Health benefits of mushrooms (and also the risks)

Mushrooms have been consumed for a long time, both as food and as ingredients for making certain medicines, because this plant is rich in nutrients. However, eating mushrooms is not always good for the body, because there are some mushrooms that are poisonous. To get to know more about the health benefits of mushrooms, along with the potential risks, see the following review.

Nutritional content in mushrooms

Mushrooms are plants that can live in the wild and are also cultivated. This plant is often coveted as a diet food and easy to prepare, be it as fresh food or canned food. The most commonly consumed mushrooms are white mushrooms, or shitake mushrooms.

According to the Health Line, mushrooms are low in calories but rich in protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals. In addition, mushrooms also contain antioxidants, selenium and polysaccharides and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).

Benefits of mushrooms for health

1. Mushrooms can strengthen the immune system

In traditional Chinese medicine, shitake mushrooms are used to make cold medicine. Several studies have also shown that shitake mushroom extract can fight viruses and increase the body's resistance to infections caused by bacteria or fungi.

Then, shitake mushrooms and oyster mushrooms contain beta-glucans, a polysaccharide that helps strengthen the immune system. In one study, 52 people who ate one or two dried mushrooms a month, their immune function improved, and the risk of inflammation was reduced.

2. Inhibits the growth of cancer cells

Mushrooms are rich in antioxidants that rid the body of free radicals. Free radicals in the body have the potential to cause cancer. Beta-glucans in mushrooms are also used as a chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment.

Although it does not kill cancer cells, beta-glucans help boost the immune system thereby inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. In addition, beta-glucans also treat the side effects of nausea due to chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Then, five studies that analyzed 650 stomach cancer patients who took lentinan (a compound in mushrooms) during chemotherapy found that lentinan improved their health. Vitamin D in mushrooms has also been shown to prevent the growth of cancer cells and folate in fungi also plays an important role in DNA synthesis and repair, thereby preventing the formation of cancer cells from DNA mutations.

Unfortunately, the benefits of this fungus may not affect all cancer patients.

3. Lowering high cholesterol

The content of beta-gukan, erythadenine, and chitosan in mushrooms also helps lower cholesterol. A study was conducted on obese people on a diet with mushrooms. The results show that replacing meat with mushrooms 3 times a week can increase HDL (good cholesterol) by 8%, reduce triglycerides by 15 percent, and lose weight by 3.6 percent.

4. Healthy for the heart

Fiber, potassium, and vitamin C in mushrooms contribute to maintaining blood pressure and cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension.

The risks and dangers that may occur from eating mushrooms

Not all mushrooms are safe for consumption. There are several types of mushrooms that contain toxins and can harm the body. Some of the possible bad effects of these mushrooms when consumed are as follows.

1. Poisoning

Poisoning can occur when eating contaminated mushrooms Camplylobacter jejuni, namely bacteria that can appear on fungi. Reporting from Live Strong, Al Wagner and Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, this poisoning causes nausea, diarrhea, or stomach cramps.

Eating wild mushrooms such as Amanitas mushrooms and brown mushrooms can cause death. A study also found that some wild mushrooms contain heavy metals and harmful chemicals.

2. Increase the risk of various diseases

Beta-glucans found in mushrooms can indeed prevent various diseases. However, excess beta-glucan in the body increases the risk of developing lupus, asthma, rheumatism, and multiple sclerosis. But until now, research has not concluded how much beta-glucan content can cause these diseases.

Fungi that grow in industrial areas, most likely contain arsenic, which in turn can increase cancer.

3. Psychosis

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one of the mushrooms, namely psilocybin (magic mushrooms) can cause hallucinations, irrational behavior, distorted perceptions of sight or sound, distancing oneself from other people and the environment.

Psychotic changes that occur after 20 minutes of consumption and the effects can last up to six hours. In addition, consuming these mushrooms can cause muscle weakness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and ataxia (loss of control over bodily functions).

4. Allergies

The spores produced by some fungi can cause extreme allergic reactions in certain people. The spores fly through the air in a humid environment. If it is smelled by people who have allergies, mold spores will cause respiratory infections, asthma, or lung disease.

For that, to avoid the bad effects of mushrooms, make sure you only eat mushrooms that are sold in trusted places. Do not carelessly eat mushrooms that grow in your home environment, or when you arecamping in the garden or forest. Avoid eating mushrooms that you do not know the type. Then make sure the processing of the mushrooms is well done (washed and cooked).