There are various kinds of mushrooms, some of which are edible, including well-known species such as button, oyster, porcini and chanterelles. There are, however, many species that are not edible and can cause stomach pains or vomiting if eaten. In extreme cases, this consumption could be fatal, such as death cap mushroom.
Nutritional benefits
1. Mushrooms may help keep you young.
Mushrooms contain high concentrations of two antioxidants: ergothioneine and glutathione. When these antioxidants are present together, they work hard to protect the body from the physiological stress that causes visible ageing.
2. Mushrooms can boost your memory and cardiac health.
Eating two 3/4 cup servings of cooked mushrooms per week may reduce the chance of the slowing down of your brain. Mushrooms rarely have any ramifications for your blood pressure or heart disease risk. They also make an excellent, satisfying substitute for red meat in any dish, eliminating calories, fat, and cholesterol from the equation.
3. Mushrooms can assist in strengthening your bones & give you energy.
Mushrooms are rich in B vitamins and these help the body utilize energy from the food we consume and produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body.
4. Mushrooms may protect against cancer
In particular, certain breeds of mushrooms may have the potential to protect you from cancer by protecting your cells from DNA damage. It may even be beneficial in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.