Mushrooms. The Magical world of Mushrooms. There are many types of mushrooms. Some mushrooms are edible and some are not, some cause disease and others cure it. Ancient Egyptian Pharoahs declared mushrooms only fit for royal consumption. Many varieties of mushrooms are used in Chinese medicine and have been for thousands of years. Mycology, the study of mushrooms comes from the ancient greek word mycos which means fungus. Mushrooms were originally more closely associated with plants, but studies revealed they are evolutionarily closer to animals.
Five Mushrooms You should Consider Adding to Your Diet:
White Button(agaricus bisporus)
Reishi(Ganoderma)
Shiitake(Lentinula edodes)
Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
Oyster(Pleurotus ostreatus)
*Cordyceps sinensis- not easily found to eat, but can be found as a supplement
Mushrooms are not yet on the American Institute of Cancer Research's list of Foods That Fight Cancer- but it is listed as coming soon because they are currently conducting studies to evaluate the cancer fighting properties of these fun guys. Mushrooms have antioxidants and nutrients that are already shown to fight and prevent cancer. Mushrooms have nutrients that protects the cells and strengthen our bodies' immune fighting capability. All in all they are a good choice to add to your diet because the preliminary results show mushrooms are a player in the nutritional fight against cancer.
Nutritional Value of Mushrooms:
-Low Calorie and fat free
-Great source of B vitamins and Vitamin D
-Good source of Minerals(Selenium, Copper, Potassium, Ergothioneine)
-Good Source of Beta Glucans(Immune stimulating, cholesterol lowering and anti tumor)
Known Health Benefits of Eating Mushrooms:
-Helps lower cholesterol
-high in antioxidants- helps protect cells from damage and prevent heart disease
-Strengthen immunity
Mushrooms and Cancer:
-Researchers at City of Hope Hospital found that button mushrooms fight the estrogen properties that help breast cancer grow and spread. It is a natural aromatase inhibitor.
- A Korean Study found women with higher diets of mushrooms had a lower incidence of breast cancer.
-Oyster mushrooms(Pleurotus ostreatus) slowed growth of breast and colon cancer cells with or without p53.
-Chinese studies showed Coriolus mushrooms enhanced immune system, improved quality of life, survival, and reduced chemotherapy side effects in lung, gastrointestinal, nose, throat and cervical cancers.
How to Prepare Mushrooms- via Huffington Post
Some other FUNgi Facts about MUSHROOMS:
-Fear of mushrooms is called Fungophobia
-some can seemingly appear overnight due to absorption of water: where the expression mushrooming comes from
-mushrooms can be toxic, fight viruses, eat wood, and absorb heavy metals- even radiation.
References
Mushroominfo.com
The Mushroom lady
Mycology Wiki
NIH Review of Mushroom Anti Cancer Properties
UK Cancer Research Review of Mushrooms in Cancer Therapy
City of Hope- Mushroom Research
American Cancer Society Complementary Medicine-Diet and Nutrition www.cancer.org
Coriolus
Maitake
Shiitake
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center- Integrative Medicine www.mskcc.org
http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine
Cordyceps
Coriolus
Maitake
Oyster
Reishi
Shiitake
NIH- Mushrooms reduce Breast cancer cell proliferation
NIH- Oyster mushrooms work with or without p53 pathways in breast and colon cancer cells
NIH-Mushrooms and cancer therapies
Journal of Nutrition- Button mushrooms are Aromatase Inhibitors
Korean Study - linked higher quantity of dietary mushrooms to lower risk of breast cancer.
