10 Health Benefits of Eating Mushrooms

Do you want to eat healthy and tasty food? Would you prefer to get your much-needed health benefits when you eat? If so, edible mushrooms are the food you need. 

Since ancient times, people have been eating these. That is the case even though they do not know exactly what the health benefits of eating mushrooms are. But now, we have the present-day knowledge of what these fungi can do for us. If you don’t know yet what the health benefits of eating mushrooms are, then you’d come to the right article.

The 10 Health Benefits of Eating Mushrooms

1.) Weight Loss

Have you heard of the M-Plan diet? If not, then now you will know why people say mushrooms are good for weight loss. In the M-Plan Diet, you will replace one meal per day with a mushroom meal. People who had gone through this diet reported having great results. They got slimmer thighs and waistlines in just 14 days.

This is no surprise. Edible mushrooms are fat-free, low-sodium, low-calorie, and cholesterol-free. They have Beta-Glucan, a form of soluble dietary fiber. Some are even capable of cutting down present cholesterol in the body. Thus, you will not add in mass but can potentially lose some.

According to those who do the M-Plan Diet, any edible mushroom will do. But I know that isn’t a satisfying answer. So, I did some extra research to look into which mushrooms are used in this diet. Here is what I found.

Health Benefits of Eating Mushrooms: Weight Loss Shrooms

1. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
2. White Button (Young Agaricus bisporus)
3. Cremini (Slightly-Aged Agaricus bisporus)
4. Portobello (Matured Agaricus bisporus)
5. Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) 
6. Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
7. Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
8. Pink Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus djamor)

So if you’re looking for something delicious to help you with losing weight, pick any of these edible mushrooms.

2.) Anti-Inflammatory

According to studies, mushrooms have anti-inflammatory properties. These include polysaccharides, phenolic and indolic compounds, mycosteroids, fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamins, and biometals. Some fungi have ergothioneine. This is an antioxidant known to lower the effects of inflammation all over the body. 

Though they have these anti-inflammatory substances, not all mushrooms are rich in them. So if you are looking for maximum effects, you need to pick those that will give significant results.

Anti-Inflammatory Shrooms

1. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
2. Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
3. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
4. Porcini (Boletus edulis)

So if you are suffering from inflammation on your body, you now know what to eat.

3.) Cancer-Fighting

One of the most popular research on mushrooms is their ability to fight cancer. Several types of research show that mushrooms had significantly suppressed cancer cell growth. According to the National Cancer Institute, edible mushrooms may help stop cancer such as lung, prostate, and breast. And you know what they say, prevention is always better than cure.

There is extensive research on the cancer-fighting feature of mushrooms in the past years. Because of this, we have specific mushroom species to show for.

Cancer-Fighting Shrooms

1. Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
2. Cremini (Slightly-Aged Agaricus bisporus)
3. Portobello (Matured Agaricus bisporus)
4. White Button (Young Agaricus bisporus)
5. Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
6. Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
7. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
8. Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)

The mushrooms Maitake, Agaricus family, and Oyster are said to be chemo-protective against breast cancer. Shiitake mushrooms, on one hand, have lentinan. Lentinan is said to boost the immune system and slows down cancer cell growth.

So if you know someone with this scary condition, show your support by cooking a meal with one of these cancer-fighting mushrooms.

4.) Sleep Inducing

Are you having trouble sleeping? Do you want to fix your sleeping pattern? There are many other ways to fulfill this. But if you are looking for a tasty solution, then mushrooms can give you a hand.

Sadly, there is only one mushroom in existence that proves to help us sleep. And that is the Mushroom of Immortality, Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum). But with more extensive research, I’m sure other fungi will join the Reishi as a sleep inducer.

5.) Anti-Depression and Anxiety

In recent years, people are now placing their concerns on mental health. They are now taking depression seriously. Thus, experts are looking for ways to cure this. One of the objects used in the research is, you guessed it, mushrooms.

Certain mushrooms are said to help alleviate anxiety. Thus, easing out depression. Though further research is still needed, trying one of these fungi won’t hurt.

Antidepressant Shrooms

1. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
2. Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
3. Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybin/Psychedelic Fungi Groups)
   1. Copelandia
   2. Gymnopilus
   3. Inocybe
   4. Panaeolus
   5. Pholiotina
   6. Pluteus
   7. Psilocybe

6.) Fast Healing

Got a skin injury? Does your skin wounds take a lot of time to heal? While the skin doctor’s advice is still very valuable and highly recommended. You want to eat something to help with that. If you love mushrooms, then you’ll want to try these fast-healing mushrooms.

These edible fungi are said to help increase triterpenes. These speed up the healing time for skin wounds. Some of these mushrooms are best used externally for better results. But this shouldn’t stop you from taking a bite of them.

Fast Wound-Healing Shrooms

1. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
2. Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
3. Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis crispa)
4. White Button (Young Agaricus bisporus)
5. Cremini (Slightly-Aged Agaricus bisporus)
6. Portobello (Matured Agaricus bisporus)
7. Almond Mushroom (Agaricus blazei)

7.) Good for the Brain

If you haven’t read about our Top 4 Good for the Brain Mushroom article, then you better head there. In that article, we gave more detailed information on these brain mushrooms. As a bonus, we also included how you can cook them for you to get the health benefits of eating mushrooms.

8.) Good for the Heart

Your brain is not the only one benefiting from eating mushrooms, your heart too. Many cardiovascular disease risk factors are lessened by eating edible mushrooms. That is because mushrooms have fiber, Vitamin C, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals are essential for cardiovascular health.

Besides, mushrooms are a good substitute for red meat. Red meat like beef, lamb, pork, and mutton, adds calories, fat, and cholesterol which harms the heart. Replacing red meat with mushrooms is a healthy choice while still treating your taste-buds.

Good for the Heart Shrooms

1. Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
2. White Button (Young Agaricus bisporus)
3. Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

9.) Immunity-Boosting

Always remember that prevention is better than cure. How can you prevent diseases? Answer: By strengthening your immune system. What better way to get your immunity boosted than by eating mushrooms.

Specific fungi contain lentinan and beta-glucan. These carbohydrates are proven and tested for strengthening the immune system.

Immunity-Boosting Shrooms

1. Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
2. Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
3. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

10.) Anti-Aging

Do you want your youthful look to remain? Try eating mushrooms. Some fungus species have antioxidants, ergothioneine, and glutathione. This helps not only fight stress but also improves skin tissues. 

Anti-Aging Shrooms

1. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
2. Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)
3. Cremini (Slightly-Aged Agaricus bisporus)
4. Portobello (Matured Agaricus bisporus)

Wrap Up

So that’s the 10 health benefits of eating mushrooms. But take note, not all mushrooms can be eaten raw. Most mushrooms have carcinogenic compounds which disappear when cooked. Needless to say, the safest way to eat mushrooms is by cooking them. But, be careful of how you cook them, you might unknowingly cook away their nutrients. My advice is you find the healthiest way to cook your shrooms.

And once you do, happy mushroom-eating!