11 Amazing Things That Happen To Your Body When You Eat Mushrooms
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Today, more people are appreciating mushrooms and their benefits. But, some questions are still evident. For example, are they a type of vegetable? Are they nutritious? As a matter of fact, some people may mistake mushrooms for a vegetable. When this is the case, they may decide to opt for vegetables in place of mushrooms. The truth is, it is impossible to substitute mushroom use with vegetables despite their benefits.
Mushrooms have far more superior health benefits than the usual vegetables. Unfortunately, few people realize this. Consequently, we end up missing all the advantages of mushrooms. Mushrooms require no light to grow, and they are not even vegetables. Like any other food sources, there are a variety of mushrooms.
Related: How To Make High Antioxidant Mushroom Broth.
Learn what you are missing from not including mushroom in your daily diet.
Health Benefits Of Mushroom
1. Weight Loss
Counting calories is cumbersome. Why not include mushrooms in your diet to help with your weight loss effort?
Research shows that mushrooms provide essential nutrients in helping you with weight loss. They are very low in calorie content, making it an excellent food choice for weight management. However, it is vital to use healthy cooking oil when cooking mushrooms as they tend to soak up the oil when being cooked. Coconut oil is a safe oil to use for cooking.
If your goal is weight loss, here are five super juices that you can drink to help you with your efforts.
2. Nails and Hair Growth
Mushrooms provide selenium to your body to help improve hair and nails growth. Selenium is essential in giving you long, beautiful and healthy skin as well as your hair and nails. It is also useful in boosting the metabolism rate in the body. Additionally, the mineral is effective in maintaining a young, soft and radiant skin.
3. Promote Healthy Sperm
Zinc, selenium and high antioxidant contents are present in mushrooms. These three elements are essential in ensuring the strength and the health of the sperms. For women trying to get pregnant, regular inclusion of mushrooms in the meals for their partner is a good trick.
4. Immune Boosting
Mushrooms are beneficial for boosting your immune system. Eating mushrooms all year round helps strengthen your immunity to prevent illnesses and infections. It is also great as an anti-inflammatory food for relieving joint pains.
5. Provision Of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for aiding in calcium absorption to achieve better, stronger and healthier bones and teeth. Tip: Place mushrooms under direct sunlight for about 30-60 minutes before cooking to help it absorb more of the sun’s vitamin D.
6. Good For The Gut
Soluble fiber in mushrooms helps to boost healthy bacteria in the gut. This aids with digestive health to improve regularity, prevent weight gain and reduce fatigue. Mushroom is also an excellent food that is suitable for diabetics and helps to lower LDL cholesterol in the body.
7. Medicinal Purposes
In China, mushrooms have been used as medicine for centuries. They are majorly used and loved for their health boosting properties. The ancient Chinese knows that mushrooms can be used to reduce the risk of lung infections, reduce high blood pressure and boost the immune system. Mushrooms are also made into tea to be enjoyed.
8. Lowering Cholesterol
Mushrooms have a unique fiber that have statin-like effect, in helping to lower blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels, at the same time raising the good HDL cholesterol. This cholesterol-lowering effect is attributed to the influence of chitin and glucans in mushrooms.
Mushrooms are virtually fat-free and the best way to prepare them is to lightly roast them in the toaster or oven, or grilled with olive oil. Cooking them in harmful cooking-oil defeats the purpose of eating mushrooms as they quickly soak up the oil during cooking.
9. High Antioxidant Content
The mushroom is a good choice of food as it contains high levels of antioxidants. Many people seem to think of fruits and vegetables as the only sources of antioxidants. However, mushrooms contain even higher levels of antioxidants, when compared to, say tomatoes.
Antioxidants help in the protection of body cells. They prevent the invasion of the cells by free radicals. Antioxidants are anti-aging agents that prevent premature aging as well as prevent development of cancer.
Related: Mushroom is one of the top 5 foods that contain superstar antioxidants.
10. Energy Boosting
When you are feeling tired and fatigued for reasons unknown to you, eating foods that are high in nutrients and antioxidants may just help you quickly get back on your feet. Mushrooms are an excellent food that can help to boost and improve your energy levels.
11. An Alternative To Animal Meat
Mushrooms are suitable for vegetarians. They provide your body with certain nutrients that are mostly found in animal meat. Some of these nutrients are iron, zinc, selenium, protein, and the B vitamins, just to name a few.
Mushrooms can, therefore, be a good alternative for people who don’t eat animal meat. Besides, mushroom has a meat texture and gives the dish the “meaty bites”. Vegetarians can, therefore, simply opt for mushrooms as a good meat alternative.
Conclusion
Evidently, mushrooms have more benefits than most people realize. It makes an excellent inclusion in a healthy diet, and make a vegetarian diet even better. So, let’s make room for mushrooms!
Related: How to make high antioxidant mushroom broth.
Katleen Brown is a health, beauty and fitness writer for various health-related websites. She recognizes the unity of body, mind, and outlook; and helps empower women to tune into their innate and inner wisdom to transform their health and truly flourish. Get in touch with her on Google+, Pinterest and Twitter.
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