Good Health for Mushrooms
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| Mushroom |
Having mushrooms in the fridge
promotes a sense of security in the cook. In minutes, you've got mushrooms on
toast, or a rapid blended soup. A little longer, and there's risotto or an easy
pasta. It's the only non-meat that comes close to aping the flavours of meat,
so you can rely on mushrooms to bring an intensely savoury "umami"
character to a dish. Partnered with cream, cheese and ham, mushrooms take on a
velvety richness. Just a hint of truffle oil makes them positively aristocratic.
But the portobellos and the big,
black-gilled field mushrooms have a distinctly meaty personality. If you know
how to recognise edible species, then now's the time to forage the woods for
fragrant chanterelles and boletus. Don't get it wrong though – one bad mushroom
can kill you.
Breast Cancer
Mushrooms are very effective in preventing breast and
prostate cancer due to the significant presence of various polysaccharides,
like Beta-Glucans and conjugated Linoleic Acid, which both have anti-carcinogenic effects. Out of these two, linoleic acid is particularly
helpful in suppressing the harmful effects of excess estrogen.
This increase in
estrogen is one of the prime causes for breast cancer in women after menopause.
The Beta-Glucans, on the other hand, inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in
cases of prostate cancer, and numerous studies have shown the antitumor
properties of mushrooms when applied medicinally.
Bone Health:
Mushrooms
are a rich source of calcium, which is an essential nutrient in the formation and strength of bones.
A steady supply of calcium in the diet can reduce your chances of developing
conditions like osteoporosis, and can also reduce joint pain and general lack
of mobility that is associated with bone degradation.
Mushrooms are an ideal low-energy diet for diabetics. They have
no fats, no cholesterol, very low levels of carbohydrates, high protein
content, and a wealth of vitamins and minerals. They also contain a lot of
water and fiber. Moreover, they contain natural insulin and enzymes which help
the breaking down of sugar or starch in food.
They are also known to contain certain compounds which help
proper functioning of the liver, pancreas and other endocrine glands, thereby
promoting the formation of insulin and its proper regulation throughout the
body.
Diabetics often suffer from infections, particularly in their
limbs, which tend to continue for long periods of time. The natural antibiotics
in mushrooms can help protect diabetics from these painful and potentially
life-threatening conditions.
