Higher Mushroom Consumption Can Lower Risk of Cancer.
Cancer is a major threat to public health. Cancer is regarded the second major cause of death after heart disease.
Mushrooms have bioactive compounds. The recent research reveals that intake of mushrooms have potential health advantages. Studies say that mushrooms consumption can lower the risk of breast cancer.
Cancer as a Public Health Threat and the Role of a Healthy Diet
Cancer is a major threat to public health. Cancer is regarded the second major cause of death after heart disease. A healthy diet plays a significant role in the prevention of cancer .
Nutritional Profile of Mushrooms: Low in Calories and Rich in Bioactive Compounds
Mushrooms have been
consumed for centuries for their unique taste, fresh flavour, and as a
healthful diet, being low in calories, sodium, carbohydrates and fats and
cholesterol-free. Edible mushrooms are also rich in bioactive compounds,
including phytochemicals ,polysaccharides ,selenium ,fibres, vitamins (e.g.,
thiamine, niamine, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, and vitamins B and D). They have
the important antioxidants glutathione and ergothioneine which plays a
significant role in the prevention of cancer.
Mushrooms are often considered to be a vegetable, but actually are fungus. There are about >2000 types of mushrooms in nature, ≥25 are accepted as functional foods for human consumption and commercially cultivated . Mushrooms have been reported to have anticancer capabilities and protects against tumour development .
Observational Studies and Inverse Relationship between Mushroom Consumption and Cancer Risk
The laboratory studies showed that these ant carcinogenic effects changes .There are different types of mushrooms such as maitake shitake and Agaricus bisporus, etc Several observational studies have also reported an inverse relationship between mushroom consumption and the risk of cancer.
Conclusion: Mushroom Consumption as a Potential Cancer Prevention Strategy
The previous meta-analysis that examined the association
between mushroom consumption and cancer risk was limited to only breast cancer. Hence we can say
mushrooms can help to prevent cancer to some extent but not completely.
