Enhancing Nutritional and Health Well-Being through Edible Mushrooms

Food is a basic human right. Adequate food is important for growth, development, body and mental health. Human beings need sufficient, safe and nutritious food for their overall well-being. The major challenge to availability of nutrient rich food is over reliance on plant and animal products that rely on rain-fed agriculture that is vulnerable to unfavorable weather conditions and now aggravated by climate change. Mushrooms belongs to the Fungal kingdom can supplement the dietary intake as they are rich in nutrients ensuring healthy wellbeing of individuals. This review paper highlights the importance of mushrooms as a source of food rich in nutrients and valuable medicinal products. Mushrooms are popular valuable foods because they are rich proteins, vitamins and dietary fibre. Mushrooms contain all nine essential amino acid including lysine, tryptophan and methionine, which are normally deficit in vegetables. They are rich in all water-soluble vitamins i.e. Vitamin B groups and Vitamin C. Mushroom is a low-sodium food that is rich in potassium, iron, phosphorous, selenium. They are popular because they are low in calories, carbohydrates, fat, and are cholesterol-free. Mushrooms not only have a long history as food source, but also have important medicinal properties. They are rich in anti-oxidants such as polyphenols and ergotheioneine that act against free radicals that can cause development of chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders.  Βeta glucans, a type of polysaccharide found in cell wall of the mushroom and other exopolysaccharides produced in mushrooms boost the immune system. Therefore, mushroom products can be used as a source of nutrients and promote health in human beings. More research needs to be done to discover other mushrooms that are edible and elucidate their nutritional and medicinal potential.