5 Great Things About Mushrooms

Photo credit: Acabashi [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)%5D

When you think “healthy eating,” you might not necessarily think of mushrooms, but they could be your golden ticket to a noticeable improvement in your overall health. There has recently been an influx of research surrounding mushrooms and the potential health benefits they can offer.

Researchers are finding that mushrooms are far more beneficial to us than we previously thought. In addition to the many benefits listed below, mushrooms are a great source of healthy protein, making them a favorite amongst vegetarians, and also have many versatile ways of use; they can even be used to create a pasta-alternative.

There’s so much that mushrooms have to offer you. In this article, I’ll share with you five of my favorite health benefits that mushrooms have in store for you.

1) They can improve your immune system

An antioxidant in mushrooms, Ergothioneine, contains sulfur, which helps boost your immune system. They also contain antibiotics naturally, helping prevent infections.

Mushrooms also help to minimize free radicals thanks to Ergothioneine. Free radicals can cause damage to your body and increase your risk of developing diseases. Eating foods that are good for your immune system are a necessary part of keeping it healthy.

2) They can help treat anemia

Mushrooms are a great source of iron, the nutrient of which those with anemia are deficient. Eating mushrooms can help those with anemia boost the iron levels in their blood, minimizing effects like headaches, digestive issues, fatigue, and brain fog (a name given to decreased ability to optimally function mentally, or in layman’s terms, being just a little slower on the uptake).

While eating mushrooms won’t treat these effects once they have started, they will help to minimize or eliminate altogether their presence in the future.

3) They can help strengthen your bones

Mushrooms, like milk, are abundant in calcium which helps to strengthen your bones. The calcium found in mushrooms can not only help strengthen your bones, but also reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis and minimize joint pain or immobility caused by age-related bone deterioration. This can help you to feel more agile and experience less pain and swelling in your joints.

4) They can help you absorb nutrients better

Believe it or not, mushrooms contain Vitamin D, which isn’t often found in vegetables. Vitamin D helps move the absorption and metabolism of phosphorus and calcium along, which means you absorb the full nutrients and experience the full effects sooner. Vitamin D is also beneficial for boosting your energy as well as your mood.

5) They can help you lose weight

Mushrooms are ranked higher than most vegetables and fruits in healthiness because of the many benefits they can offer you. They offer the ideal nutritional balance to encourage weight loss in a healthy way.

Mushrooms are chock full of protein and fiber without cholesterol and with a very low carbohydrate count; they’re the perfect addition to your healthy diet. Mushrooms are also a very versatile option for those on a gluten-free or vegetarian diet, as they can be made into pastas and provide a rich source of healthy protein.

You may not have considered the value of mushrooms before, but they certainly can be a vital part of your healthy eating journey. Mushrooms are packed full of nutrients you need while also being extremely healthy, and they can even help you lose weight.

These magical fungi can be your golden ticket to a healthier life. I hope that, through this article, I have helped convince you to integrate more mushrooms into your diet in an effort to improve your overall health.

 

One Response to 5 Great Things About Mushrooms

  1. Dave says:

    I am jealous of people who can eat mushrooms. I, unfortunately, cannot. I found out I was allergic to them when I was about 10 years old. Since then, I have not been able to eat any which is a total shame. Is there anything else like mushrooms that I can eat that will give me similar benefits?

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