removal creams. The mushroom provides a large number of benefits for skin problems. For acne problems, vitamin D gives mushroom the healing properties that effectively treats acne and also keep them away.

Quick tips to serve

1. You can try out mushroom burger. The patty filling in between can be combined with mushrooms, lentils, tomatoes making a healthy meal.
2. You can also try fried button mushrooms dipped in a rich gravy of tomatoes, cream, cashew paste with a little touch of shahi garam masala.
3. Mushroom samosa makes a great snack for the evening. Just replace your potato filling with mushrooms and enjoy the healthy snack.
4. Another snack is your all-time favorite pasta. Combine your pasta with mushrooms which add on taste making it more delicious.
5. Toasts make up your great breakfast. Combine the filling with mushrooms to make it healthier.

Precautions

2. Most species of mushrooms are not edible, are highly poisonous. They look strikingly similar to their edible counterparts. Don’t try picking mushrooms yourself for consumption from the woods unless you are trained and identify them well. Many wild mushrooms contain heavy metals, which can be very toxic and can cause allergies on touching.
3. Always buy sealed products from reputable companies. Do not trust any unknown vendors when you buy mushrooms. Poisonous mushroom affects people’s health, resulting in comas, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, cramps, insanity.
4. They can cause problems for people with low blood pressure, causing loss of consciousness. People should stay away from them.
5. Mushrooms are also not suitable for everyone. It may cause dizziness, headaches. Please refer to a doctor before consuming them.