Want to cut back on eating red meat, then how about taking a look at what the Kingdom fungi can offer? Mushrooms (the visible structure that pops out of the ground) is the reproductive structure. They are almost like the fruit of the plant. Out of all the species of mushrooms (the ones that are edible), recent estimates are around 2300. Mushrooms come in a lot of different shapes, sizes and colors. Each offers a unique flavor to any dish it’s incorporated to. Aside from being tasty, mushrooms are also packed with nutrients. Consumed all throughout the world, they are loaded with proteins, vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and they are low in calories. Which is good news for those who are trying to lose weight or want to cut back on eating meat.
Mushrooms are mostly water, around 88 – 90%, around 3% – 8% Protein, 0-3% fat, 4-9% Carbohydrates, and 1-2% ash. Which means you can’t go wrong with eating or incorporating them on your diet. Not just the nutrients that they hold, they are also a good source of dietary fiber and antioxidants that can help fight free-radicals or oxidative stress in the body. They are also known in having medicinal properties which further ups their reputation as a superfood.
That’s why here are some additional benefits of eating mushrooms to human health;
1. Anti – Cancer Properties – Known for their unique taste, having that “umami” layer. Especially in dried shitake mushrooms. Mushrooms aren’t just a flavor enhance powerhouse, but they are also miniaturing pharmaceutical or nutraceutical factories. Possessing compounds that are bioactive that can help reduce the risk of certain cancers. Which have been identified in some species of mushrooms. They contain compounds such as lentinan, krestin, hispolon, and lectin, just to name a few.
2. A Good Source for Beta Glucan / Immune fighting properties – Beta glucan is a polysaccharide that is one of the main materials of the cell wall of the mushroom / fungus. The consumption of beta – glucan has been linked to improving the body’s general health. They help stimulate the immune system and protect against harmful microbes, environmental toxins, and carcinogens.
3. Contains Insoluble Fiber – Dietary fibers and foods that are high in fiber are linked to having a healthy gut / digestive system. And mushrooms are one of the best sources of these essential fibers. With an emphasis to sclerotium. Compared to other sources of DF, like cereals, fruits and vegetables, mushrooms are underutilized, with Shitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) being one of them. Mushrooms also contain chitin, which is often called “animal fiber”. This protein-like structure is a polysaccharide, a material that is also found in crabs, insects, and shellfish. Forming as a base for exoskeleton. Chitin is a material that makes mushrooms hard to overcook and offers a wide range of benefits, especially in the gut or digestive system. 
4. Heart Health – Mushrooms contain good amounts of potassium (shitake, oyster, for example) which are helpful in regulating various activities in the body; maintaining good levels of fluid in the body, regulating muscle and nerve functions / activity, and regulating blood pressure.
5. Rich in Phenolic Compounds – Mushrooms contain phenolic compounds that can offer a wide range of health benefits in the body. Among its physiological properties are anti – inflammatory, anti – microbial and antithrombotic. They also offer protection against degenerative disorders, like those related to brain, cancer and cardiovascular.
Mushrooms offer a lot of nutrients that are beneficial for the body, but be sure to only buy it from a reputable source. For some mushrooms are poisonous and can often look like the ones who are edible. So be careful.
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