Don't Just Put a Little on Pizza… 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat More Mushrooms

Don't Just Put a Little on Pizza… 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat More Mushrooms

 

Mushrooms are fungi that grow in damp places. They have anti-cancer properties and are used as medicine.

They range from those that contain lethal poison to those that are dangerous. There are also those that are non-poisonous.

Edible mushrooms are considered a healthy food due to their various nutrients.

American health and medical media outlet WebMD introduced the reasons why you should eat more mushrooms.

 

Get vitamin D =

 

Vitamin D is a nutrient difficult to obtain through food alone. Mushrooms are a rare food source that produce vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet light. Shiitake mushrooms produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Slicing them thinly increases the surface area exposed to sunlight, allowing for even more vitamin D production. Two to three sun-drenched shiitake mushrooms provide the recommended daily intake.

Helps with weight control =

 

Mushrooms are very low in calories. 100g of button mushrooms contain only 22 calories (kcal), a mere one-sixth of the calories of the same weight of rice. However, their high fiber content makes you feel fuller. Studies have shown that when eating both ground beef and mushrooms, those eating mushrooms felt more full and were less likely to reach for other foods afterward.

 

 

Selenium intake =

 

It's abundant in animal organs, egg whites, and nuts. Its antioxidant properties protect cells from free radicals that destroy cell membranes. It's also gaining attention as a cancer-preventing nutrient, and mushrooms are abundant in it. Oyster mushrooms contain 18.4 micrograms (㎍) per 100g, eight times more than carrots and twelve times more than onions.

 

 

Unique flavor =

 

There are mushrooms, such as pine mushrooms and portabella mushrooms, that have a texture similar to meat. When adding mushrooms to meat dishes like hamburgers, adding them in moderation can reduce calories while maintaining flavor. All mushrooms have a savory flavor, making them ideal for enhancing salads and stir-fries.

 

 

It's good for the environment too =

 

Mushrooms don't require rich, sunny soil to grow, and unlike other crops, they don't require extensive water. They also require minimal pesticides. The farming method itself is environmentally friendly. Furthermore, replacing some meat consumption with mushrooms reduces greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a smaller carbon footprint.

 

 

Reporter Kwon Soon-il (kstt77@kormedi.com)