Mushrooms may be small and sort of funny looking, but they pack a powerful punch of nutrients and healthy boosting compounds! Many people are aware of medicinal mushrooms, commonly found in many supplements like Reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, and chaga. The benefits associated with these medicinal mushrooms range from improving sleep, decreasing anxiety, improving brain health and much more!
However, your average mushrooms which you can easily find in the grocery store like cremini (baby Bella) and even white button mushrooms also provide wonderful health benefits…and they are yummy too! They are great source of many vitamins and trace minerals, as well as antioxidants which help protect cells, and potassium, an electrolyte that many people don’t get enough of. Potassium is crucial to cardiovascular health, including helping to lower blood pressure. Furthermore, they even contain some Vitamin D, which is crucial to immune health. Many people do not get sufficient Vitamin D, particularly since there are limited food sources. In fact, it is the ONLY vegan source of Vitamin D!
Mushrooms are also a good source of B vitamins, which help to boost energy and aid with the healthy formation of red blood cells. They also contain choline, which was formerly classified as a B vitamin, which is vital for brain health, in particular learning and memory. Choline is a key component of the neurotransmitter, Acetylcholine. Deficiencies in acetylcholine has been linked to a number of neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer’s Disease.
Lastly, mushrooms are rich in fiber, which both helps to regulate blood sugar and reduce your risk of diabetes, but also provides significant benefits to our gut microbiome. The trillions of bacteria found on our gut are critical to our health. Research has shown that our gut microbiome is a regulator of nearly ever physiological and metabolic function in our body, so when it is imbalanced so are we! These microbes feed off fiber, also known as prebiotics, which ensures their health, vitality, and diversity. They are actually considered a Microbiome Superfood!
I have to admit, I never used to be a big fan of mushrooms, but as I have played around with various ways to make them, I have found them to amazingly rich and delicious! They are simple to roast and can even be made in an airfryer. Below are some of my favorite recipes for mushrooms:
For my Italian lovers – this is a simple and delicious one for Chicken Marsala!!