In this short article, we will answer the question “Do mushrooms have protein?” and make a deep analysis of mushrooms and protein content.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you’ve probably heard the advice to use champignons as stuffing in place of meat. Are mushrooms truly high in protein, despite the fact that they are sources of a variety of nutrients and flavour?
Do mushrooms have protein?
Yes, mushrooms do contain protein. A 100 g serving of the Paris mushroom, sometimes known as the fabled champignon, has only 2.28 g of protein. Shitake mushrooms have 1.56 g while oyster mushrooms have 2.10 g in the same quantity.
They lack protein content, though, and their nutritional benefits are minimal when compared to those of other meals that vegetarians and vegans can eat. For this purpose in the daily diet, legumes like peas, which offer 7.69 g of protein in a 100 g amount, are optimal.
According to studies, including certain mushrooms in your diet can help you consume more potassium, copper, selenium, and vitamin B3 (niacin), which is needed to maintain your immune system and help your body turn glucose into energy.
What food contains a protein source?
Food is regarded as a source of protein if it contains at least 6 g of protein per 100 g, 100 ml, or per serving, as per RDC No. 54, dated November 12, 2012.
Therefore, as we can see in the chart below, mushrooms are not a source of protein unless we consider them to be dehydrated. As humans often consume them, mushrooms have an average of:
- 2.9% protein,
- 5.6% carbohydrates,
- 0.42 % fats,
- and 2% fibre.
Therefore, mushrooms cannot be a source of protein.
Are mushrooms B12-rich food sources?
Myth. Vitamin B12, which is crucial for the creation of red blood cells, is another nutrient that is frequently found in meat, fish, and other animal foods. The TBCA claims that the B12 content of shitake, Paris, and oyster mushrooms, mushrooms is completely absent.
With 0.93 mg per 100 g, eggs are one of the best sources of vitamin B12 for Lacto-ovo vegetarians. The recommended for vegans is to consume vitamin-fortified cereals or supplements under the guidance of a nutritionist.
Are the ones that are sold not toxic?
Yes. Many continue to link eating the mushrooms that are typically sold in shops and at fairs with the possibility of getting drunk.
There are incidents of food allergies, of course, but it is well recognised that for the vast majority of people, eating mushrooms like Paris, portobello, shitake, and oyster mushrooms is risk-free.
According to studies from other countries, eating mushrooms that are wild and unlabeled carries the highest risk of contracting fungal poisoning.
How can mushrooms be used in daily life?
We may regularly develop delectable and unique meals thanks to the variety of eatable fungi. You may easily incorporate mushrooms into your diet by using them as a pizza topping, a side dish, or an ingredient in a Buddha bowl.
For those who prefer to make the food the focus of the meal, we do have two recipes that are ideal. The first is to make it the star of the stroganoff; this is ideal! Or, if you’d like, try our second recommendation: prepare a cream soup with mushrooms as the base.
Is washing mushrooms before eating them necessary?
Certainly, but not in the way you might anticipate. The spongy appearance of mushrooms causes them to quickly absorb moisture. Because of this, cleaning the fungi’s surface with a damp cloth or brush before ingestion is the most effective approach to sterilise them.
It is advised to soak dry mushrooms and other types of dehydrated mushrooms in warm water for around 30 to 40 minutes before using them. Don’t forget to sanitise the surface of cans and champignon jars before opening them, too.
Conclusion:
In this short article, we answered the question “Do mushrooms have protein?” and made a deep analysis of mushrooms and protein content.
References:
Tsungai R. et al. Effect of cooking and preservation on the nutritional and phytochemical composition of the mushroom Amanita Zambia. Food Sci Nutr. 2017.
Djibril M. et al. Association of mushroom consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among American adults: prospective cohort study findings from NHANES III. Nutrition Journal, 2021.
Sanjiv A. et al. Nutritional impact of adding a serving of mushrooms to USDA Food Patterns – a dietary modelling analysis. Food and Nutrition, 2021.