Based on studies conducted on mice, mushrooms can protect the immune system. But, can they strengthen our immunity? A recent report from Reuters explains that the most common and inexpensive mushroom, the white button mushroom, had the strongest "immune-boosting effects." Dr. Keith Martin of Arizona State University goes as far as stating that these fungi are "powerhouses for boosting the immune system."
Assuming that these studies apply to humans, this is great news for those of you who are already taking mushroom extracts as dietary supplements. Scientific studies also reveal that mushrooms may help increase the immune system's ability to fight tumors. So, just how many mushrooms would we have to consume to reap these health benefits? Martin explains that to get the equivalent amount of mushrooms consumed by the mice in the study, a person would need to eat about 100 grams (3.5 ounces). That's roughly two and a half cups of raw mushrooms -- daily.
It's time to start thinking of the many ways to incorporate mushrooms into your diet. Fellow blogger, Amy McDaniel, recently posted about a delicious dish of jasmine brown rice and barley pilaf with mushrooms and pearl onions. What are some of your favorite mushroom dishes?
3-11-2009 @7:35PM ghanima said... One of my favourite "two birds with one stone" recipes with mushrooms is a meatloaf in which about half of the ground meat gets replaced with mushrooms which have been thrown into the food processor until they're similarly textured. That way, I'm cutting down on the amount of meat in the recipe (healthier, more economical and more ecological), and using mushrooms (which I love whether or not they're more beneficial for me than meat).
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3-11-2009 @7:55PM aut112 said... Last night I used homemade cavatelli pasta tossed with tomato cream sauce, sauteed portabellos and strips of red peppers. The result? A delicious dinner and yummy lunch today!
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3-11-2009 @8:38PM newb said... I support eating mushrooms; i love mushrooms. However, I think the author goes a little overboard in declaring that we all need to start loading our diets up with them because of the results of one study. Promoting certain food as the cure to our ailments is misleading and creates a confusion among those trying to eat well. Skip the trends and always eat a balanced diet of whole, non-processed foods.
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3-12-2009 @12:33AM Patricia said... I absolutely love morels. I saute them with butter and then add just the smallest touch of cream.
(http://www.cooklocal.com/?p=34) The recipe is one of the simplest you'll ever encounter and takes just minutes, but this was the recipe that turned me on to mushrooms in the first place. I realized that if they were caramelized (as opposed to just limp and chewy like they often appear on pizza), they didn't have any of the texture that I had always hated.
I also love making soup out of them. Cream of Mushroom Soup is one of the ultimate comfort foods.
http://www.cooklocal.com/?p=96
Oh, and a cooking tip for mushrooms... don't throw the stems away. Freeze them in a ziplock bag and when you have enough amassed, use them to make mushroom stock.
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3-12-2009 @2:40AM vikki said... The beta-glucans present in fungi are what the researchers believe to be the cause for the immune-boosting properties. Aside from mushrooms, they are also found in the bran of cereal grains, where they occur most abundantly in barley and oats.
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3-12-2009 @3:49PM Mushrooms Canada said... This is great news! It's amazing that the white button is more potent than the more exotic varieties. The white button is also being examinded for its role in breast and prostate cancer prevention.
@ghanima I'm right onside with you, replacing half the meat for mushrooms is great not only on the pocketbook, but on the waistline as well.
Cheers!
- Brittany
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