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Article: Mushrooms Boast Good Nutrition and More.
- Article from:
- Environmental Nutrition
- Article date:
- March 1, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Folklore: Ancient Egyptians considered mushrooms to be the sons of gods sent to earth riding bolts of thunder. In medieval Ireland, mushrooms were thought to be umbrellas for leprechauns. Asians have been eating mushrooms, particularly shiitake, in teas, tonics, tinctures and soups for more than 2,000 years. Mushrooms were once called the "beefsteak of the poor" because no other food comes closest to the taste and texture of meat.
The Facts: Mushrooms are not vegetables, they're fungi, so they possess a unique nutrient profile. Just five medium white mushrooms supply nearly 25% of our daily need for riboflavin, the same as in an eight-ounce glass of milk. A ...