Health Facts

The Magic Of Mushrooms - The New superfood

Mushrooms are the perfect ingredient for all of your meals. Not only are they delicious and versatile but they are a truly healthy option. Low in energy, fat and salt (one serving provides only 10 kcals and 0.1g of fat) and high in water (over 90%) and fibre, mushrooms are sufficiently filling without doing any damage to your waistline!

Mushrooms add a healthy bite to any meal and can be eaten hot or cold at any mealtime whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner. They also constitute one of our 5-A-DAY helpings to keep us fit and healthy. Research is currently underway into mushrooms and their role in weight loss with findings so far highlighting a mushroom-based diet as producing the greatest loss of fat tissue.

Recently published research also shows that regularly eating mushrooms could have an effect on some cancers, as mushrooms contain compounds that inhibit the action of two enzymes involved in breast cancer and prostate cancer. For more information on mushrooms and their health benefits visit www.mushroomsandhealth.com

The reason for mushrooms elevation to superfood status is because they contain many vital minerals and vitamins. The table below outlines the nutritional information per typical white mushroom and also per 100g.
 

Nutritional Information.

 

Per 100g

Per typical white mushroom

Energy(kcal)

13

1.3

Energy(kj)

55

5.5

Protein(g)

1.8

0.2

Fat(g)

0.5

0.1

Of which saturates (g)

0

0

Carbohydrates(g)

0.4

0

Of which sugars(g)

0.2

0

Fibre(g)

1.1

0.1

Sodium(mg)

5.0

0.5

In addition, mushrooms contain significant quantities of B vitamins including thiamine(B1), riboflavin(B2), pyridoxine (B6) and niacin. Also found in mushrooms is the vitamin folate which provides 22% RNI per 100g. Folate is necessary for the formation of blood cells and is routinely given to pregnant women as a supplement to help prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. 

Furthermore, with a Glycaemic Index (GI) so low that it cannot be measured, mushrooms will release their energy slowly into the bloodstream and stop sugar levels from dropping. So go on then, have a peak at the mushroom recipes  and choose the best way for you to enjoy the new SUPERFOOD!

For more information please visit our recipe page.