A series of PresentationByMr. Allah Dad Khan former DG Agriculture Extension KP Province and Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar allahdad52@gmail.com

2. Impressive Health Benefits of Mushroom
A series of Presentation
By
Mr. Allah DadKhan
former DG Agriculture Extension KP Province and
Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture
Peshawar
allahdad52@gmail.com

3. Mushroom
Mushrooms – not technically a vegetable, but a far older
member of the plant kingdom. Mushrooms do not use
sunlight to produce energy, hence they have a completely
different range of tastes than any other vegetable. Did
you know that the largest single living organism on earth
is a mushroom called Armillaria Ostoyae, the biggest of
which is up to 8,500 years old and carpets nearly 10
square kilometres of forest floor in northeastern Oregon,
USA. One variety was available in cultivated form for
much of the 20th century, but in the 21st dozens of
mushroom varieties have been successfully grown in
commercial yields and can be purchased in the shops.

4. Types of Mushrooms
Of the nearly 300 varieties of edible mushrooms that are
known to exist, the following are the most commonly seen in
the grocery store:
1. white button
2. chanterelle
3. crimini
4. shiitake
5. oyster (
6. enoki
7. portabello
8. porcini
9. morel

6. Mushroom
Mushrooms are edible fungi with various
scientific names, but the family name is
“Agaricus”, and then there are many
secondary names for different species. They
are essentially Saprophytes, the organisms
(plants without chlorophyll) which thrive by
extracting nutrients from dead and decaying
plant and animal matter. They vary greatly in
their color, texture, shape and properties.

7. Mushroom
There are approximately 140,000 species of
mushroom-forming fungi in the world, but
science is only familiar with about 10%,
while only 100 species or so are being
studied for their potential health benefits and
medicinal applications. Some of the most
well-known benefits are explained below.

8. Health Benefits Of Mushrooms

10. 1.Mushroom for Cholesterol
Levels:
Mushrooms themselves provide
you with lean proteins since they
have no cholesterol or fat and are
very low carbohydrates.
The fiber and certain enzymes in
mushrooms also help
lower cholesterol levels.
Moreover, the high lean protein
content found in them helps burn
cholesterol when they are
digested. Balancing levels of
cholesterol between LDL
cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) and
HDL (“good” cholesterol) is
essential in the prevention of
various cardiovascular diseases
like artherosclerosis, heart attack,
and stroke

11. 2. Mushroom for Anemia:
Anemic patients are
characterized by having low
levels of iron in their blood,
resulting in
fatigue, headaches, reduced
neural function, and digestive
issues. Mushrooms are a good
source of iron, and over 90%
of the nutritive iron value can
be absorbed by the body,
which promotes the formation
of red blood cells and keeps
people healthy and functioning
at their full potential.

12. 3. Mushroom reduces Breast Cancer
& Prostate Cancer:
Mushrooms are very effective in
preventing breast and prostate
cancer due to the significant presence
of Beta-Glucans and conjugated
Linoleic Acid, which both have anti-
carcinogenic effects. Out of these
two, linoleic acid is particularly helpful
in suppressing the harmful effects of
excess estrogen. This increase in
estrogen is one of the prime causes
for breast cancer in women
after menopause. The Beta-Glucans,
on the other hand, inhibit the growth
of cancerous cells in cases of
prostate cancer, and numerous
studies have shown the antitumor
properties of mushrooms when
applied medicinally.

13. 4. Mushroom for Diabetes
• Diabetes: Mushrooms are an ideal low-
energy diet for diabetics. They have no
fats, no cholesterol, very low levels of
carbohydrates, high protein content, and
a wealth of vitamins and minerals. They
also contain a lot of water and fiber.
Moreover, they contain natural insulin
and enzymes which help the breaking
down of sugar or starch in food. They are
also known to contain certain compounds
which help proper functioning of the liver,
pancreas and other endocrine glands,
thereby promoting the formation of insulin
and its proper regulation throughout the
body. Diabetics often suffer from
infections, particularly in their limbs,
which tend to continue for long periods of
time. The natural antibiotics in
mushrooms can help protect diabetics
from these painful and potentially life-
threatening conditions.

14. 5. Mushroom improve bone health
• Bone
Health: Mushrooms are a
rich source of calcium,
which is an essential
nutrient in the formation
and strength of bones. A
steady supply of calcium
in the diet can reduce
your chances of
developing conditions
like osteoporosis, and
can also reduce joint pain
and general lack of
mobility that is associated
with bone degradation

15. 6. Mushroom boosts Nutrient
Absorption:
Vitamin D is a relatively rare
vitamin to find in vegetables, and
in fact, edible forms in general are
not particularly common.
However, mushrooms have it, and
this essential vitamin can facilitate
the absorption and metabolism of
calcium and phosphorous.
They also contains levels of these
two nutrients, so the combined
effects of having all of these
nutrients in one powerful source,
mushrooms, makes it a good idea
to eat them whenever possible.

16. 7. Mushroom for Immune System
Strength
Ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant
present in mushrooms, is very effective in
providing protection from free radicals as well
as boosting the immune system. It is actually
an amino acid that contains sulfur, which is
something that many people are deficient in,
despite not knowing it or seeing its effects.
That being said, the presence of this “master
antioxidant” which is unique to mushrooms,
can give you a major boost to immune
system health. It helps to eliminate free
radicals, which are the dangerous
compounds that are released during the
metabolic processes of cells, and can float
throughout the body and cause significant
damage and disease, so antioxidants, like
ergothioneine, are vital elements for overall
health.

17. 8. Mushroom regulates BP
Blood Pressure: Studies of various
types of mushrooms, including
shitake and maitake mushrooms,
have shown them to be high
in potassium content. Potassium acts
as a vasodilator, relaxing tension in
blood vessels and
therefore reducing blood pressure.
High blood pressure is connected to a
number of deadly conditions,
particularly heart attacks and strokes.
Potassium also increases cognitive
function, because increased blood
and oxygen flow to the brain
stimulates neural activity. Studies
have shown that increased levels of
potassium improve memory and
knowledge retention.

18. 9. Mushroom rich in Copper Content
Copper Content: Copper has
a number of beneficial effects
on the body, and can be found
in mushrooms. Copper can
regulate and stimulate
the absorption of iron
from food, and properly utilize
it by getting it released from
primary storage spots in the
body like the liver. Mushrooms
also have high levels of iron,
so the two work together for
healthy bones and
preventing anemia.

19. 10. Mushroom high in Selenium
content
The selenium content in mushrooms is one of
the most beneficial elements that is often
overlooked. The primary source of selenium
is in animal proteins; however, due to their
classification as fungi that feed off animal and
plant matter, mushrooms are the best way for
vegetarians to obtain the necessary amount
of selenium. Selenium is found in large
quantities in mushrooms, and can benefit
bone health by adding to bone strength and
increasing durability. It also strengthens the
teeth, hair, and nails. Furthermore, this
essential nutrient is a powerful antioxidant,
which rids the body of free radicals and
generally strengthens the immune system.
The bioavailability of selenium in mushrooms
differs on species, but the majority of
commonly consumed mushrooms have
significant levels of this important mineral.

20. 11. Mushroom for weight loss
Weight Loss: Would you believe me
if I said that a completely lean protein
diet is ideal for losing fat and building
muscle mass? Well, believe it or not,
it’s true. Most fats are burnt to digest
proteins found in our food, more so
when the protein is accompanied by a
very low carbohydrate count, no fat or
cholesterol, and a good amount of
fiber. This is exactly the combination
that mushrooms offer to help in losing
weight! Due to their nutrient density,
they actually rank higher than
most fruits and vegetables, and some
researchers say that mushrooms are
one of the rare foods that people can
eat as often as possible, with no side
effects