Mushrooms are classed as a superfood as they’re high in nutrients and have many health benefits. 

They’re a rich and low calorie source of fiber, protein, and antioxidants. They might also mitigate the risk of developing serious health conditions, like Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

What are the Health Benefits of Mushrooms?

Which mushroom is the healthiest?

Oyster and shiitake mushrooms have the most fibre. Raw maitake mushrooms along with portobellos exposed to UV light are among the highest in vitamin D levels. Any mushroom is a good choice.

What is unhealthy about mushrooms?

Certain mushrooms are extremely poisonous: there’s a number of mushroom species can make people violently ill and even kill them.

Are mushrooms healthier raw or cooked?

Mushrooms are more nutritious when cooked. Cooking mushrooms will eliminate any toxins or carcinogens. Many nutrients in mushrooms are more accessible after they’ve been cooked, including the antioxidants carotenoids and ferulic acid.

Are mushrooms good for weight loss?

Providing protein and fiber, mushrooms have also shown to be beneficial for weight loss. Mushrooms have unusually high levels of vitamin D which can help; and one of the key health benefits mushrooms have over other produce is that they can help to increase vitamin D levels.

Can mushrooms get rid of belly fat?

Mushrooms have also been known to promote weight loss and burn fat by regulating the levels of glucose in our blood. As mentioned, they’re rich in protein and can help you increase your metabolism.

What vegetable has the most protein?

High-Protein Vegetables, Ranked from Highest to Lowest Protein:

• Green peas 1 cup – 7.9 g protein
• Mushrooms 1 cup – 6 g protein
• Artichokes 1 cup – 4.3 g protein
• Sweet corn 1 cup – 4.7 g protein
• Avocado 1 cup – 4.5 g protein
• Asparagus 1 cup – 4.3 g protein
• Kale. 1 cup – 4 g protein
• Brussels sprouts 1 cup – 3 g protein

When should you avoid mushrooms?

Please don’t ever consume mushrooms from the wild before confirming whether they are edible. Avoiding consumption can help avoid complications.

What can mushrooms do to the brain?

The active ingredient in magic mushrooms disrupts communication between brain regions. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, has been known to alter our perception of reality, distort the perception of time, space, and self. It’s currently being evaluated for therapeutic purposes in western societies and around the world. 

Many believe it could be a more natural way to treat several human ailments, depression and anxiety among them. Micro-dosing mushrooms is the act of taking micro amounts of Psilocybin over a period of time to not get high, but help certain people with issues such as focus or anxiety/depression.

Are mushrooms better than meat?

Mushrooms are a good meat substitute although they are not filled with protein exactly like meat. However Mushrooms actually surpass meat in many characteristics: they are rich sources of vitamins and minerals for instance selenium, zinc, vitamin B1, B2, B5, B6 and B12.

What mushrooms are good for sleep?

There are medicinal mushrooms known to aid sleep. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Cordyceps (Cordyceps Sinensis), Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) and Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) are four types of mushrooms that can help you in this way.

Mushrooms can boost brain health

About 12 to 18 percent of people age 60 or older have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that’s sometimes a precursor to Alzheimer’s. It impacts memory, thinking skills, and judgment, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

A healthy diet is important for our aging brains, and mushrooms can be a big part of that.

A study on 663 adults ages 60 and older in Singapore, those who reported consuming more than two servings of mushrooms per week had a 57 percent lower odds of developing MCI than those who ate mushrooms less often than once a week, according to a March 2019 study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. The study used golden, oyster, shiitake, white button, dried, and also canned mushrooms.

One possible explanation for their cognitive-protecting properties is the presence of Ergothioneine. It’s not only an antioxidant but has anti-inflammatory properties both of which may protect against neuronal damage.

Final Thoughts

Mushrooms are overlooked sometimes in our recipes and daily meals, but they are a nutrition powerhouse that we should all remember to include in our diets.

Read More:

Best Medicinal Mushrooms to Try