Tweak a Week #5 - Mushrooms

Mushrooms are strong immune building vegetables because they contain unusual disease-fighting compounds. “Mushroom phytochemicals may even be helpful for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus because of their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects”*. Mushrooms are a fungus so they scavenge on organic matter. They are able to absorb and safely eliminate toxins.

There is a lot of complicated evidence that in the end demonstrates the mushrooms very powerful role in building super immunity. They have been shown repeatedly to have anti-cancer effects. They prevent DNA damage, slow cancer cell or tumor growth, cause cancer cell death and/or prevent tumors from receiving the blood flow they need to thrive.

I suggest adding mushrooms, as well as onions and garlic, to anything that you cook. I literally sauté onions or all kinds mentioned above with mushrooms and garlic, add spinach, kale, other greens, carrots, zucchini, etc. and serve as a side dish or over brown rice or quinoa. I put them in any soup, stew, spaghetti sauce, stir fry, or slow cooker recipe I can. Of course cutting them thin and including raw in a salad is another way to incorporate these super foods into the daily diet. Eating a combination and raw add to the health benefits all around.

Try experimenting with different kinds of mushrooms. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Mushrooms are great meat substitutes for those who want to eat less red meat, especially Portabellas.

Try putting some avocado or coconut oil on a Portabella, sprinkle with sea salt and let sit a little while. Then roast or grill at moderate temperature. Slice and eat just like it was a piece of meat!

To summarize, the onion family, including garlic and mushrooms are so healthy on many levels and are extremely easy to incorporate into a healthy whole foods diet. Onions and garlic add flavor to any dish and mushrooms take on the flavor you give them. Eat them raw or cooked, but just eat them!