Seven varieties of
mushrooms, including the popular white button, above, have their own unique
nutrient profiles. Click the image for more information about
it. |
Nutrient Data on Mushrooms Updated
By Rosalie Marion
Bliss August 18, 2006
Mushrooms contain several key nutrients, including copper, potassium,
folate and niacin, according to recently analyzed nutrient data. Seven
varieties of mushroomswhite button, oyster, shiitake, enoki, portabella,
crimini and maitakewere analyzed to create a unique nutrient profile for
each.
The project was coordinated by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) lead nutritionist
David
Haytowitz, located at the Beltsville (Md.) Human Nutrition Research Center
(BHNRC).
Haytowitz is with the BHNRCs Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL).
The research was funded in part by the
Mushroom Council of Dublin,
Calif.
Mushrooms were collected from retail outlets around the country to get
a nationally representative sampling. The mushroom varieties were analyzed for
fat, fiber, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals, and for ergosterol, a
precursor to vitamin D.
While most varieties were analyzed raw, white button mushrooms, which
are commonly used in recipes, were also analyzed after stir-frying and
microwaving to gauge the levels of nutrients retained after cooking. Adding to
existing data, portabella mushrooms were analyzed after grilling, and shiitake
mushrooms were analyzed after stir-frying. Most nutrients were found to be
fully retained when cooked, while others were retained at between 80 and 95
percent of their levels in raw mushrooms.
All of the mushrooms were found to provide a significant amount of
copper. Each cup of stir-fried white button mushrooms provides 0.3 milligram of
copper, which is about one-third of the recommended daily intake for adults.
Copper helps the body produce red blood cells and drives a variety of chemical
reactions that are key to human health.
The mushrooms also provide a significant amount of potassium, a
mineral that helps the body maintain normal heart rhythm, fluid balance, and
muscle and nerve function. Two-thirds of a cup of sliced, grilled portabella
mushrooms contains the same amount of potassium as a medium-sized banana.
The new nutrient values for mushrooms will appear in this year's
update to the NDL- managed USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard
Reference, Release 19, available soon at
www.ars.usda.gov/nutrientdata/.
ARS is the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.