Mushrooms are good for you!

Mushrooms have been used for centuries - both for consumption and medical reasons. Many folks classify them as vegetables or as some type of herbal plant, when they are actually fungi - as gross as that may sound to ya.

I recently ran across a site that stated: "While there are over 14,000 mushrooms, only about 3,000 are edible, about 700 have known medicinal properties, and fewer than one percent are recognized as poisonous." They also went on to say, "The Pharaohs prized mushrooms as a delicacy, and the Greeks believed that mushrooms provided strength for warriors in battle. The Romans regarded mushrooms as a gift from God and served them only on festive occasions, while the Chinese treasured them as a health food." You can read more, here: http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/mighty-mushrooms.php

Anyway, the reason why I'm talking about these slimy little bastards, is because a lot of people don't realize how healthy some of these food items are, that are so easily pushed off the dinner plates. The common mushrooms found on the market, are a good source of B vitamins (especially B2, B3, & B5) & antioxidants, along with vitamin C, potassium, iron, selenium, copper, and other trace elements. Common (edible) mushrooms have also been known to stimulate the immune system and potentially possess anti-cancer properties. When compared to their dry weight (since they are 80 to 90% water), they have a decent amount of protein & fiber, as well.

I understand that some people simply do not and will not eat a mushroom merely because of the unique, as I say, "slimy" texture. However, the texture does change a bit, depending on how you cook 'em.
They make for great "fillers" & side items for certain dishes and they are also good for absorbing flavors from sauce, for example.
It's easy to add them to your meals: You can saute them for stir fry, add them to spaghetti & lasagna, use them for hamburger steak (I saute mine with onions & peppers), top your favorite pizza with these healthy mushrooms, put them in casseroles and on sandwiches, along with many other types of cuisines and whatnot.

Some people even batter them (whole or sliced) and deep fry 'em. I tried 'em like that before, but I prefer them to be used like I mentioned prior. Of course, they taste their best when bought fresh, but it is more convenient to buy them out of can, already sliced.  A lot of people just throw a little butter in a skillet, dump the pre-sliced mushrooms in, fry, and are done within minutes. Anyway, don't be scared of the dang mushrooms; they're good for you!


Additional Tidbit: The herbal supplement Milk Thistle helps people who ingest the deadly Death Cap Mushrooms, recover from liver damage - if took before it is too late, of course.

---End of Post "Mushrooms are good for you!"