Eating mushrooms every day may bring a range of health benefits, according to the health publication Verywell Health, as reported by the Ukrainian outlet UNIAN. The outlet said mushrooms carry a variety of properties that help fight inflammation, support gut health and supply the body with important vitamins and minerals.
Mushrooms are a low-calorie ingredient widely used in cooking for their texture and flavor. UNIAN outlined eight specific ways that regularly eating them can affect the body.
Inflammation and antioxidants
Inflammation plays a role in the development of many diseases, including heart disease, arthritis, autoimmune disorders and cancer, the outlet said. Mushrooms have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect that can lower the risk and severity of inflammatory illness. Citing Science Direct, UNIAN reported that mushrooms contain several bioactive metabolites, substances produced as they are digested, which are responsible for this anti-inflammatory action.
Mushrooms also contain antioxidants, chemical compounds that neutralize free radicals, the unstable molecules produced during cell processes that can damage the body in various ways. Free radicals increase when the body is under stress or exposed to harmful food and chemicals, and they can contribute to cancer as well as heart, liver and lung disease. Several components and byproducts of mushrooms were said to have an antioxidant effect on the body.
Cholesterol and gut health
Citing the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNIAN noted that high cholesterol and fat levels can harm the body by contributing to heart disease, stroke and vascular disease. Eating mushrooms has been shown to help lower cholesterol and lipid levels. Citing the publisher Wiley, the outlet reported that chemical components in different mushroom species can bind to fats and cholesterol and remove them from the body, while mushroom enzymes can lower blood cholesterol by breaking down harmful fats.
Mushrooms also contain fiber and beta-glucans, which support gut health. These components aid digestion and can help prevent constipation, which causes abdominal discomfort and raises the risk of complications such as diverticulitis, an inflammation of pouches in the intestine, and colon cancer.
Cancer risk and blood pressure
Eating mushrooms has been linked to a lower overall risk of developing malignant tumors, UNIAN reported. Because different cancers have different causes, it is not fully known why mushrooms are associated with a reduced risk of so many types of the disease, though the outlet suggested it may be tied to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Mushrooms may also help control blood pressure. Hypertension is a common health problem that shows no noticeable symptoms until its harmful effects, such as heart disease, develop. UNIAN said mushrooms are considered a dietary hypotensive agent because they contain a large amount of compounds that lower blood pressure, including ergosterol, polyphenols, terpenes, terpenoids, polysaccharides and proteins.
Immunity and diabetes
Studies have shown that mushrooms can strengthen the immune system and display antimicrobial properties that help defend against various infectious agents, the outlet reported. Some of these antimicrobial effects may be linked to nutrients found in mushrooms, and it has also been suggested that mushrooms contain chemical compounds capable of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms.
Controlling blood sugar is crucial for people already diagnosed with diabetes, and maintaining a moderate, healthy blood sugar level can also benefit those at risk of diabetes or with prediabetes. Research shows that in some people, mushrooms can lower blood glucose levels and increase insulin production. The article explained that insulin is the hormone that transports sugar from the blood into cells, where it is used as a source of energy.
UNIAN previously reported that nutritionists recommended six foods with a higher fiber content than avocado, and separately named a food to eat before breakfast to support liver health.
