Mushrooms & Their Magic

The other day, someone said to me, “Mushrooms taste good, but they’re kind of empty when it comes to nutrients, right?”.  Au contraire! Mushrooms, the multitude of varieties, have innumerable health benefits and are mineral-rich.  You’ll find B vitamins, zinc, and copper in these fungi, just to name a few! Even white button mushrooms (the most boring of the group, in my humble opinion) have been found to have both selenium and glutathione. Selenium, a trace mineral, serves as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that may enhance the Th1 immune response (responsible for keeping viruses and bacteria in check). Glutathione, a protein that modulates functions such as mitigation of oxidative stress, destruction of defective cells (apoptosis), regulation of mucus thickness, and development of immune cells, is also found in mushrooms. Mushrooms that have been exposed to sunlight may also contain different forms of vitamin D, a vitamin shown to help balance the occasional over-eager immune responses (Th1 vs Th2).

Mushrooms like reishi, chaga, turkey tail, lion’s mane, shitake, and maitake have been used in more traditional forms of medicine for centuries. Research studies are beginning to uncover the reason for their use in traditional medicines or daily wellness practices, which range from antioxidant properties to anti-tumor activity to neuroregeneration to immune-cell support. Beta-glucans, sugars (polysaccharides) found in the cell walls of mushrooms, stimulate the immune system and even modulate cholesterol levels.

Mushrooms are delicious in omelets, soups, pasta, veggie burgers, red-wine reductions for your grass-fed steak, or just sautéed in some healthy oil and garlic.  When cleaning your mushrooms, use a damp paper towel so as to avoid turning your mushroom into a sopping sponge! Enjoy exploring different mushroom varieties, tastes, and textures. I’ve been enjoying a small spoonful of dehydrated mushroom-mix coconut creamer from Anima Mundi Herbals in my coffee each morning.