Benefits of Mushrooms for Health | Republika Online

Each mushroom has health benefits and properties.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – You may have heard the wise advice to eat rainbow colored vegetables every day. Remember that white and brown are important colors too. From mushrooms to cauliflower to onions, these colorful vegetables add a lot of health value to a meal.

Mushrooms are very nutritious. They have a strong association with anti-cancer activity and heart health. Then also has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Mushrooms, a type of mushroom that are edible, low in calories, fat free, and contain no sugar or sodium. While each mushroom has unique health benefits and healing properties, there are some common ingredients in all mushrooms: sources of B vitamins, as well as minerals, including selenium and copper.

Mushrooms stand out as the only vegetables that are natural sources of vitamin D, which is an essential nutrient that supports immune health and strong bones. Mushrooms can produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Mushrooms contain a plant sterol called ergosterol, which helps convert light into vitamin D.

Selenium and vitamin D are both immune-supporting nutrients. Rich in polysaccharides (a fancy word for a type of carbohydrate), mushrooms specifically contain one called beta-glucans. One study showed that because beta-glucans are not properly broken down in the body, these indigestible carbohydrates act as prebiotics in the digestive tract.

Lots of research on benefits of mushrooms for health, especially to help prevent and treat various types of cancer. A 2012 review of studies found mushrooms help complement chemotherapy and radiation therapy by fighting cancer side effects, such as nausea, bone marrow suppression, and anemia.

It is difficult to know for sure how eating mushrooms translates to cancer protection, as most clinical studies use mushroom powder, supplements or concentrated mushroom extracts. In one study, researchers obtained extracts from portobello mushrooms, oysters, button, cremini, and maitake. They added extracts to breast cancer cells in petri dishes (not in the human body), and found that cell proliferation was reduced by 33 percent, and maitake mushrooms and oysters were the most effective.

Reishi mushroom has long been used in TCM and has been studied for its use in cancer treatment. They are used as an adjunct therapy in cancer patients, where they can help suppress the growth of cancer cells and stop the spread of cancer cells. Again, the study used medicinal doses and mushroom format, not edible mushrooms.

The study highlights that it is important to know the difference between eating mushrooms as part of a diet, and using supplements or extracts as drugs for cancer treatment. Mushrooms contain two types of soluble fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and insoluble, which helps keep blood and cholesterol levels regular. Mushrooms also contain a powerful antioxidant called L-ergothioneine, which is most concentrated in portobello and cremini mushrooms.

Studies show that ergothioneine has anti-inflammatory effects, and may help reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a condition that includes high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. This group of conditions causes heart disease.

One study found that replacing beef with mushrooms helped reduce weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure among adults. Because mushrooms have a meat-like texture, they are easy to replace dishes like chilies, veggie burgers, and soups.

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