Nature’s gift to humans, nutrient-packed mushrooms are popular in the world for their exceptional nutrients and amazing taste in different recipes. Interestingly, mushrooms have over 14,000 varieties found in the world, but out of that only 50 % are eatable. Read on to find all information about the health benefits of mushrooms, its types, and all its nutritional values.
Types of Mushrooms
Here are few popular types of mushrooms out of its massive variety-
White Button Mushroom:
Also called an able mushroom, cultivated mushroom, button, and champignon comprise 90% of mushrooms that people eat. It is used in making soups, salads, and in pizza toppings.
Portabello Mushroom:
This is big size mushrooms. It has alternate names as Portobella, field mushroom, and open cap mushroom. Portabello Mushroom is used in making sauces, pasta, and an ingredient in various grilled recipes.
Crimino Mushroom:
Known also as Cremini, baby Bellas, golden Italian mushrooms, and brown mushrooms, these are tasty and savory mushrooms.
Maitake Mushroom:
Hen of the Wood, ram’s head, Kumotake, and dancing mushroom are its few interesting alternate names. It is as big as cabbage with a nice flavor used in various recipes.
Shiitake Mushroom:
This umbrella shape brown capped mushroom has alternate names like oak fungus, black forest, black winter, brown oak, black mushroom, and forest mushroom.
Oyster Mushroom
Tree oyster, angel’s wings, abalone mushroom are few of its strange names. It is often used in Japanese and Chinese foods.
Enoki Mushroom:
It is also called Enokitake, enokidake, winter mushrooms, and winter fungus. This shiny white-capped mushroom, attached to a thin stem is merged in various dishes.
Chanterelle Mushroom:
Golden, yellow, chanterelle, egg mushroom, and Girolle are some of its popular names. This trumpet-like mushroom is prevalent in Europe and the USA.
Beech Mushroom:
This mushroom has subtle flavor & taste when cooked. Buna Shimeji, beech brown mushroom, clamshell mushroom are its other names.
King Trumpet Mushroom:
It is also known as king oyster, king brown mushroom, trumpet royale, and French horn mushroom. This huge mushroom has a thick stem used for cooking.
Nutritional Values
Mushrooms hold various vitamins in itself, such as vitamin D and vitamin B, including pantothenic acid (B5), niacin (B3), and riboflavin (B2). Besides, it has calcium, copper, selenium, glutathione (GSH), fiber, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and protein in its reservoir of nutrition. It also has 90% water as its major constituent.
The nutritional values of mushrooms help the body with its cholesterol-free, low in calories, and fat-free properties. Mushrooms also have plenty of antioxidants like selenium and glutathione (GSH), which check the degeneration of cells, thus controlling diseases and inflammations. It also has an antioxidant called ergothioneine (ERGO) in its cap area, which is effective in fighting rogue cells and protecting from various illnesses. Some mushrooms are grown under sunlight also contain vitamin D in good quantity. For your benefit, here we have mentioned the main health benefits of mushrooms are:
Health Benefits of Mushrooms
The health benefits of mushrooms are immense in decreasing obesity and providing comprehensive health benefits.
Cancer:
Mushrooms with its rich nutrients, including powerful antioxidants, effectively prevent the degeneration of cells. Its antioxidants eliminate free radicals that destroy healthy cells and dangerously increase cancerous cells. Selenium mineral found in mushrooms increases liver enzyme function to cleanse cancer-causing substances from the body. Moreover, selenium eludes inflammation developing to become a tumor and decreases further tumor progression. Vitamin D also helps in curtailing cancer cells in the body.
Diabetes:
People with Type I and type II Diabetes, who consume high-fiber diets, are able to lower blood glucose levels, lipids, and insulin levels. One cup of stir-fried mushrooms gives 3 grams of fiber out of the total fiber requirement of 21 grams to 25 grams a day for women and 30 to 38 grams a day for men. It also helps in increasing fiber intake in the soup form.
Cardiovascular health
The health benefits of mushrooms include these substances in mushrooms that combine to support cardiovascular health. It is low in sodium and high in potassium contents that keep the blood pressure in the right order.
Mushrooms contain Beta-glucans and vitamin C, which help maintain a good cholesterol level in the body.
Weight loss management
Dietary fiber fills the stomach considerably, leaving little scope for more food thus controlling the body weight. Mushrooms have two types of dietary fibers in their cell walls, beta-glucans, and chitin. These fibers enhance the feeling of a full stomach, thus decreasing overall calorie intake.
How to Store Mushrooms
You can keep the mushrooms in their original packing in the refrigerator. If that is in loose, place mushrooms in a brown paper bag and wrap it properly to prevent air entry. Brown bag absorbs moisture and maintains its original mushroom. If you keep the mushroom in a plastic container, then wrap it with a waterproof wrap and close the lid after keeping mushrooms there.
Related Post:
Combine Ayurveda and food for overall health benefits
LINKS
https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/how-to-buy-and-store-different-types-of-mushrooms-recipes-article
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/ss/slideshow-all-about-mushrooms
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278858.php
