They provide numerous health benefits for your body.
Mushrooms come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Because a savory fungus is a member of the fungal family and a vegetarian staple that can be included in a broad array of cuisines, it's only natural that your body will react in various ways.
Mushrooms are often regarded as superfoods and are an exceptionally nutritious food to include in your diet. Mushrooms, on the other hand, can be toxic in some cases. As a result, it's critical to keep track of where you obtain your favorite fungi and how it's cooked.
Here's everything you need to know about it!
1. Your blood glucose level may improve.
Diabetes, a chronic disorder that affects how your body absorbs food, affects about 10% of Americans. Lowering blood sugar levels can treat or prevent diabetes. While meals should be avoided to assist raise blood sugar, such as desserts and sweet tea, other foods can be ingested to help lower it, such as oyster mushrooms—putting you on the offensive rather than the defensive to increase blood glucose levels.
"Similarly, alpha- and beta-glucans in oyster mushrooms are thought to lower blood sugar levels and promote insulin sensitivity, which are key events in the treatment and prevention of diabetes," explains Jack Baron, RD, a registered dietitian.
According to Baron, beta-glucans have also been discovered to have other health benefits.
"Beta-glucans have been demonstrated to enhance the immune system by activating several types of immune cells that fight and limit tumor growth," Baron explains.
2. Your body improves its ability to resist sickness.
When you're sick, the most significant thing you can do is relax—make some soup, lie in bed, and wait for your immune system to kick in and combat the infection. Eating mushrooms is another approach to assist your body fight illness because they include vitamins and nutrients beneficial to your immune system.
Fresh mushrooms are high in B vitamins, riboflavin, niacin, potassium, and selenium, as well as glutathione, ergothioneine, and vitamin D, according to Pam Smith, RD, president and founder of Shaping America's Plate, Inc. "Studies suggest that these nutrients are vital for sustaining a healthy immune system by raising the amount of antiviral and other proteins in the body," says the author.
3. You could be poisoned.
With over 10,000 distinct types of mushrooms known, trying new and delectable variations of the fungus can be thrilling, but it's not necessarily the healthiest thing to do, as several varieties of mushrooms are deadly to people. Eating a poisonous mushroom can have various consequences, including dehydration, organ failure, and even death in some cases.
"When you eat harmful compounds found naturally in particular species of mushrooms, you get mushroom poisoning," says Janet Coleman, RD, a qualified dietitian and the founder of The Consumer Mag. "Even if you're a seasoned mushroom hunter who has been foraging for years, you never know when you'll come across a dangerous type by accident."
4. Your bones will become stronger.
Sure, collecting autographs on a cast after a broken bone can be entertaining, but it's far preferable to avoid the discomfort of breaking a bone in the first place. That's why it's critical to maintain good bone health, and studies have shown that one of the most significant ways to do so is to eat foods high in Vitamin D, such as outdoor-grown mushrooms.
"Outdoor-grown mushrooms flood your system with vitamin D," says Nataly Komova, RD, a licensed dietician, and fitness specialist at JustCBD. "Ergosterol, a molecule that the body turns directly into vitamin D, is abundant in these mushrooms."
Checking the label for a UVB mark on mushrooms from the grocery shop, according to Komova, is the best method to guarantee that they were cultivated outside.
5. You might have hallucinations.
The vast majority of mushrooms, including those sold in grocery stores, are safe to eat. However, wild mushrooms can sometimes be suspect, as some contain psilocybin. Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are known as magic mushrooms because they can cause powerful hallucinations. Growers can either find magic mushrooms in the wild or produce them.
"Psilocybin, a hallucinogenic and psychotropic ingredient, is found in magic mushrooms," says registered dietitian Johna Burdeos, RD. "Hallucinations, ataxia, illogical conduct, nausea, and vomiting are all harmful and psychotic effects of magic mushrooms when taken."
6. You may look younger.
Most people have figured out a regular skincare routine by the time they reach adulthood to help balance their skin and keep it appearing younger and more refreshed. While skincare routines are crucial, eating mushrooms, which contain antioxidants and other helpful elements, is another approach to help your skin seem younger.
"Antioxidants, protein,
minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber are abundant in mushrooms," explains
Komova. "Physiological stress is alleviated by a high quantity of
antioxidants, glutathione, and ergothioneine. As a result, wrinkles and other
symptoms of aging are decreased."