Nutrition and Health Benefits of Mushrooms




Mushrooms are a food which contain several health benefits to our body. The nutritional value of a mushroom includes being low in calories and high in vegetable proteins, iron, fiber, zinc, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
Since the olden history, the Chinese has been using a mushroom due to their rich health content. To the Chinese, the nutrition health benefits of mushrooms includes promoting vitality and good health.
Recent scientific studies have confirmed the health benefits of mushrooms. These studies have show that mushroom strengthen our body and improve our immune system by maintaining physiological homeostasis.
Nutritional value of mushrooms differs from the type of mushrooms, however almost all mushroom brings great health benefits to the human body and here are some mushroom to discuss.
Shiitake Mushrooms Nutrition
Shiitake has been known as the "Elixir of Life". Shiitake mushroom has been declared as a anti-cancer food by the FDA of Japan. Shiitake mushrooms nutrition includes containing Lentinan. Lentinan is known to have some effect on bowel, stomach, liver and lung cancer. It boosts the production of T lymphocytes and other natural killer cells and reduce the negative health effects of AIDS.
Shiitake mushrooms are rich in several other anti-oxidants such as uric acid, selenium and vitamin A, C, D and E. Shiitake mushrooms has been found to lower blood pressure for people with hypertension. In additional to the above nutritional benefits, the rich nutrition value of Shiitake mushroom is known to lower serum cholesterol levels and increase libido. It stimulates the production of Interferon which has anti viral effects. In some studies, it has proven to be effective against Hepatitis.
Agaricus Mushroom Health Benefits
Agaricus mushroom is consumed mushroom in many countries. It is usually regarded as a health food for its medicinal properties. Agaricus is also known as "God's Mushroom" due to its curative health benefits to a wide range of health disorders.
People have consume it to cure numerous diseases and body disorders relating to the immune system, the heart and digestion system. Other agaricus mushroom health benefits include weight management, controlling diabetes, chronic and acute allergies. Other curative effects includes cataracts, stress and chronic fatigue.  
Health Benefits of Maitake Mushroom
Maitake has other names such as "Dancing Mushroom". It is known for its taste and health benefits after consuming it. In Japan, Maitake Mushroom is also called the "King of Mushroom".
In Japan and China, Maitake Mushrooms have been eaten for the past 3000 years. Back in history, the Maitake is traded as an alternate currency in Japan and it's is said to worth as much as it's weight in silver! Maitake is used as a tonic and food to help to promote wellness and vitality for the Japanese.
Since history, the consumption of Maitake mushroom was believed to lower high blood pressure and prevent cancer. In the past years, scientists have been experimenting with Maitake mushroom to confirm it's health benefits.
Laboratory scientific studies have indicated that extracts of the Maitake Mushroom can control the growth of cancerous tumors and boost the immune system of almost all the cancerous mice used in the experiment.
Nutrition Value of Cordyceps Mushroom
Cordyceps mushroom strengthens the immune system's abilities to fight against viral and bacteria infection. Scientific studies have shown that Cordyceps is effective for treatment of high cholesterol, impotence, lung cancer, and kidney failure.
Consumption of cordyceps mushroom causes the human muscle to relax. This is a great health benefit which is helpful for treating coughs, asthma, and other bronchial conditions as it smoothen the muscles.
Reishi Mushroom's Nutritional Value Information
In the past, Reishi mushroom is a royalty food which only the imperial family consume. Reishi mushroom is fondly known as "Ling Zhi" by the Chinese.
Studies in the past 30 years have shown that by consuming reishi mushrooms, health benefits such as treatment of common ailments and conditions are reaped.
Recent studies have shown that Reishi has a lot of health benefits and nutritional effects: Antioxidant, Lowers blood pressure, provides protection to the liver and detoxify it.
What reishi mushroom does is to bring the body's elements back to natural state, thus enabling all the body organs to regain back their functionality. 
Like this mushroom article? The full article and other health articles can be read here at Nutritional Value of Mushrooms.
Minrong is a health nutritionist and writes for the health website at Health fitness Nutrition Diet Tips.

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