subject: How Mushrooms Can Improve Your Health [print this page] How Mushrooms Can Improve Your Health How Mushrooms Can Improve Your Health
Mushrooms are not only delicious to eat, but they are also packed with nutrients that can help you lose weight, avoid cancer and improve other areas of your health. Here are some of the various types of mushrooms, the various nutrients that they contain, and what they can do to help improve your health.
Shitake mushrooms. By eating 5 ounces of shitake mushrooms daily, you can triple your chance of destroying invading viruses and bacteria, according to researchers. This is due to a natural mushroom compound called lentinan that helps rev up white blood cells so that they can kill off these invaders fast.
Button mushrooms. Believe it or not, these small white mushrooms have properties that will help you flatten your belly. By eating 3 ounces of button mushrooms daily, women can shed 13 pounds in 5 weeks, according to some recent research. These mushrooms are loaded with a unique type of carbohydrate that steadies blood sugar and keeps metabolism high.
Maitake mushrooms. By eating cup of maitake mushrooms daily, studies suggest that you can lower your risk of any cancer by 40%. You will also be protected against hormone-triggered tumors such as breast and ovarian cancer. The maitake mushrooms contain a compound that forces many abnormal cells to self-destruct. This compound also activates killer cells that fight cancerous growths.
Reishi mushrooms. These mushrooms can cut blood pressure levels and sink cholesterol levels by up to 12%. They can also shrink patches of artery-clogging plaque by as much as two-thirds. Researchers suggest eating half a cup daily.
