Mushroom Nutrition
Long celebrated as a superfood source of powerful nutrients, fresh mushrooms are a healthy addition to your plate. Mushrooms provide many of the same nutritional benefits as vegetables, as well as attributes commonly found in meat, beans and grains. Mushrooms can help fulfill some of the leading recommendations for a healthy diet from the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The Facts
Mushroom Benefits
- B vitamins
- B vitamins
B vitamins help to provide energy by breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates.[1] B vitamins also play an important role in the nervous system.
- B vitamins
- Riboflavin
- Riboflavin
Riboflavin helps with the production of hormones and also plays an important role in the nervous system[1]
- Riboflavin
- Niacin
- Niacin
Niacin helps maintain healthy red blood cells [1]
- Niacin
- Pantothenic acid
- Pantothenic acid
Pantothenic acid promotes healthy skin and makes sure the digestive and nervous systems function properly [1]
- Pantothenic acid
- Selenium
- Selenium
Selenium works as an antioxidant to protect body cells from damage that might lead to heart disease, some cancers and other diseases of aging*. Also found to be important for the immune system and fertility in men[2].
- Selenium
- Ergothioneine
- Ergothioneine
Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring antioxidant that may help protect the body’s cells.[3]
- Ergothioneine
- Copper
- Copper
Copper helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Copper also helps keep bones and nerves healthy[1]
- Copper
- Potassium
- Potassium
Potassium aids in the maintenance of normal fluid and mineral balance, which helps control blood pressure. It also plays a role in making sure nerves and muscles, including the heart, function properly[1]
- Potassium
- May contain beta-glucans
- May contain beta-glucans
Beta-glucans’ immunity-stimulating effects contribute to resistance against allergies and may participate in physiological processes related to the metabolism of fats and sugars in the human body. The beta-glucans contained in oyster, shiitake and split gill mushrooms are considered to be the most effective[4]
- May contain beta-glucans
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin D
All mushrooms contain some vitamin D[6], but mushrooms have the unique ability to increase vitamin D amounts due to UV-light or sunlight exposure[7].
- Vitamin D
Learn more about each mushroom variety’s nutrition profile >