If losing weight is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, then mushrooms may become your new BFF.
I’ve written, in recent weeks, about the fab fungi’s cancer-fighting properties. Research also shows mushrooms can help you avoid consuming too many calories.
“A 2008 study published in the journal Appetite found that participants who substituted mushrooms in dishes traditionally made with ground beef—lasagna and chili, for example—reported no difference in enjoyment or hunger satisfaction compared to those who dined on the meat-containing dishes, despite consuming from 300 to almost 600 fewer calories,” says registered dietitian Karen Collins, nutrition adviser for the American Institute for Cancer Research.
“Adding mushrooms and other vegetables to soups, stews and casseroles is a great way to make a dish more filling with fewer calories,” she adds. “However, mushrooms are not nutritional substitutes for meat, since they are substantially lower in protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12. So, when adding mushrooms to add texture and flavor in place of meat, remember that dried beans, nuts, poultry or seafood should also be added in the meal to maintain equal nutrition.”
Needless to say, we recommend organic varieties.
Additional Mushroom Recipes from Organic Authority
- Grilled Shiitake Mushrooms
- Champagne Wild Mushroom Fondue
- Wild Mushroom Winter Root Chicken Pot Pie
- Crab and Mushroom Chowder
- Brussels Sprouts With Shitake Mushrooms And Crispy Shallots
We’ve recently covered the nutritional superpowers of the mighty 
Mushrooms are a produce-aisle favorite, but ever wonder how they stack up nutritionally?
