I've been eating them like crazy since Dr. Oz said they are one of the best veggies for you. I put them in omelets, salads, over whole wheat pasta and in soup. Love them.
Well they aren't a vegetable, they are fungi Whether or not they are good for you depends on what type of mushroom you eat. It seems that you really can eat too many.
This surprised me. According to Dr.Weil, common cultivated mushrooms (including white button, portabello, crimini, etc) should not be over eaten because they contain natural carcinogens. The amount is small, but if you eat a lot of mushrooms it could become a problem. Dr. Weil says never to eat them raw, either. This was strange to hear at first because sliced raw mushrooms have always been a common salad ingredient for many people. Cooking them breaks down some of the toxins. You can read more about it here.
Dr. Oz said to only eat 1/2 cup of button mushrooms every other day.
Wild mushrooms do not contain the carcinogens that the others do. Any of the wild or Asian varieties are good for you, such as shiitaki and oyster mushrooms.
There are different types of mushrooms not every type is for losing weight.
I do not think the OP was trying to get a specific weight loss magic out of them. They are all naturally low in calories, provide bulk, taste good, provide a "meaty" taste to things (umami is the current buzzword), and also provide vitamin, mineral and anti-oxidant coverage.
The oyster and shiatakes I get fresh (incl the big meaty King Oysters) are all cultivated so I wonder why the creminis are so different. Research to be done.....
Last edited by tommy; 07-13-2011 at 04:00 PM.
Reason: change shroom spelling to avoid bad word ***
Watch out for canned mushrooms as they have a lot of sodium added to them.
No salt added and low sodium canned mushrooms are available although they are sometimes hard to find.
Mushrooms are quite good at neutralizing free radicals, those renegade molecules that can otherwise get up to no good. In fact, you might be surprised (as I was) to learn that when it comes to antioxidant power, the plain old white button mushroom beats out even colorful veggies like green peppers, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes! Best of all, mushrooms contain antioxidants that are not deactivated or destroyed by cooking.