Can You Eat Raw Mushrooms?

You can find mushrooms in the produce section of most grocery stores, but that does not mean they are like your regular fruits or vegetable. As they are not technically plants, they are without any phytonutrients. However, there are other benefits of including mushrooms in your diet, but the question people ask is, can you eat them raw?

Can You Eat Raw Mushrooms?

No. You should never eat raw mushrooms. 

Mushrooms come with tough cell walls that your body simply cannot digest, unless they are cooked properly. Heating them well will also help make them release nutrients such as minerals, B-vitamins, and protein. It is due to these nutrients that mushrooms really help boost your body's natural defense system.

Also, mushrooms usually contain very small amounts of toxins, including compounds that may be carcinogens. Cooking will help destroy these toxins. Ideally, you should heat edible mushrooms to at least 140 ºF or even 180 ºF for many hours to ensure they have released all their nutrients and are no longer toxic to eat.

Are Mushrooms Good for Your Health?

Can you eat raw mushrooms? Yes, but are they great? Provided you have heated them well, they offer a range of impressive benefits. Mushrooms are a great source of fiber and carbs and even contain B-vitamins, including pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and niacin. They also contain selenium, potassium and iron but are naturally low in sodium. They do not contain any cholesterol and fat, and that is the reason why they can be a great addition to your weight loss diet. Here is more about the benefits of eating mushrooms.

1. Lower Cholesterol Levels

With no fat and cholesterol, mushrooms are a great source of lean proteins. They do not add up to the cholesterol levels in your body and help lower them because of their fiber content. The high lean protein content plays a big role in burning cholesterol, which eventually helps achieve the perfect balance between good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol, and lowers your risk for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, artherosclerosis, and stroke.

2. Prevent Anemia

People suffering from anemia have low levels of irons in the body, which leads to several problems such as reduced neural function, headaches, fatigue, and digestive issues. As mushrooms are a great source of the nutritive iron, they help promote the formation of red blood cells and prevent anemia.

3. Boost Immune System Strength

Mushrooms have a powerful antioxidant called ergothioneine that helps eliminate free radicals from your body and strengthen your immune system in return. Free radicals can affect the metabolic processes of cells and cause permanent damage to the cell walls. Mushrooms with its antioxidant properties help prevent this damage. Moreover, mushrooms also have natural antibiotic properties and prevent microbial growth, which in turn will boost your immune system. Mushrooms also provide your immune system with strength to heal ulcerous wounds and keep them from becoming infections. The presence of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B-Complex also makes mushrooms beneficial for your immune system.

4. Promote Nutrient Absorption

Can you eat raw mushrooms? No, you cannot. Should you eat mushrooms? Yes, you should, but only after thorough cooking. That is mainly because this helps you get vitamin D, which is not found in many other vegetables. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of phosphorus and calcium, which are also found plentiful in mushrooms. It means mushrooms not only provide you with important nutrients but also improve the absorption of those nutrients.

5. Prevent Cancer

Mushrooms lower your risk of breast and prostate cancer due to the presence of conjugated Linoleic Acid and Beta-Glucans. These compounds have anti-carcinogenic effects on your body. They are especially beneficial for women because they suppress the negative effects of excess estrogen, which in turn prevents breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The Beta-Glucans also inhibit the growth of tumors; in fact, they prove beneficial even when applied medicinally.

Due to the benefits of mushrooms, you may already be thinking of adding them in your diet. If you are wondering how, you may consider having a look at the following video to know the best recipe involving mushrooms:

 
 
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