Eat tasty, look younger, nurture a healthy heart: All with Mushrooms!!!

Lamjakim Khongsai / Dr Virginia Paul *

Wild Mushrooms found in Manipur : Pix - Yumnam Rajeshwor

"Let thy food be thy medicine" ... with mushrooms that is perfectly true, as they contain some of the most powerful natural nutrients which are commonly unknown to us. We love and enjoy the dishes prepared out of mushrooms…but are we aware enough of the nutritional benefits they gave to our health??

Here are some contributions to health made by mushrooms:

Mushrooms are low in calories, carbohydrates, fat and sodium acting as a nutritious weight loss diet. Mushrooms contain antioxidants, which helps our body fight off free radicals and may help decrease risk of cancer. Portabella mushrooms contain the highest amount of antioxidants, followed by white button mushrooms. Ergothioneine is also another naturally occurring antioxidant which is found in mushrooms. Because of the presence of these antioxidants it helps in overcoming early ageing.

Mushrooms provide us with a tremendous amount of selenium. A heightened level of selenium will help protect us against bladder cancer. Mushrooms contain lots of phytonutrients (aids in disease prevention). Beta-glucan helps keep our immune system healthy and strong. It also helps in resisting allergy. They help boost our heart health because they contain thiamine and pyridoxine.

Interesting fact- We all know that bananas are high in potassium, but mushrooms out ranked bananas on the potassium chart. Per 100 gm of banana and mushroom provides 88 mg and 305 mg of potassium respectively. Potassium counteracts sodium level in the body and hence lowers blood pressure. So people with hypertension or at high risk of stroke can enjoy tremendous health benefits by incorporating mushrooms in their diet.

Shiitake mushrooms (a variety of mushrooms) demonstrate antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects; blood sugar stabilization; reduced platelet aggregation; and reduced atherosclerosis. Shiitake also contains eritadenine, which has strong cholesterol-lowering properties.

Mushroom is a rich source of folate, which is essential for the formation of red and white blood cells in bone marrow. The B-vitamins contained in mushrooms may help to relieve stress, depression and fatigue. In addition to valuable nutrients, whole mushrooms also provide dietary fiber that acts as prebiotic platforms for the growth of probiotic organisms in your gut, which is very important for digestive health. This is yet another reason to opt for a whole mushroom food product.

If you choose to eat your mushrooms raw, make sure they are organically grown, as their flesh easily absorbs air and soil contaminants. People who have a history of kidney stones and gout need to ensure that they exercise caution when eating mushrooms, as they contain purines, which are a precursor to uric acid and can be harmful to the individual if taken in large amounts.