Mushrooms, the Health Benefits, and a Great Recipe!!

Mushrooms are either hated or loved, but they contain some of the most potent natural medicines on the planet. As always its important to only eat organically grown mushrooms because they absorb and concentrate whatever they grow in. This is what provides mushrooms their potency. Mushrooms also provide many positive and surprising health benefits.


Health Benefits:

• Improved Immune System Function-Long chain polysaccharides particularly alpha and beta glucan molecules, are primarily responsible for the mushrooms' beneficial effect on your immune system. In one study, adding one or two servings of mushrooms was found to have beneficial modulating effect on immune system function.
• Improved nutrition-One study one found that mushroom consumption was associated with better diet quality and improved nutrition.
• Weight Management- One study found that substituting red meat with white mushrooms can help enhance weight loss. 
• Increasing Vitamin D Levels Through Your Diet-Consuming white mushroom extract was found to be as effective as taking supplemental vitamin D2 or D3 for increasing Vitamin D levels.

Mushrooms are very rich in antioxidants and also are low in calories, for example one cup of portobello mushrooms contains 15 calories. Check out the great Portobello Recipe below!!

Sautéed Portobello Mushrooms

Ingredients

2 portobello mushrooms, stems removed
1/2 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Water or broth
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp mirin or sherry
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil

Directions

Line a large frying pan with a thin layer of water or broth. Add onion and garlic and sauté over high heat for 2 minutes.

Add 1 cup water or broth, vinegar, mirin (or sherry) and herbs and reduce heat to medium. Add mushrooms, cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Gently flip over and cook for 5 minutes more, adding additional water or broth as necessary to prevent sticking or burning.

Flip mushrooms a third time if desired (cook until mushrooms are fork tender and juicy). Plate, spooning pan juices over top.