By Karen Olson House, September 2007

• Introduction
• Mushrooms in North Carolina
• Edible or poisonous?
• Where to buy fresh mushrooms
• Mushroom nutrition
• Recipes
• Download the full article as a

Mushroom nutrition

Brown mushrooms such as shiitakes have antioxidant capacities that compare to green beans, red peppers and broccoli. White mushrooms compare favorably to tomatoes, carrots and zucchini.

White button mushrooms are one of the few natural food sources of vitamin D, which promotes the absorption of calcium, essential for healthy teeth and bones. Portabella and crimini mushrooms are good sources of phosphorus, a mineral that generates energy and is essential for strong bones and teeth.

Recent studies have traced shiitakes’ legendary benefits to an active compound called lentinan that helps power up the immune system. Animal and human studies have shown that another active component in shiitake mushrooms called eritadenine lowers cholesterol levels.