If you love eating mushrooms then you’ve come across oyster mushrooms, if not they make very delicious mushroom dishes that have beautiful flavors and textures. Oyster mushrooms are eaten by people throughout the world and make very delectable soups, sauces, and various dishes enjoyed across different cultures and cuisines. Apart from taste, some of the oyster mushroom benefits include relaxing your muscles and joints, strengthening your veins, and increasing your kidney function.
There are different types of oyster mushrooms and each one of them is loaded with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that your body needs to defend it against ailments and diseases and to keep it healthy.
What is an oyster mushroom?
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This is a common type of edible fungi that gat its name because it has a shell-like appearance that resembles that of an oyster. It’s very versatile and has a mild flavor and licorice-like aroma which makes it very popular in various Asian dishes. It was also used in traditional Chinese medicine centuries ago in treating inflammations and boosting your immune system.
Types of oyster mushrooms
Phoenix oyster. It has the shape and color of human lungs and are similar to the pearl oyster in shape and taste, but are slightly smaller.
Pearl oyster. It has a more subtle and tender flavor that is more woodsy but slightly sweet.
King oyster mushroom. The biggest oyster mushroom that is easy to grow and has therapeutic abilities.
Pink oyster. It has a strong flavor and an exotic pink color that disappears ones it’s exposed to heat. If you cook it properly it can taste like bacon.
Golden oyster. It has a light yellow color and a distinctive taste. However, it’s very delicate and hypersensitive which gives it a very short shelf life.
Blue oyster. Although it has a bluish tint, it has the same taste as that of the pearl oyster.
Oyster mushroom benefits
Oyster mushrooms are a great source of nutrients and vitamins and have incredible health benefits because of its nutrient-packed profile. Mushrooms are not only good for your overall health but also help with weight loss because they’re low in calories and fat and contain no cholesterol.
Boost your immune system
All mushrooms are packed with beta-glucans that work as immune system regulators. They’re loaded with antioxidants that protect your body from free radical damage and oxidative stress which helps your immune system to protect itself from aging.
Anti-inflammatory benefits
The antioxidants and beta-glucans in oyster mushrooms help to lower inflammation in your body. The anti-inflammatory properties in oyster mushrooms are said to come from ergothioneine, an amino acid that lowers systemic inflammation in your body which is often the cause of diseases like diabetes and dementia.
Regulating your cholesterol levels
Oyster mushrooms contain lavastatin that helps to balance the cholesterol levels in your blood. They also help in reducing the triglycerides and cholesterol levels especially if you suffer from diabetes and high blood sugar levels.
Boost cardiovascular health
Vitamin B3 can help in reducing atherosclerosis, hardening of your arteries, which can lead to heart disease. It also helps in reducing the production of histamine, inflammation, and improving circulation. Vitamin B3 will also prevent the reoccurring of heart disease or cardiac arrest if you’ve experienced it before. It will also help in treating pellagra, a heart condition caused by a deficiency in niacin.
Building strong bones
Oyster mushrooms are loaded with important nutrients like vitamin D and magnesium that help in building strong bones. Although most people focus on calcium when it comes to your bones, you also need vitamin D and magnesium to process calcium and store it in your bones.
Brain health
Copper affects the dopamine and galactose in your body that are responsible for maintaining your mood, energy, and focus. Lack of copper in your body can cause fatigue, poor concentration, low metabolic activity, and poor mood.
Copper also helps your body to utilize the antioxidants in your body like vitamin C and tyrosinase to prevent damage by free radicals in your brain and slow down your aging process, cancer, and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Improve your skin health
Vitamin B3 or niacinamide is very good at helping to clear your acne if you apply it on your face. Niacin helps in reducing skin inflammation, irritation, flare-ups, and skin redness. It also helps in the treatment of granuloma annulare, a skin disease that causes blisters on your skin that cause infection and are very painful.
Boost your energy levels
Vitamin B helps in converting the glucose in your body into glucose which your body uses as fuel when you need energy. It synthesizes your body and helps to metabolize fats and proteins. Vitamin B5 assists in the rebuilding of your muscles, organs, and tissues and also in maintaining good metabolism levels.
Anti-cancer properties
Oyster mushrooms have a powerful effect on cancer cells and because of its high content in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties oyster mushrooms can help stop the growth of certain types of cancer cells.
Helps to cure anemia
Anemia is caused by blood loss, low amounts of oxygen in your blood, and low production of red blood cells. Vitamin B2 can help in preventing anemia. It’s an important component in the production of red blood cells and steroid hormone synthesis and helping to assist in the transportation of oxygen throughout your body and mobilizing iron. If you have low levels of vitamin B2, you’re at a higher risk of anemia and sickle cell anemia. Vitamin B2 can help in reducing the levels of homocysteine in your blood.
Balancing your blood sugar levels
If you don’t have sufficient amounts of insulin in your body it can lead to diabetes. Calcium is needed in the production of insulin and vitamin D helps in reducing inflammation and raise insulin sensitivity. Vitamin D can also help in preventing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Final thoughts
Oyster mushrooms aren’t just delicious mushrooms you can eat, they’re also very nutritious and are packed with oyster mushroom benefits that your body will be thankful for. They’re versatile so you can include them in most of your dishes or take as a mushroom supplement.
