3 Health Benefits for Eating Mushrooms Regularly

Mushrooms are beautiful, colorful, and versatile. They can be made into soups and stir fry. They can go in sandwiches and salads. They can go on pizza. Some people even choose to grow mushrooms as a hobby. There are also various health benefits to adding mushrooms to your diet regularly.

1. Mushrooms Fight Aging From The Inside Out

Mushrooms are chock full of antioxidants such as ergothioneine and glutathione. These two chemicals appear naturally in high concentrations in mushrooms and other sources. They work inside the body to help dampen the effects of physiological stress that lead to outward signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity. Adding this delicious vegetable to your diet more often could help you look much younger longer.

In addition to easing the aging process of the body, mushrooms’ nutrients and antioxidants can help your brain as it ages. There is evidence indicating that mushrooms help in warding off diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Eating five cooked button mushrooms per day can reduce or eliminate risk of suffering from these illnesses later in life.

2. Mushrooms Can Be Good For Your Bones

Mushrooms that are labeled UVB in the supermarket have had sunlight exposure as they were grown. These mushrooms may help to keep your bones healthy. When mushrooms are exposed to sunlight during growth instead of being grown solely in the dark , they use the sunlight to convert a chemical they contain called ergosterol directly into a delicious edible source of Vitamin D. If you added 3 ounces of UVB mushrooms to your diet, that alone would provide your daily Vitamin D requirement.

Vitamin D enables the body to effectively absorb calcium and phosphorous from the foods we eat. Calcium is used to build stronger bones and prevent osteoporosis. Adding more mushrooms to your diet is a simple way to nourish and strengthen your bones. Vitamin D is also shown to improve muscle strength and stability. Having stronger muscles may prevent falls, which are a large factor in broken bones in elderly people.

3. Mushrooms Can Boost Heart Health

Heart health is very important for quality of life and longevity. One way you can improve your heart health is by adding more mushrooms to your diet. They add so much flavor to any dish they are used in without adding excess salt or cholesterol to your cooking. Reducing sodium and cholesterol levels in your diet can lower your blood pressure and help avoid clogged arteries down the road. If you were to eat a cup of mushrooms, you would only be consuming a total of 5 mg of sodium.

Some people who are trying to reduce or eliminate their red meat consumption find that mushrooms are a great stand in. They have a savory flavor and a fantastic texture. If you replace red meats with mushrooms in some of your meals, the only thing you’ll be missing out on is excess calories, fat, and cholesterol. Making the switch will not only give you a nutritional boost, but can help your heart not have to work as hard and stay healthy.

If you decide that you want to add more mushrooms to your diet, you will have no shortage of delectable recipes to choose from.