Mushrooms bring umami flavor to pasta dishes, stir-fries, and garden salads while being an extremely low-calorie food packed with natural plant compounds that promote body health.
Mushrooms also provide some key vitamins and a host of benefits that you can read about below:
1. Anti-Inflammatory
They are low in calories, carbohydrates, fat and sodium content and an excellent source of potassium, riboflavin, selenium, vitamin D, and protein – not to mention weight control! Their rich nutrition also includes plenty of dietary fiber to aid weight management.
With such many health benefits packed into these versatile fungi, they make for the perfect addition to soups, stews, and side dishes as a meat substitute and provide umami flavor in savory meals. Mushrooms can usually be found in produce departments at grocery stores as well as health food stores; when purchasing or growing organic varieties to prevent contamination or disease risk.
One of the key ingredients of a healthy diet is controlling inflammation in the body. The official website of the Edible Academy states that mushrooms contain many anti-inflammatory compounds which contribute to overall well-being and help support overall well-being – these properties include beta-D-glucans, triterpenoids, and ergosterol.
Beta-D glucans are natural components found in mushroom cell walls that have the ability to stimulate both innate and adaptive immunity as well as reduce inflammation mediators.
Triterpenoids are plant-derived compounds that support immune function by decreasing the production of proinflammatory molecules like nitric oxide, cytokines, and prostaglandins. Ergosterol is another natural compound that has been discovered in mushrooms which helps lower serum cholesterol levels.
Medicinal mushrooms contain abundant antioxidants that act as the perfect defense against free radicals that cause cancer, cardiovascular issues, Alzheimer’s, and premature aging. Free radicals may trigger oxidative stress that leads to cell damage and inflammation in cells.
Studies demonstrate that both shiitake and cordyceps mushrooms increase the activity of immune-enhancing antibodies known as IgA, providing our first line of defense in terms of immune defense. They may also help lower CRP (c-reactive protein), which measures inflammation.
2. Weight Loss
They are low in calories and provide plenty of water, making them nutritious food that helps fill you up without adding unnecessary calories. Plus, they contain an abundant source of choline – an antioxidant known to be effective against certain cancers – while also increasing vitamin D levels, essential for bone health and immune functioning.
Fungi are rich sources of umami flavor that add to the richness of foods like meat dishes and sauces, providing extra depth of taste without adding fat and calories to recipes. They also make for an effective natural solution as an alternative source of sodium; their glutamate ribonucleotides act as natural sodium replacements.
Mushroom benefits range from boosting immunity and fighting inflammation to aiding weight loss. They contain polysaccharides, indoles, and phytosterols – plant-based compounds known for their anti-inflammatory effects – while they also provide numerous other advantages, including lowering high blood pressure levels, decreasing cardiovascular disease risk factors, and improving nutrient absorption in the digestive tract.
Your choice of mushroom can also provide additional medicinal properties, including stress relief, sleep improvement, or brain boost effects – for instance, shiitake and reishi are popularly recognized for their anti-tumor properties.
3. Boosts Immune System
Maintaining an effective immune system can prevent serious illnesses and diseases, so it is vital that we get enough rest, exercise, and stay at a healthy weight to optimize immunity. A diet full of nutrient-rich foods like mushrooms is also key to strengthening immunity – these wonder mushrooms contain numerous vitamins and minerals which will give any meal an immune boost!
The Fungus family contains an amino acid known as ergothioneine that acts as an effective natural antioxidant to defend against cell damage and support healthy immune function. This fungus-specific amino acid also enhances macrophage activity which kills foreign organisms to lower your risk of illness.
Maitake mushrooms are another powerful immune booster. These fungi provide one of the highest natural sources of beta-glucans and selenium, an antioxidant known to fight inflammation. Maitake is also considered an adaptogen, which works to rebalance physical or emotional stressors by helping rebalance body processes.
Add mushrooms to your daily meals for an immune-boosting effect, but if that isn’t feasible there are also mushroom blend supplements you can add into smoothies or hot drinks. Before purchasing one of these supplements or herbs it would be prudent to consult an integrative health practitioner prior to beginning their use.
4. Improves Cognitive Function
Mushrooms are packed with B vitamins, including B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and B6 (pyridoxine), which provide vital nourishment for brain health. It does this by producing energy and synthesizing neurotransmitters. Mushrooms also contribute to mental clarity while decreasing risks such as Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s diseases.
Mushrooms have been shown to increase the production of nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a molecule that stimulates the extension of nerve cells, improving cognitive function. Studies have demonstrated this effect with lion’s mane mushrooms specifically; increasing memory retention while diminishing brain fog. Hericenones and N-de phenyl ethyl isomeric have also been shown to improve cognitive functioning in mice.
Lion’s mane mushrooms (www.webmd.com/lions-mane-mushrooms) have been shown to offer protection from traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Studies conducted have demonstrated their efficacy by decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress which can contribute to nerve tissue breakdown; in turn, they promote new nerve growth, thus decreasing Parkinson’s disease risk as well as other neurological conditions.
Medical mushroom extracts can be found in many products, from tea to supplements.
You can easily make your own mushroom tea using any WholeSun Wellness extract in a cup of hot water in a pot, and stirring in one teaspoon at a time until thoroughly mixed – simmer for approximately 30 minutes, strain, sweeten with honey if desired – then enjoy.