Do you want mushrooms? Here are 11 properties and benefits that will make you come even more!
Numerous cultures consider mushrooms to be a real miracle food! And they are not entirely wrong: thanks to the high content of vitamins, fibers and antioxidants, mushrooms have a lot to offer our body and our health.
The other foods you can't do without? Here they are...
But are mushrooms vegetables?
We finally give an answer to the question you have asked yourself at least once: mushrooms are not vegetables. Unlike the fresh food we eat, mushrooms don't need sunlight to grow. In fact, they are the fruit of the so-called royal mushrooms that grow underground. And do you know what they love most? The humidity!
From white to brown ones, from chanterelles to boletus, there are many varieties that can be used for numerous recipes and they are all equally delicious.
Let's start by listing some interesting properties:
- They consist of 92% water
- According to science, (with the same benefits) they satiate more than fruits and vegetables
- They have ZERO fat
- They have a high content of vitamins and minerals
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Zero calories and a healthy heart: the 8 extraordinary benefits of black tea Why does hiccups come? It could be dangerous? Ginger: properties and benefits of a miracle plant1. Mushrooms are great allies for losing weight
If you are trying to reduce calories in your diet, but are afraid of staying hungry all day, mushrooms can be an excellent solution.
Edible mushrooms have a very low calorie content and can help with weight loss or during the maintenance phase. 100g of mushrooms correspond to only 40 calories and are also a rich source of nutrients.
In addition, given their meaty texture, they are also a good alternative to meat. But be careful! Don't overdo it with butter and oil - mushrooms are like sponges and absorb everything.
2. Mushrooms are a valuable source of selenium
Mushrooms are not only great for weight loss, they are also great for skin, hair and nails. All thanks to the mineral of excellence for beauty: selenium.
Mushrooms are one of the best plant sources of the mineral selenium, which keeps hair and nails healthy and supports the production of the thyroid hormones that control metabolism.
Selenium also helps keep skin glowing, protecting its quality and elasticity.
Be careful, however, not to overdo it or it could become harmful. The best way to get selenium is through a healthy diet, where mushrooms are a must!
3. Mushrooms improve sperm quality
Are you trying to have a baby? Add some mushrooms to your partner's diet! Mushrooms are also a source of zinc which, in addition to selenium, is a very important mineral for making sperm healthy.
If you are already pregnant, mushrooms cannot be missing from your diet. Expectant mothers need folate, vitamins often lacking in this period that mushrooms contain in abundance.
4. Mushrooms help increase the immune system
Winter has now arrived and with it also colds, sore throats and various seasonal ailments. Also in this case, mushrooms can help you, thanks to beta-glucans that help strengthen the immune system.
Shiitake mushrooms, even if they are a bit difficult to find, are the best for giving valuable support to the immune system. A sprinkling of sesame seeds, a little minced garlic and a pinch of soy sauce are enough to obtain a delicious and healthy dish.
5. Mushrooms make us stronger thanks to vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for our immune system and for our growth. It helps our body absorb calcium, thus helping to make bones and teeth stronger.
But if mushrooms grow underground how can they be rich in vitamin D? The answer is simple.
Remember: mushrooms are real sponges! Just clean them and put them in the sun for about thirty minutes, between 10 and 15. In this way they will absorb Vitamin D directly from the sun.
6. Mushrooms are perfect for the gut
If your diet is low in fiber, you don't have to have an easy life.Constipation, weight gain and fatigue are just some of the symptoms that can be experienced due to a lack of fiber. But if you are a mushroom lover you don't have to worry about all this.
Mushrooms are an excellent source of fiber, especially the soluble ones. Eating soluble fiber will help boost your gut's good bacteria count. In addition, they will provide you with nutrients (vitamins of group B and K) that will keep harmful bacteria at bay and help you keep cholesterol levels low, controlling blood sugar levels and thus reducing the risk of type diabetes. 2.
Think of mushrooms as a "natural alternative to probiotics!"
7. Why mushrooms are called "miracle food"
You may not have known that, but for thousands of years, mushrooms have been praised for their benefits. The so-called "medicinal mushrooms" such as reishi, maitake and shiitake have been used for many years (especially in China) for their health properties.
Traditional medicine used it to support the liver, thanks to their ability to reduce blood pressure, and the lungs and, as we have already said, to strengthen the immune system.
It is possible to take advantage of these benefits by taking mushrooms in various forms, including Reishi Mushroom Tea, known to improve the general well-being of our body in a few months.
8. Mushrooms help lower cholesterol
For the heart, on the other hand, you can resort to the help of Shiitake mushrooms. These, in fact, contain a substance called eritadenine which, in addition to beta-glucans and phytosterols, is important for keeping the heart healthy.
In order not to lose the magnificent properties of shiitake mushrooms it is essential not to wash them. Just clean them with a damp cloth, thus preventing them from filling up with water and turning into mush.
9. Mushrooms are rich in antioxidants
When it comes to healthy foods, it's impossible not to mention antioxidants. You will then be happy to know that mushrooms are a major source of antioxidants, much more than other types of vegetables.
Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which negatively affect the aging process and can support some heart disease and some cancers.
10. Mushrooms are an "excellent source of energy
Do you always feel tired or in a bad mood? Thanks to the mushrooms you will get back to having the right charge!
Eating mushrooms is probably the last thing you think about when you feel exhausted and would like to recharge. In fact, they are an extraordinary source of all the B vitamins, the same ones that help our body produce energy.
11. Mushrooms are a delicious ingredient for vegan recipes
If you are vegan or vegetarian you know that you can risk having a deficiency of vitamin B12, which is found mainly in products of animal origin. For this reason, eating mushrooms can be a great choice!
In addition to containing zinc and selenium, which are usually found in foods of animal origin, the fleshy consistency of mushrooms will allow you to give an extra touch to your dishes, also increasing the sense of satiety.