Champignons: benefits and harms for the body, how to cook

They began to artificially cultivate mushrooms at the beginning of the 20th century, although they have been harvested under natural conditions for thousands of years. The benefits and harms of champignons are due to their diverse composition and high taste. It is a valuable source of protein and B vitamins.

How do mushrooms look and where do they grow?

Champignons are the most unpretentious and widespread mushrooms in the world. They can be found in deciduous forests, meadows, summer cottages, mountains and even semi-deserts. They have a ball-shaped or russula-like hat of white, grayish, brown color. The flesh tastes crisp and sweetish with a bright aroma. Legs are short, with one or two rings. Usually only hats are eaten.

They love fertile, well-fertilized soil, so they often grow near manure heaps, in rotted foliage and grass. They are easy to breed under artificial conditions. Champignons, like oyster mushrooms, are grown in special factories.

The composition and calorie content of champignons

Champignon mushroom is a source of valuable protein. In 100 g of the product, its 4.3 g. The total calorie content of champignons per 100 grams is at the level of 27 kcal, with a percentage of carbohydrates, about 2% fat, and about 5% dietary fiber.

The pulp contains a lot of potassium, B vitamins, phosphorus and iodine. The mushroom is rich in fatty acids and easily digestible sugars.

The composition of the most important elements:

• linoleic, oleic, palmitic acids;
• Omega-6 fatty acids;
• micro and macro elements (cobalt, zinc, sodium, magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron);
• vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B9, C, E, PP, choline, carotene).

Due to high-quality and easily digestible protein, mushrooms are considered an alternative to meat.

Why mushrooms are useful

Mushrooms are really useful to include in the diet. Their exceptional richness in B vitamins contributes to the good functioning of the nervous system, increases stress resistance, endurance, concentration, and memory. Useful fatty acids break down cholesterol, cleanse the blood, and prevent atherosclerosis.

It is useful to eat mushrooms for anemia, after a stroke and heart attack, to strengthen the cardiovascular system. They are indicated for problems with the pancreas, for diseases of the kidneys and the digestive system.

General useful properties of champignons:

• antioxidant;
• cleansing;
• vaso-strengthening.

It is useful to eat mushrooms with poor eyesight, weak skeletal system, dull hair and pale skin. They protect the body from obesity and diabetes. The benefit of canned mushrooms lies in their pronounced diuretic effect. In addition, the product is useful for removing bad cholesterol. Nutritionists recommend including pickled mushrooms in the diet for weight loss.

Are mushrooms useful for pregnant and lactating women

Any mushrooms are a conditionally safe product for women in position and lactating.In the first case, they are difficult to digest food, which the sensitive organism can cope with with difficulty.

During the breastfeeding period, you can start eating mushrooms only when the baby is 3-4 months old. Otherwise, the risk of allergies and tummy problems is high.

Is champignons possible for children and at what age

Even such healthy products as mushrooms are undesirable to give to children under 7 years old. The complex composition, high fiber content and the risk of developing allergies postpone the timing of their inclusion in the child's menu. An incompletely formed digestive system may react differently to a product. In the future, you should start with light soups with the addition of champignons or combine mushrooms with cereals, for example, buckwheat.

Champignons for weight loss

These mushrooms are low in calories and high in nutrition at the same time. Valuable protein and dietary fiber - that's why this product is included in the dietary food menu. Its usefulness and value are added by the great taste, aroma and vitamin content.

Champignons can be used to prepare soups in combination with vegetables, grill, add to salads and stews. If the diet is long and strict, the B vitamins will help you cope with limited meals more easily.

The use of champignons in traditional medicine

Many types of mushrooms are very popular in traditional medicine in Tibet, China, Japan and Korea. In these countries, a powerful antibiotic is synthesized from young fruiting bodies that can cope with Staphylococcus aureus.

The medicinal properties of champignons are used for diseases of the digestive organs and endocrine glands. It is recommended to eat mushrooms every day to improve appetite and the synthesis of enzymes that digest food.

In folk medicine, champignons are an excellent prophylactic agent for typhoid fever, measles, bronchitis. There are not so many recipes for medicinal compositions from this mushroom; it is mainly used as an element of health food.

Prescription for oral psoriasis:

• fill the glass with chopped young caps;
• pour olive oil;
• keep in the refrigerator for 4 hours;
• then simmer in a water bath for 1 hour;
• the resulting mixture is stored in the refrigerator strained;
• take 1/3 cup every day for 2 months.

Mushrooms are also crushed into gruel and used as a basis for healing and rejuvenating face masks.

Features of the use of champignons for certain diseases

The health benefits of champignons are expressed in general cleansing of the body and strengthening of strength. However, in some diseases, their use is limited or completely excluded. In other cases, they make you feel better. It's worth looking into.

With diabetes mellitus

If diabetes is accompanied by obesity, hypertension and other problems in the cardiovascular system, mushrooms will be very useful. Their value in breaking down cholesterol and removing it from the body, as well as improving digestive function. Metabolism can also be corrected by these mushrooms. It is important to eat them regularly 3-4 times a week. This will help stabilize blood sugar levels.

With gastritis

This disease requires a sparing diet, so any heavy food is limited. This also applies to the mushroom rich in chitin and fiber. Completely exclude useful mushrooms for gastritis with high acidity. The only thing that the patient can sometimes afford is a weak mushroom broth.

With pancreatitis

As with gastritis, the use of mushrooms for pancreatitis is questionable.The product provokes increased secretion of pancreatic juice, which is dangerous for the inflamed pancreas. In addition, part of the protein is not digested at all in case of problems with the gland, so there is almost no benefit from such a dish.

With gout

If oyster mushrooms are acceptable for gout, then champignons are strictly prohibited. It's all about the high content of protein and purine substances that worsen the course of the disease. When they are used, in the case of metabolic disorders, an allergy to mushrooms additionally develops.

Champignons in home cosmetology

It is useful to make masks from this mushroom for mature skin 2-3 times a week, and for young skin once a week. The components of the product improve complexion and smooth wrinkles. Antioxidants help start the processes of rejuvenation from the inside and protect against cell aging.

Masks are made according to the same principle. Fresh mushroom caps are ground in a blender until smooth and combined with additional ingredients:

• kefir and other fermented milk products for oily skin;
• any vegetable or cosmetic oil.

A beneficial anti-aging agent is applied to the face for 20 minutes and washed off with warm water.

How to cook champignons

Before cooking, fresh mushrooms are washed under running water and dried with a paper towel. They shouldn't be too wet. Then they are cut lengthwise or into cubes and quickly fried. You cannot store washed mushrooms for a long time - they quickly deteriorate and darken.

They go well with onions. Experienced housewives only fry the mushrooms, and later use them as a side dish, add to soups or salads.

Grilled mushrooms are tasty and healthy, it is enough to salt them, pepper and pour with olive oil. The faster the champignon is cooked, the more aromatic, healthier and more tender it turns out.

Do you eat raw mushrooms

If russula can definitely not be cooked, then raw mushrooms are in question. If they are collected in the forest or in the meadow, then before using them they must be subjected to heat treatment in order to remove some of the pesticides and poisons from them. You can eat raw only those mushrooms that are grown in ecologically clean conditions.

These are usually created on specialized farms. Mushrooms are only washed under cool water and added to salads or side dishes. All useful substances are preserved in such a product.

Selection and storage of mushrooms

The most useful are young mushrooms with unopened dense caps. They should be light beige and free from dents or cuts. Any darkening and loss of density indicate staleness of the product. This will not even be stored in the refrigerator.

After purchase, the fresh mushroom is left in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. If you need to keep it longer, then use a plastic bag. In this form, it is stored for 5-7 days. Fresh and boiled mushrooms can be stored in the freezer for several months. Mushrooms can also be dried and pickled. These are long term storage methods.

The harm of champignons and contraindications

It is undesirable to eat dishes with mushrooms for everyone who is on a strict diet for chronic diseases of internal organs. This applies to ulcers, pancreatitis, nephritis and others. Any heavy food is dangerous for them.

Other contraindications:

• oncology;
• first trimester of pregnancy;
• blood diseases;
• gout, pancreatitis, reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcer;
• individual intolerance.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of champignons depend on the growing conditions. Today, mushrooms grown in nurseries are considered safer, where safety measures are strictly observed, because all mushrooms tend to accumulate radionuclides, heavy metal salts, pesticides, and so on. Forest mushrooms must be boiled.Otherwise, it is a valuable food product that saturates the diet with minerals and vitamins, and also promotes weight loss.