Mushrooms nutritional value

Almost every person knows that it is good to eat mushrooms. However, not many of them know that they are actually some of the healthier foods a person can eat. The nutritional value of mushrooms is extraordinary. Not only are mushrooms high in fiber but they also have lots of valuable vitamins and minerals and are also low in calories. Apart from this, there are mushrooms that can boost a person's immune system because of the complex carbohydrates they possess.

Why are mushrooms considered a healthy food?

Protein is one of the first and main reasons why mushrooms are considered to be a good and healthy food. In most cases, up to 30% of total weight of a mushroom is protein. This is the reason why vegetarians include this vegetable so much in their diet. The ingredient that lowers the cholesterol level and plays a role in the digestive system is fiber and mushrooms have a lot of fiber. Niacin and certain B vitamins cannot be found in other plants, only in animal tissue. This is another reason why vegetarians consume so much mushrooms because B vitamins are important. Vitamin D is a vitamin that is highly important for the calcium absorption. In order for the body to absorb oxygen and make red blood cells it needs copper and mushrooms have that mineral as well.Among all other things, mushrooms are known to have the most selenium, which is an antioxidant.Certain type of mushrooms called portobello mushroom is said to contain more potassium than a banana. Potassium is important for the blood pressure regulation.Apart from these, mushrooms have some other important minerals like phosphorous, zinc and magnesium.

Beside these dietary benefits that a person can gain by eating mushrooms, there are some other health benefits as well.

Mushrooms are known to have lots of polysaccharides which make the immune system function better. This vegetable is said to have enzyme inhibiting activity and a significant number of triterpenes.

Some tips on how to get the most from mushrooms

The best thing a person can do is to grow his or her own mushrooms. If that is not possible, a person should make sure to buy organic mushrooms. Since mushrooms consist of 80% water, a person can add more mushrooms as a side dish to the actual meal. A person should try to eat various types of mushrooms since they all have different levels of nutrients. Another thing a person should check is to see whether he or she is allergic to mushrooms.