Mushroom: The Magic Food


Mushrooms have a very positive effect on our health. Mushrooms are rich in disease-fighting phytochemicals. If you eat mushrooms regularly, they lower the risk of breast cancer. Mushrooms also prevent prostate cancer cells from multiplying. They supply hard-to-get nutrients. One medium-size mushroom supplies 21 percent of the recommended daily intake of selenium, and one-third of your copper needs. It also has as much potassium as a medium-size banana. Oyster mushrooms are a good source of iron.
Mushrooms retain their nutrients when stir-fried, grilled or microwaved, and can help cut kilojoules. When minced meat was replaced with mushrooms in dishes such as lasagna and chilli con carne, adults consumed 1600 fewer kilojoules per day.
Mushrooms reduce cardiovascular disease by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. They also reduce insulin resistance which increases insulin sensitivity and block the growth of cancer tumors. They boost the immune system and lower toxic levels of estrogen hormone. They are anti-inflammatory and have strong antioxidant properties. They are low in sodium, calories and fat. They reduce the hormone-dependent breast cancer. They have analgesic, anti-inflammatory properties. They help fight infection, increase libido and combat allergies.
Mushrooms are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that helps lower elevated blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke. One medium portabella mushroom has even more potassium than a banana or a glass of orange juice. One serving of mushrooms also provides about 20 to 40 percent of the daily value of copper, a mineral that has cardio-protective properties. Mushrooms are a rich source of riboflavin, niacin, and selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant that works with vitamin E to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Mushrooms contain about 80 to 90 percent water, and are very low in calories (only 100 cal/oz). They have very little sodium and fat, and 8 to 10 percent of the dry weight is fiber. Hence, they are an ideal food for persons following a weight management program.
Button mushrooms have a type of carbohydrate that helps steady blood sugar levels while keeping metabolism high. Consuming 3 ounces of button mushrooms each day will help you burn more calories and shed as much as 13 pounds in five weeks, according to a study. A natural compound in shiitakes, known as lentinan, revs up white blood cells to help fight off infections. The active ingredient, gandodermic acid, found in reishis helps control cholesterol levels by 12%, can help shrink the plaque causing clogged arteries by 2/3, and can reduce blood pressure by 12%. Eating just a few ounces per day will relax the arteries and keep them clear.
Mushrooms naturally have vitamin D. They are the only non-animal food to have natural vitamin D, generated automatically when they are exposed to light. They contain beta-glucans which can provide protection against some types of cancer - including breast, skin, stomach and lung cancer. Beta-glucans in mushrooms have been shown to be capable of passing immune cells to the cancerous area and destroying cancer cells.

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