Mushrooms are popular items in restaurants and home kitchens because they add instant texture and taste to many favorite recipes.  But did you know that protein-packed mushrooms can actually be good for your health?

In a study performed by Arizona State University researchers, it was found that common mushroom varieties such as the shiitake mushroom and even white button mushrooms can help ward off diseases by improving the immune function.  According to the Dr. Keith Martin, lead researcher, among all the mushroom varieties tested it was the humble white button mushroom that showed the most immune-boosting power.

The goal of the study was to examine whether or not regular (and widely available) mushroom varieties provided the same benefits as more exotic mushroom varieties (such as those sourced from countries like South Korea).  Dr. Martin and the other researchers pulverized the mushrooms and used the mushroom powders on animal tests (the researchers used laboratory mice for the study).

The result of the study was promising: since button mushrooms were just as beneficial as more expensive mushroom varieties, our families can definitely reap the benefits of eating mushrooms minus the extra expenses.  Fresh or canned button mushrooms can be found in almost every grocery store and supermarket around the country.

Now, the specific benefit that mushrooms provide is this: they boost the body's ability to fight off the growth of tumors.  For maximum benefits, 3.5 ounces of mushrooms are recommended daily.

More reasons to love mushrooms

Whether you like picking wild edible mushrooms or buying mushrooms in vacuum packs, you're getting lots of health benefits by eating these edible fungi:

1. Mushrooms are packed with potassium, which is good not only for your blood pressure but is also great for your memory.  Potassium can also reduce a person's risk of dying from stroke.

2. 2.5 to 3.5 ounces of mushrooms can provide up to fifty percent of a person's daily requirement of copper. The trace nutrient copper also has heart-healthy benefits.

3. Mushrooms contains lots of selenium – which may protect males from prostate cancer.  According to a Baltimore study, males that have a low level of this trace nutrient have a higher risk for developing prostate cancer.  Studies also suggest that mushrooms can reduce the risk for developing breast cancer.

4. Mushrooms have fiber and protein content, which may help in weight loss efforts. Fiber can also help lower cholesterol levels.

5. Mushrooms contain lots of vitamin D – which is important for healthy bones and skin.

Sources
webmd.com
reuters.com
researchstories.asu.edu
vegetarian-nutrition.info
organicfacts.net