Top Health Benefits Of Mushroom

There are various advantages of mushrooms and adding them to your diet will enhance your overall health and fitness. However, despite the increasing popularity of mushrooms in the last few years, it is still not a widely used ingredient in Indian cuisine. As a mushroom is a fungus, it is not considered a proper vegetable. Mushrooms are native to North America and Europe known for their chewy and meaty texture and delicate taste. While the world has accepted mushrooms for their vast qualities, Indians are still familiarising themselves with the vegetable.

There are many ancient tales related to the advantages of mushrooms such as Greeks considering mushrooms to be a source of great strength for warriors, while China used it for medicinal purposes. Countries like Japan have also approved a mushroom-based drug for curing cancer. In this article, we explore the different kinds of mushrooms, the advantages provided by these unique edible fungi, and their nutritional content.

Types of Mushrooms

There is a wide variety of mushrooms across the globe but very few of them are used for cooking or medicinal purposes. Being an edible fungus it is packed with antioxidants and other nutrients that contribute to overall health. According to scientific research, there are thousands of mushroom varieties but only a dozen of them can be consumed.  Some mushrooms have a psychedelic effect on the human mind and may even cause hallucinations. It is best to consume the mushrooms available in the supermarket unless you are an expert of mushrooms. The most common types of mushrooms consumed are:

• Button Mushrooms
• Shiitake Mushrooms
• Portobello Mushrooms
• Oyster Mushrooms
• Maitake Mushrooms

Nutritional Value Of Mushrooms

There are various nutrients and antioxidants found in mushrooms that are beneficial for your overall health and development. Mushrooms are less in carbs, and fat but are high in essential vitamins like:

• Vitamin B6
• Riboflavin
• Niacin
• Pantothenic Acid
• Potassium
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Vitamin D

Health Benefits of Mushroom

Let us dive into the exciting world of the health benefits offered by mushrooms in the section below:

How To Include Mushrooms In Your Diet?

There are multiple ways through which you can include mushrooms in your diet. It can be included in multiple recipes according to your liking. To avail benefits of mushrooms you can sautee them in a pan, boil them, and add them to a salad. Or simply just slice them and add them as a pizza topping.  Mushrooms can be consumed with your favorite dishes like pasta, pizzas, subs, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and more. It is a versatile ingredient that can be added to various dishes and enjoyed in different ways.

Wrapping It Up...

Many times mushrooms are overlooked due to their lack of color or unpleasant looks and also because they are fungus. However, over the years cuisines all across the globe have accepted, utilized, and appreciated mushrooms in various recipes. There are some variants of mushrooms that are considered to be luxury such as enoki mushrooms, Kalahari Truffles, and oyster mushrooms costing as high as INR 1,500 per kilogram. A food source that is packed with various nutrients like Vitamin D, Riboflavin, Selenium, Vitamin B6, and more that are essential to help you maintain overall health and fitness for your brain, heart, and gut.