THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND SIDE EFFECTS OF AGARICUS

Mushrooms can provide more than just taste and texture for our meals--they actually have a surprisingly high nutritional value also. With more than 14,000 kinds of mushrooms in existence, only 3,000 of those are edible and about 1,400 are actually recognized as poisonous. A. bisporus is a choice edible species, with a typical 'mushroomy' taste. Specimens collected in the wild may be gritty due to its often subterranean habitat. As with all specimens picked from the wild, care should be taken to consider the suitability of the collection site, as this species can bioaccumulate toxic heavy metals, especially lead, from polluted areas. Nutritional analysis has shown

this species to contain 18 amino acids, including all of the essential ones.

NUTRIENTS AND ITS QUANTITY IN BUTTON MUSHROOMS

White button mushrooms, the popular ones you see in all the grocery stores, have a surprising amount of nutrients including: 

Nutrient: Average amount in 100g of product: Min. amount.: Max. amount: Water 92.430 g 88.200 g 95.200 g Energy 22.000 kcal - - Energy 94.000 kj - - Protein 3.090 g 2.250 g 4.030 g Adjusted Protein 2.180 g 1.580 g 2.820 g Total lipid (fat) 0.340 g 0.100 g 0.580 g Ash 0.850 g 0.600 g 1.040 g Carbohydrate, by difference 3.280 g - - Dietary Fiber 1.000 g 0.100 g 1.500 g Sugars, total 1.650 g - - Sucrose - - - Glucose (dextrose) 1.480 g - 3.580 g Fructose 0.170 g - 1.100 g Starch - - - Calcium, Ca 3.000 mg 1.000 mg 8.000 mg Iron, Fe 0.500 mg - 3.050 mg Magnesium, Mg 9.000 mg 5.000 mg 14.000 mg Phosphorus, P 86.000 mg 29.000 mg 124.000 mg Potassium, K 318.000 mg 118.000 mg 412.000 mg Sodium, Na 5.000 mg 2.000 mg 19.000 mg Zinc, Zn 0.520 mg 0.260 mg 1.570 mg Copper, Cu 0.318 mg 0.136 mg 0.620 mg Manganese, Mn 0.047 mg - 0.141 mg Selenium, Se 9.300 mcg - 22.700 mcg Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid 2.100 mg - 8.600 mg Thiamin 0.081 mg 0.009 mg 0.120 mg Riboflavin 0.402 mg 0.216 mg 0.610 mg Niacin 3.607 mg 0.219 mg 5.100 mg Pantothenic acid 1.497 mg 1.060 mg 2.280 mg Vitamin B-6 0.104 mg 0.041 mg 0.234 mg Folate, total 16.000 mcg 10.000 mcg 28.000 mcg Folic acid - - - Folate, food 16.000 mcg 10.000 mcg 28.000 mcg Folate, DFE 16.000 mcg_DFE - - Choline, total 17.300 mg - - Betaine 9.400 mg 8.100 mg 10.700 mg Vitamin B-12 0.040 mcg - - Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.010 mg 0.010 mg 0.010 mg Vitamin E, added - - - Tocopherol, beta 0.010 mg - 0.010 mg Tocopherol, gamma 0.010 mg - 0.020 mg Tocopherol, delta 0.010 mg - 0.020 mg Vitamin D 18.000 IU - - Vitamin K (phylloquinone) - - 0.100 mcg Fatty acids, total saturated 0.043 g - - Saturated fatty acids 16:0 0.035 g - - Saturated fatty acids 18:0 0.009 g - - Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated 0.139 g - - Polyunsaturated fatty acids 18:2 undifferentiated 0.139 g - - Tryptophan 0.035 g - - Threonine 0.107 g - - Isoleucine 0.076 g - - Leucine 0.120 g - - Lysine 0.107 g - - Methionine 0.031 g - - Cystine 0.012 g - - Phenylalanine 0.085 g - - Tyrosine 0.044 g - - Valine 0.232 g - - Arginine 0.078 g - - Histidine 0.057 g - - Alanine 0.199 g - - Aspartic acid 0.195 g - - Glutamic acid 0.343 g - - Glycine 0.092 g - - Proline 0.076 g - - Serine 0.094 g - -

In addition, white button mushroom extract has been found to reduce the size of some cancer tumors and slow down the production of some cancer cells. It is most prominently linked to reducing the risk of breast and prostate cancer.

WEIGHT LOSS FOOD

For those who are always looking for nutritious weight loss foods to pack into our diets, mushrooms are a less well-known option. Mushrooms are low in calories, carbohydrates, fat and sodium. However, like watermelon, they are very high in water content (80 to 90% water) and fiber which makes them a great diet food!

SOURCE OF POTASSIUM

Most people think bananas are the high potassium food, but it may surprise you to learn that mushrooms out rank bananas on the potassium chart. Potassium helps the body process sodium and lower blood pressure. So people with hypertension or a high risk of stroke can enjoy tremendous health benefits from a regular dose of mushrooms in their diet.

DISEASE FIGHTING PROPERTIES

All mushrooms are an excellent source of the antioxidant Selenium which works with vitamin E to protect cells from damaging free radicals. Some studies also indicate that antioxidants are some of the best nutrients for preventing and fighting cancers. Like almonds, mushrooms are becoming more popular for their cancer-fighting and disease protecting properties.

Shitake mushrooms in particular are also high in the beta-glucan Lentinan. Lentinan has been linked with strengthening the immune system and helping combat illnesses that attack the immune system like AIDS.   

In addition, mushroom extract has been linked to some treatments for both migraines and mental disorders.

A METABOLISM SUPPORT NUTRIENT

The human metabolism relies on a healthy dose of protein, fiber and vitamin B to keep it functional and robust. Mushrooms rank high in all three of these metabolism-supporting nutrients.

A GREAT SOURCE OF HEART-HEALTHY COPPER

Copper is one of the less talked about minerals that is essential to the body, but that the body cannot make on its own. Copper has properties that help protect our cardiovascular system, and just one small serving of mushrooms contains more than 20 percent of the copper we need daily.

With our fast-paced lifestyles and the highly processed foods we may frequently find ourselves eating in haste, the magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and selenium nutrients found in a single dish of mushrooms can really make up for some of the deficiencies we struggle to combat in our diets.

AGARICUS MUSHROOM USES & EFFECTIVENESS

Possibly Effective :

• Type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes often have “insulin resistance.” This is the inability to use insulin properly. Insulin is the hormone that allows sugar to move into the cells and be used as energy. Many medications that are used to treat diabetes work by lowering insulin resistance. Some research shows that certain medications are better at lowering insulin resistance when they are given with agaricus mushroom extract.

Insufficient Evidence for:

• Cancer treatment (chemotherapy) side effects. Developing research suggests that taking agaricus mushroom might reduce some of the side effects of chemotherapy including weakness and loss of appetite.
• High cholesterol.
• “Hardening of the arteries” (arteriosclerosis).
• Ongoing liver disease (chronic hepatitis).
• Digestion problems.
• Stress.
• Heart disease prevention.
• Weak bones (osteoporosis) prevention.
• Stomach ulcer prevention.
• Immune system strengthening.

Other conditions.

AGARICUS MUSHROOM SIDE EFFECTS & SAFTLY

Agaricus mushroom extract seems to be safe for most people when taken for up to 12 weeks. Powdered agaricus seems to be safe for most people when taken for up to 6 months. Agaricus products can cause blood sugar to go too low (hypoglycemia) in some people with diabetes. They can also cause itching, nausea, and diarrhea.

A few people who took agaricus mushroom during treatment for cancer have developed severe liver damage, and a few have had allergic reactions.

SESIALPRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of agaricus mushroom during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Liver disease: There is some concern that agaricus mushroom might cause liver disease or make it worse. Don’t use it if you have liver disease.
Surgery: Agaricus mushroom might lower blood sugar. There is some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during surgery. Stop using agaricus mushroom at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.