Mushroom Madness: Check out these 5 healthy mushrooms!
At an early age we are urged to eat our veggies. We had to make sure to finish all of our veggies on our plates before leaving the dinner table. Our doctors, significant others, and parents, don’t push us to eat our veggies because they think they taste good – they do it because of the many nutrients and health benefits they have.
We’ve seen the phrase “Eat Your Greens” everywhere, but did you know mushrooms also have a variety of health and nutritional benefits? There are many kinds of mushrooms that contain different health benefits. Let’s check out what mushrooms you should be incorporating into your diet and what health benefits they provide you with!
Maitake Mushroom. Found on the bases of oak trees, this Maitake mushroom has many health benefits. Specifically this mushroom is known to be a natural remedy for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Take advantage of the nice fall days and throw some maitake mushrooms on the grill for some grilled Thai marinated Maitake mushrooms.
Cordyceps Mushroom. If you’re an athlete this might be the mushroom for you! Coryceps help athletes by increasing levels of an energy source known as ATP. This helps you perform quicker, while doing explosive moments such as, sprinting. Many athletes consume this in beverage form – the most popular drink of choice being tea.
Enoki Mushroom. Known as an elegant delicacy in Japan, Enoki mushrooms are a low-calorie source of protein and complex carbohydrates. In fact, a 1-cup serving is just 24 calories for 1.7 grams of protein and 5 grams of carbs. Craving some stir fry for lunch? Make some Chicken and Enoki mushroom stir fry.
Reishi Mushroom. This mushroom also has an extensive list of health benefits. Many also consume this mushroom in beverage form. Consider drinking Reishi in the morning because it helps with reducing stress and preventing fatigue.
Shiitake Mushroom. These mushrooms are low in calorie and have been shown to have immune boosting properties as well as cholesterol lowering properties. Shiitake mushrooms go great in soups, perfect for a cold fall day.
Unfortunately like many foods you can’t get all of your nutrients from just eating mushrooms. Luckily there are many mushroom supplements you can take to help you stay healthy all year round. In fact, Kinoko AHCC® is a mushroom based supplement extracted from several subspecies of mushrooms to help modulate your immune system. To get the most out of your supplements make sure to pair it with a healthy diet and try incorporating some of these mushroom dishes!
