Boletus mushrooms are a great source of protein, copper, potassium, zinc, selenium and B vitamins. They are also a great source of dietary fiber and are low in both saturated and unsaturated fat. According to (Arora, 1986) dried boletus has more protein than most other commonly consumed vegetables, which makes them a great meat substitute in vegetarian dishes. Most vegetarians and veggie societies will definitely greet this information.
Did you know: With no cholesterol, no trans-fat and no saturated fat, these mushrooms are an excellent way to add flavor to dishes without adding calories.
Let’s discus about health benefits of these mushrooms and what recent studies have proved so far regarding the vitamins they contain.
Vitamin B1 – Thiamine breaks down sugars in the body. Thiamine also helps to support nerve and heart health.
Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine is used for heart disease; high cholesterol; reducing blood levels of homocysteine, a chemical that might be linked to heart disease. B6 is also used for diabetes, sickle cell anemia, migraine headaches, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, night leg cramps, muscle cramps, arthritis, allergies, acne and various other skin conditions, and infertility. It is also used for dizziness, motion sickness, preventing the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD), seizures, convulsions due to fever, as well as for increasing appetite and helping people remember dreams. Some people use B6 for boosting the immune system, eye infections, bladder infections, and preventing cancer and kidney stones.
Vitamin B9 – Folate is an important vitamin for liver function.
Vitamin B12 benefits your mood, energy level, memory, heart, skin, hair, digestion and more. It is needed to ensure the proper functioning and health of nerve tissue, brain function, and red blood cells.
Dietary fiber has many health benefits. It can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, and also help weight control.
Potassium‘s primary functions in the body include regulating fluid balance and controlling the electrical activity of the heart and other muscles. It also helps to balance out the negative effects of salt and lower your blood pressure.
Zinc is important for chemical detoxification, growth, development, immune function and sexual function. Healing cannot take place without adequate zinc. Due to our modern lifestyle, high-stress lifestyles, poor diets, smoking, vegetarianism, alcohol, and food processing, zinc deficiency is problem for most of the people.
Copper is essential for infant growth, bone strength, iron transport, cholesterol and glucose metabolism, heart muscle contraction and brain development (3). It is important for healthy connective tissues, eyes, and hair, as well as slowing down the aging process and preventing arthritis. Moreover, the body uses copper to regulate heart rhythm, wound healing, and red blood cell formation. Copper works to ensure proper metabolic processes in conjunction with amino acids and a variety of vitamins.
Nutrition Information (per 100 grams):
Calories (cKal): 26-34
Protein (g): 2.5-8
Total Fat (g): 0-0.49
Carbohydrates (g): 6.79
Fiber (g): 2-2.5
Did you know: Boletus is also used in Chinese folk medicine. It is the major ingredient of Shujin Wan – a traditional herbal remedy (2), which is reputed to stimulate blood circulation and to relax the muscles and joints.
Reference
(1) Arora D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press.
(2) Hanelt P. (2001). Mansfeld’s encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Berlin: Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research.
(3) Health Benefits of Copper. Retrieved from http://copperalliance.eu/copper-and-society/health