Do mushrooms make you gassy?
Introduction
Thanks to the popularity of the hit HBO TV series ‘The Last of Us,’ which is based on the award-winning video game series of the same name, the world is talking about mushrooms and fungus at the moment.
Thankfully, the mushrooms/fungi found on the TV show are not the kind that we eat on an everyday basis, so if you are a mushroom lover, you can continue to eat them as much as you like, without having to worry about turning into a vicious, crazed zombie.
There are, however, other far less-serious side effects associated with eating mushrooms to be wary of.
It may be embarrassing to some people, but many have found that mushrooms can cause them to feel bloated and gassy, which can, of course, lead to flatulence, also known as farting.
But what exactly are mushrooms, are they good for us, and do mushrooms make you gassy?
Keep reading to find out more.
What are mushrooms?
Mushrooms come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and different species.
Each mushroom is a form of fungi that reproduces with the help of spores.
The spores act similarly to seeds or pollen so that they can spread by the wind, for miles in some instances.
Once the spores have taken, the mushroom begins to grow and mature, growing larger in size and giving that trademark mushroom shape we all know and love.
Mushrooms typically grow in dark, moist, humid locations such as soil or wood.
There are countless species of mushrooms in existence, some of which are edible and very tasty, and some of which are highly toxic and very dangerous.
Common edible types of mushrooms that you’ll find in restaurants and grocery stores include species such as:
- Oyster mushroom
- Chestnut mushroom
- Button mushroom
- Porcini mushroom
- Chanterelle mushroom
- Shitake mushroom
There are many more edible mushrooms and even more inedible and toxic mushrooms.
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Are mushrooms safe to eat?
Yes and no.
Generally speaking, mushrooms are safe to eat because billions of people worldwide eat them every single day.
All you need to do is take a stroll to your nearest grocery store or read the menu of your nearest café or restaurant to see just how many mushrooms we have to eat, and how they’re used.
Over the last decade or so, however, foraging and living ‘off grid’ has become increasingly popular, and it is here where the risks arise.
You should only ever eat a mushroom if you are 100% certain of the variety and that that variety is indeed safe for human consumption.
If you are foraging for mushrooms, make sure you pick mushrooms that are safe to consume, and if there are any concerns or doubts in your mind, discard the mushrooms, as it is simply not worth the risk.
Health benefits of mushrooms
Assuming that you’re consuming a variety of mushrooms that is safe and edible, mushrooms can actually provide a wide range of health benefits for humans of all ages, genders, shapes, and sizes.
Some key health benefits associated with eating mushrooms include:
Rich in vitamin D
Of course, this varies from species to species, but generally speaking, you’ll find that mushrooms are a fantastic source of vitamin D.
Most vitamin D sources come from animal or animal-derived ingredients, which is why mushrooms are so useful, as they’re plant-based.
Known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because we synthesize it when exposed to UV rays from the sun, vitamin D helps give us energy, boosts immunity, assists with calcium uptake, regulates hormone levels, and much more besides.
Boosts immunity
Not only do mushrooms help boost immunity thanks to their naturally high levels of vitamin D, but they also help to boost immunity thanks to their naturally high levels of polysaccharides such as beta-glucan.
Beta-glucan is a form of soluble fiber that helps to activate cells in the immune system, such as macrophages, and what is known as ‘killer cells.’
The stronger your immune system, the healthier you will likely be.
Mushrooms are also a great source of an antioxidant known as selenium, along with B vitamins and vitamin C.
Promotes cardiovascular health
Your heart is one of your most important organs, so looking after it is essential.
Each year, heart disease claims more lives than any other illness or disease in existence.
By regularly eating mushrooms, you could potentially improve the health of your heart and cardiovascular system and improve your health.
Mushrooms are low in calories and fat, so they can contribute towards weight loss.
They also contain compounds that can reduce blood pressure and lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels.
As well as that, mushrooms also prevent cells in the bloodstream from sticking directly to the walls of the blood vessels, which would cause plaque to form and build up, which could cause a blood clot, stroke, or heart attack.
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Do mushrooms make you gassy?
Okay, so, we’ve looked at what mushrooms are, whether they’re safe, and what makes them so healthy, but we haven’t yet addressed whether they make you gassy.
Some people that eat mushrooms find that, after eating them, their stomachs begin to feel bloated and they feel gassy.
Eventually, this causes them to pass wind or sometimes even experience digestive issues such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, or extreme bloating.
So, do mushrooms make you gassy?
Well, yes, they do.
You see, mushrooms contain natural sugars that the body finds difficult to digest.
The small intestine finds it hard to fully digest the sugars and break them down, which causes a person to become bloated and gassy.
The sugars make their way to the large intestine and begin to ferment, causing gas to build up and exit as intestinal gas.
Not everybody that eats mushrooms struggles to digest them, but if you’re one of those people who always feels bloated and gassy after eating mushrooms, now you’ll know why that is.
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