What does fact checked mean?
At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Mushrooms: Taste of the Earth
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Iron
- Linus Pauling Institute: Phosphorus
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Calculate the Percent Daily Value for the Appropriate Nutrients
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Antioxidants
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
What Are the Health Benefits of Morel Mushrooms?
Morel mushrooms are a wild variety that you can safely eat 1. These tasty fungi are also easy to identify, having hollow stems and caps that look a bit like holey sponges. Morel mushrooms provide significant stores of nutrients, making them a healthy addition to any meal.
Low in Calories and Fat
A 1-cup serving of raw morel mushrooms only contains 20 calories and provides 2 grams of protein, 0.4 grams of fat and 3.4 grams of carbohydrates, including 1.8 grams of fiber. Use morel mushrooms to make a nutritious mushroom soup, top your pasta or add flavor to an omelet without piling on much in the way of calories or fat to the finished dish.
High in Iron and Phosphorus
Foods High in Iron That Will Not Interfere With Coumadin
Learn More
Morels provide a significant amount of iron and phosphorus. Eat a cup of morels, and you will have consumed 8 milligrams of iron -- the recommended dietary allowance for adult men 3. (Women under 55 still need another 10 milligrams in their diet.) Getting enough iron in your diet will help prevent anemia, as iron is essential to form the red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout your body. Phosphorus also helps deliver oxygen and plays a role in forming strong bones and DNA.
- Morels provide a significant amount of iron and phosphorus.
- Phosphorus also helps deliver oxygen and plays a role in forming strong bones and DNA.
Rich in Vitamin D
Although not many foods are natural sources of vitamin D, you get about 100 international units of vitamin D in each cup of morel mushrooms you eat -- compare that to the RDA of 600 international units for adults under 70. You need vitamin D for proper immune function as well as for absorbing calcium to form strong bones. Getting plenty of vitamin D in your diet may help lower your risk for osteoporosis, cancer, type-2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and high blood pressure, although the evidence for most of these potential benefits is still preliminary, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements 35.
Antioxidant All-Star
How to Gain Weight While Lowering Cholesterol
Learn More
Morel mushrooms provide a significant amount of antioxidants. Consuming foods high in antioxidants may help prevent some health problems, including heart disease and cancer, as these substances help keep other substances called free radicals from damaging your cells.
Related Articles
References
Writer Bio
Based in Massachusetts, Jessica Bruso has been writing since 2008. She holds a master of science degree in food policy and applied nutrition and a bachelor of arts degree in international relations, both from Tufts University.