A Fungus That’s Actually Good for You?
Now, I absolutely love mushrooms! They are the first vegetable I tried. The earthy, meaty taste still lingers from that first taste, from decades ago. Mushrooms aren’t just delicious, they are multi-taskers like the rest of us. Like the ability to rev up the body’s self-defenses against things like cancer and viral infections.
Tumor Terminators
Western medicine has only recently begun to study the concept, but early animal research suggests fungi may have some pretty serious health-promoting powers. For example, powdered white button mushrooms recently boosted production of natural killer cells in mice. If the same thing happens in humans, that’s great news, because killer cells help defend against tumors and virus-infected cells.
Mention “Mushrooms” and What Comes to Mind? Most likely, their fabulous taste and texture. But there’s more to mushrooms than the pleasure of sitting down to a meaty Portabella sandwich, a mixed-mushroom omelet or a steak topped with sautéed white mushrooms. These oh-so-edible fungi also deserve attention for their unique contributions to a healthful diet.
Often grouped with vegetables, mushrooms provide many of the nutritional attributes of produce, as well as attributes more commonly found in meat, beans or grains. Mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free and very low in sodium, yet they provide several nutrients, including riboflavin, niacin and selenium, which are typically found in animal foods or grains. And Mushrooms are one of the few natural sources of vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth.
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