Balancing Pregnancy, Cancer with Mushroom - Kazaki365 World

Mushrooms are edible fungus that can provide several important nutrients Mushrooms come in lots of different shapes, sizes, and colours. The ones that aren’t toxic happen to be quite healthy, and tasty too.

For many years they’ve been used for their unique ability to add flavour in lots of different cultures’ cuisines. Although they’re actually fungi, mushrooms are lumped in the vegetable category for cooking purposes. Mushrooms allow you to add extra taste without sodium or fat.

The many kinds of mushroom have varying compositions and nutritional profiles.

From puffballs to truffles, mushrooms can range from everyday fare to a costly delicacy. People can buy them fresh, canned, or dried.

Beyond the diet, mushrooms feature in some types of traditional medicine.

Please Note: Poisonous mushrooms can be hard to identify in the wild, so you should always buy from a reliable grocery store or market. The most common types found in grocery stores are:

Mushrooms contain protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These can have various health benefits.

For example, antioxidants are chemicals that help the body eliminate free radicals.

Free radicals are toxic by-products of metabolism and other bodily processes. They can accumulate in the body, and if too many collect, oxidative stress can result. This can harm the body's cells and may lead to various health conditions.

Among the antioxidant agents in mushrooms are:

·         Copper helps your body make red blood cells, which are used to deliver oxygen all over the body. The mineral is also important to other processes in the body, like maintaining healthy bones and nerves. Even after being cooked, a 1-cup serving of mushrooms can provide about one-third of the daily recommended amount of copper.

·         Potassium
        Potassium is extremely important when it comes to heart, muscle, and nerve function. There’s about as much potassium in 2/3 cup of cooked Portobello mushroom as there is in a medium-sized banana.

Cancer

The antioxidant content in mushrooms may help prevent lung, prostate, breast, and other types of cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Mushrooms also contain a small amount of vitamin D. There is some study that says vitamin D supplementation may help prevent or treat some kinds of cancer, though according to a 2018 report, the effect may vary from person to person.

Choline is another antioxidant in mushrooms. Some studies have suggested that consuming choline can reduce the risk of some types of cancer, but at least one other research Source has indicated that it may increase the risk of prostate cancer.

It is worth noting that consuming a nutrient as a supplement is not the same as consuming it in the diet.

Diabetes

Dietary fiber may help manage a number of health conditions, including type 2 diabetes.

Research has proven that people who eat a lot of fiber may have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. For those who already have it, fiber may help reduce blood glucose levels.

A cup of sliced, raw mushrooms, weighing 70 grams (g), provides almost 1 g of fiber.

Heart health

The fiber, potassium, and vitamin C in mushrooms may contribute to cardiovascular health.

Potassium can help regulate blood pressure, and this may decrease the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend reducing the intake of added salt in the diet and eating more foods that contain potassium.

Literally, people should consume around 4,700 milligrams (mg) of potassium each day. Mushrooms appear on the AHA's list of foods that provide potassium.

There is some truth in the fact that consuming a type of fiber called beta-glucans can lower blood cholesterol levels. Beta-glucans occur in the cell walls of many types of mushrooms.

The Mediterranean diet includes a range of plant foods, such as mushrooms. Find out more.

In pregnancy

Many women take folic acid, or folate, supplements during pregnancy to boost fetal health, but mushrooms can also provide folate.

A cup of whole, raw mushrooms contains more of folate.  Than you would get from tablets Current guidelines recommend that adults consume 400 mcg of folate each day.

• riboflavin, or B-2
• folate, or B-9
• thiamine, or B-1
• pantothenic acid, or B-5
• niacin, or B-3



B vitamins help the body get energy from food and form red blood cells. A number of B vitamins also appear to be important for a healthy brain.
The choline in mushrooms also helps immensely with muscle movement, learning, and memory. Choline assists in maintaining the structure of cellular membranes and plays a role in the transmission of nerve impulses.
Mushrooms are also the only vegan, nonfortified dietary source of vitamin D.
Several other minerals that may be difficult to obtain from a vegan diet — such as selenium, potassium, copper, iron, and phosphorus — are available in mushrooms.



Mushrooms not only taste delicious, but they’re also a nutritional powerhouse. While most people consume mushrooms in grilled, sautéed, or roasted form, a growing number of brands have come out with mushroom-based coffee, hot chocolate, and even matcha, as well as mushroom powder blends that you can mix into smoothies and juices.
“Mushrooms are packed with a long list of nutrients. For example, they contain significant amounts of B vitamins, which help give you energy and are involved with repairing cell damage,” says Dan Nguyen, a registered dietician in New York. “Mushrooms are also a good source of potassium, which helps to regulate blood pressure and, if exposed to a UV light before or after they’re harvested, mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamin D, which is involved in many things like bone health, the immune system and heart health.” This is very important to underline because very few foods naturally contain vitamin D. “Mushrooms are also packed with antioxidants and fiber,” he adds.


There are many types of mushrooms, however, and while these benefits apply generally to all of them, each type of mushroom provides its unique set of advantages. “For example, white buttons provide 19 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin B3 (also known as niacin), which may promote healthy skin and digestion,” “One serving of cooked shiitake mushrooms is an excellent source of copper, offering 85 percent of the recommended daily intake, which helps keep bones and nerves healthy, while one serving of cremini mushrooms is an excellent source of selenium, containing 40 percent of the recommended daily intake. Selenium may help the immune system function properly, so it’s a great mushroom to add to winter dishes, like soups, stews, and casseroles.” Lastly, she singles out maitake (aka Hen of the Woods): “One serving of these mushrooms contains 119 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin D.”
Note, however, that while the benefits of mushrooms are real and backed by science, there are several types of dried mushrooms used in traditional Chinese medicine “For example, cordyceps are touted as an energy booster, as well as an anti-inflammatory, and for respiratory, heart, and immune health, and there are also claims that they can boost sex drive and fight cancer. While studies on the effects of cordyceps have been done on fruit flies and mice, no studies have been done on humans.”
In general, be wary of any strongly worded health benefit that a mushroom can impart. “While consuming mushrooms can assist with overall health and immune system support, this depends on other factors like the rest of your diet and eating habits, time, and physical activity.