Some people are very distrustful of wild mushrooms, believing that they have no use. Such an erroneous opinion, unfortunately, has spread to mushrooms. However, it is completely unfounded - the benefits of forest mushrooms become obvious. To do this, simply familiarize yourself with their composition. Today you can find an abundance of information detailing the beneficial properties of a particular type of fruiting body. In fact, mushrooms are a unique gift of nature that cannot be written off and considered absolutely useless.
The well-known mycologist Mikhail Vishnevsky has long made a conclusion regarding the health benefits of mushrooms. According to him, this is a real forest "pharmacy" that saturates the human body with vitamins and keeps it in good shape. It turns out that mushrooms are valued not only in cooking, but also in medicine. With the help of these fruiting bodies, many serious diseases are treated.
A lot of information is known about mushrooms today. These mushrooms are very much appreciated among mushroom pickers, because the nature of their growth is unique. The fact is that honey mushrooms mostly grow on stumps, rotten trees and fallen branches. They love forest clearings very much, so lovers of "silent hunting" know exactly where to look for them. In addition, honey mushrooms do not tolerate loneliness and grow up with whole families. To meet these mushrooms on your way is a real success, because you can harvest a good harvest from one small area. Mushrooms are also universal: various dishes and preparations for the winter are prepared from them.
Many people, getting closer acquainted with the benefits of mushrooms, immediately become eager to go to the forest for a mushroom harvest. But I must say that the taste of these mushrooms is not far behind, because eating them is a pleasure. However, with mushrooms, as with any other mushrooms, you need to be careful, because along with vitamins, they can also do harm. From this article, you will learn in detail about the benefits and harms of mushrooms.
What benefits do wild mushrooms bring to the human body?
As already noted, in order to appreciate the full benefits of mushrooms for the human body, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with their biochemical composition. Like all other edible mushrooms, mushrooms are 90% water and protein, which is very useful. The remaining 10% are vitamins, amino acids and beneficial trace elements. However, even this small percentage is sufficient to positively influence the body and keep it in good shape. In addition, mushrooms are widely used in the field of medicine.
So, what benefits do mushrooms bring to the human body, and why are they so popular? Firstly, studies have shown that these mushrooms contain a large amount of B vitamins, as well as C, E and PP. In addition, they contain many trace elements important for the human body: magnesium, zinc, copper, sodium, iron, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. I must say that the presence of calcium and phosphorus makes mushrooms equal to fish, as well as other seafood. Thus, vegetarians prefer to eat these particular fruiting bodies. It also contains sugar, fiber and ash.
Another advantage of honey mushrooms is its low calorie content. The fact is that there are only 22 calories per 100 g of fresh product. In this regard, mushrooms are often used during diets and fasting. Many nutritionists recommend introducing these mushrooms into the daily diet of most of their patients. After all, mushrooms are a source of protein and other vitamins, and due to their low calorie content, the body is not overloaded with excess substances.
The benefits and harms of autumn birch mushrooms
The most popular representatives among these fruiting bodies are autumn mushrooms, the benefits and harms of which we will now consider. Although it should be noted that all types of edible mushrooms have almost the same useful properties. Among the autumn representatives, mushrooms are most often found growing on deciduous trees, in particular, on birches, aspens, acacias, oaks, etc. In total, autumn mushrooms can settle on more than 200 species of trees and shrubs. The peak of the fecundity of these mushrooms falls on the month of September, and they can most often be found on birch stumps.
In the people, such mushrooms are called "birch". A lot of information is also known about the benefits and harms of birch mushrooms. So, only 100 g of this product can satisfy the daily human need for essential trace elements. Copper, zinc, magnesium and iron, which are part of honey mushrooms, have a positive effect on the processes of hematopoiesis. That is why doctors often recommend that people with anemia eat dishes from these fruiting bodies. As you can see, mushrooms are very much appreciated not only on the gourmet table, but also in medicine. So, with regular consumption of them in food, the level of hemoglobin increases and the work of the thyroid gland normalizes.
The benefits and harms of royal and winter mushrooms (flammulin) for men
Similar benefits are brought by royal mushrooms or golden flakes. Although they differ slightly in appearance from ordinary mushrooms, nevertheless, the beneficial properties remain unchanged for all edible species. The same can be said about summer and spring mushrooms. As for the winter honey agaric (flammuline), here the benefits are obvious, because it does not have false twins. This means that the possibility of confusing it with false species and thus harming your body is reduced to zero. In addition, winter mushrooms contain anticoagulants that perfectly thin the blood. Therefore, people suffering from thrombophlebitis or increased blood clotting are advised to conduct a course of treatment with mushrooms.
However, it must be remembered that mushrooms should be eaten in moderation, otherwise it can cause food poisoning and even serious gastrointestinal diseases. I must say that it is highly not recommended to use these mushrooms at night, because this is a heavy food. In addition, mushrooms can cause harm to the body with improper primary processing. They need to be thoroughly soaked in water and boiled for 20 minutes. Boiling mushrooms is a mandatory “ritual”, because otherwise the risk of getting an upset stomach increases significantly.
What else can be said about the benefits and harms of mushrooms for humans? If we talk about the benefits, then this product has antimicrobial and even anti-cancer effects. In the presence of Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus in the body, it is just useful to use mushrooms. People with coronary heart disease, as well as diabetes, are advised to make a tincture of mushrooms and take a course of 3 weeks 2 times a year.
The benefits and harms of pickled, cooked and frozen mushrooms
False mushrooms cause the greatest harm, because many edible species can be confused with them. However, armed with knowledge that allows you to distinguish edible from inedible mushrooms, you will successfully avoid danger and serious consequences. It is also necessary to remember about the correct heat treatment. The fact is that mushrooms contain a substance called chitin, which has an extremely negative effect on the body. And when boiled, its amount is minimized and does not pose a danger. Therefore, poorly cooked mushrooms will have a corresponding effect on the body. In addition, these fruiting bodies are not recommended for use during exacerbations of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys. You can also not give this product to children under 11 years old, as their body has not yet learned to digest it.
Pickled mushrooms
As you know, many dishes and preparations for the winter can be made from fresh mushrooms. Do these fruiting bodies lose their useful properties during processing? For example, is there any benefit from pickled mushrooms? It must be said that honey agaric is one of the few products that practically does not lose its beneficial properties after processing. The benefits and harms of pickled mushrooms remain unchanged if you put them along with fresh ones. Despite canning, most of the vitamins, amino acids and mineral salts do not disappear in these mushrooms. And besides, pickled mushrooms do not become more high-calorie.
Frozen mushrooms
But the benefits of boiled and then frozen mushrooms are more obvious. It is believed that the freezing process is the best way to preserve their biochemical composition. However, as already noted, they must first be boiled.
The benefits and harms of dried, fried mushrooms and mushroom caviar
Dried mushrooms
Speaking about the benefits and harms of dried mushrooms, it can be noted that 100 g of the product also has an increased calorie content. This is due to the loss of moisture in the fruiting body, so the protein content and calorie content increase. The main benefit of dried mushrooms is that they are stored for a long time and do not lose their pleasant mushroom aroma. Unfortunately, most of the nutrients disappear during drying. However, there is an opinion that this product is able to remove radioactive substances from the body.
Fried mushrooms
And what can be said about the benefits and harms of fried mushrooms? First of all, the calorie content of fruiting bodies prepared in this way increases. This is mainly due to vegetable oil and other commonly used products, such as sour cream or mayonnaise. So, the number of calories per 100 g of fried mushrooms increases from 22 to 60. Therefore, for those who follow the figure, eating fried and stewed mushrooms is undesirable. However, you can cut calories by being careful about adding mayonnaise, sour cream, and butter to meals. I must say that fried mushrooms perfectly satisfy hunger, because they are very satisfying and nutritious. Similarly, one can note the benefits and harms of caviar from honey mushrooms.
