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Mushrooms
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BENEFICIAL Enjoy mushrooms. The nutritional content of mushrooms is available here. Milk thistle was discovered as a treatment for mushroom (toadstools) poisoning. Some have to restrict phosphorus and potassium, so their mushroom eating might be limited. If I can ever get chanterelle mushrooms, I would feast on them. Sometimes expensive truffles can be found on a restaurant menu. Truffles are a delightful fungi.
Mushrooms have a fairly high protein content, typically 20-30% crude protein. Mushrooms can be an important dietary source of amino acids, they are low in fat, high in fiber, contain thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, Vitamin D.
Some mushrooms have a higher oxalate level. If one must restrict oxalates here are some high oxalate foods. Mushrooms does not appear on this list.
Although not famous medicinal mushrooms like their reishi or maitake cousins, crimina do appear to be beneficial to the body.
There's evidence that Agaricus bisporus inhibits aromatase, an enzyme that contributes to estrogen production. By controlling estrogen levels, the risk of breast cancer is lowered. See this page for a brief write up on a study done on decreasing tumor cells. (Be warned it contains harder science than some may have an interest for).
They contain significant amounts of phytonutrients including L-ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant. Linoleic acid, a fatty acid found in criminis, inhibits the enzyme aromatase, which is involved in estrogen production. Studies have shown that consuming mushrooms may help to fight breast cancer by lowering estrogen levels. Crimini mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamins B2, B3 and B5, copper, phosphorus, and potassium. They also contain high amounts of selenium, which is necessary for the activity of some antioxidant enzymes, as well as for DNA repair. In addition, crimini mushrooms contain zinc, manganese, and tryptophan, an essential amino acid.
It should be noted that individuals who have gout or kidney disease should limit the amount of crimini mushrooms in their diet because the purines contained in these mushrooms can contribute to a buildup of uric acid.
Beyond medicinal, the main uses for these mushrooms are culinary. These are famous edibles, and good for you as well. They're known to contain:
Vitamin D
Potassium
B Vitamins
Helpful antioxidants like selenium
Fiber
Linoleic acid (believed to be responsible for controlling estrogen levels). |
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