More Food Adventures: Off Mushrooms..

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Do you eat mushrooms? We do. We love mushrooms at home. Mushrooms are a type of fungus. There are many kinds, some are edible while others are poisonous. The most commonly eaten varieties are the white button mushrooms. All edible mushrooms supply certain vitamins and minerals. What's good about them is that, Mushrooms are low in fat and calories. Plus, they can be added to soups, stir-fries, casseroles and pasta recipes to increase the nutritional value, not to mention add flavor.

Mushrooms contain Potassium, which is an essential mineral that acts as an electrolyte in the body. We need adequate amounts of potassium fro us to maintain a healthy balance of fluids. This contributes to the healthy function of our muscles, which aids in normal heart functions and helps to metabolize carbohydrates as well. Our daily potassium requirement is 4,700 milligrams, in which one cup of sliced white mushrooms can supply 223 milligrams. Mushrooms also contain Niacin, which is a water-soluble B vitamin that is not stored in our body. This means that we need to get plenty from the foods eaten everyday. We need between 14 and 16 milligrams of niacin on a daily basis to support healthy digestive system, skin and nerves. Our body also uses niacin to change food into energy. A cup of sliced white mushrooms contains 2.52 milligrams of niacin.

There are actually many kinds of edible mushrooms and the most popular are Shiitake, portabella and morel mushrooms, which are nutritious additions to our diet. Each kind contain similar nutrients, while others may have what others do not. A piece of shiitake mushroom contains 58 milligrams of potassium and almost 1 milligram of niacin, as well as small doses of magnesium and zinc. A cup of portabella mushrooms contains just 19 calories, but can supply the body with 313 milligrams of potassium and 3.86 milligrams of niacin. Morel mushrooms supplies 271 milligrams of potassium as per 1-cup serving, plus a whopping 8 to 18 milligrams of iron that we need on a daily basis.

To use mushroom in cooking is very easy. Simply slice white mushrooms into a pot of vegetable soup or beef stew. We can quarter mushrooms to add to stir-fry dishes or to pasta sauce. If we chop mushrooms into small pieces we can add them to our favorite meatloaf or hamburger recipes. Amazingly, they add flavor and nutrients to the meat. We can also slice raw white mushrooms and include them into a tossed green salad. Paleo dieters stuff a portabella mushroom with reduced-fat cheese and broil them for a healthy appetizer. And of course, grill a portabella mushroom, serve it in a whole-wheat bun as a nutritious substitute for a hamburger patty. That's a healthier, yummier burger bun there, don't you think? Dried morel mushrooms can add bold flavor to soup, stews and pasta recipes.

But for us, we always prefer the fried mushrooms that tastes like fried chicken.. Yum :-)