White Mushroom Health Benefits And Uses That Will Surprise You

A member of the fungi kingdom, Agaricus bisporus, better known as the white mushroom, is one of many types of edible mushrooms, constituting over 90 percent of mushrooms consumed in America. Because of its small stem, smooth cap and mild flavor that complements many dishes, it is also known as a table, common, button or champignon mushroom. It can be harvested at varying stages of maturity. When picked young and immature, it is called a white mushroom if it has a white color, or a crimini mushroom if with a slight brown shade. When fully grown, it becomes bigger and darker, and is called a portobello mushroom.
White mushrooms are not only low in calories, but also packed with essential nutrients, including fiber, protein and vitamin D, with the latter aiding in bone health, reducing the risk of fall- and fracture-causing osteoporosis. In addition, research suggests that they contain some vitamin B12. Since both vitamin B12 and vitamin D are normally found in animal-based sources, white mushrooms make better alternative sources of intake of both nutrients if you are following a plant-based diet.
Aside from its low calorie content and being packed with various nutrients, white mushrooms have other health benefits and uses that will surprise you.
White Mushroom Health Benefits
Cancer-Fighting Properties
White mushrooms contain multiple antioxidant compounds that are said to be behind their cancer-fighting properties while also combatting the harmful effects of oxidative stress, which accelerates aging and increases risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers.
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The main phenolic compounds present in white mushrooms, flavonoids and phenolic acids act as antioxidants and pro-oxidants that enable them both to help in improving cell survival and, to prevent tumor growth, lead to its death.
White mushrooms also contain bioactive compounds called polysaccharides. Polysaccharides include beta glucan, which activates the macrophages and natural killer cells in your immune system that protect your body from cancer and other diseases, infection and harmful organisms.
Glutathione in white mushrooms helps clear your body of potentially harmful foreign substances, acting both as an antioxidant and a detoxification agent. Ergothioneine, on the other hand, protects your DNA from oxidative damage.
Lastly, both vitamin C, which also inhibits certain cancer-spreading enzymes, and selenium enhance your immune system’s ability to produce protective cells, including natural killer cells, that help defend against cancer development.
Promote Heart Health
The white mushroom’s ergothioneine and beta glucan content can aid in reducing heart disease risk.

Ergothioneine helps both in reducing triglyceride levels after a meal and in inhibiting arterial plaque development, with the latter lowering the risk of not only heart disease, but also high blood pressure and stroke.
Beta glucan, on the other hand, traps triglycerides and cholesterol when ingested, lowering your blood cholesterol levels.
Other Health Benefits
Blood sugar control — while improving your insulin resistance, the polysaccharides in white mushrooms help in lowering your blood sugar levels
Improved gut health — the polysaccharide content also doubles as prebiotics that help improve gut health.
Uses
Since white mushrooms have a short shelf life lasting 3 to 4 days, they are canned, frozen or dried for extended shelf life without compromising the nutrient content.
You can eat them fresh or dried, cooked or raw. If you wish, you can even rehydrate the dried ones by soaking them into water.
When eating frozen and dried white mushrooms, however, they should be cooked first before eating because the texture may have changed slightly during processing.
Lastly, powdered white mushrooms are mainly for enhancing the nutritional value of meals. In one study, it has been found to increase the protein value of baked products.

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