The New Complete Book of Food



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Nutritional Profile

Energy value (calories per serving): Low

Protein: High

Fat: Low

Saturated fat: Low

Cholesterol: None

Carbohydrates: High

Fiber: High

Sodium: Low

Major vitamin contribution: B vitamins, folate

Major mineral contribution: Potassium

About the Nutrients in This Food

Mushrooms are high in dietary fiber, both insoluble cellulose in the

outer skin and pectins in the flesh. They have traces of protein and small

amounts of the B vitamin folate.

One-half cup cooked fresh mushrooms has 2 g dietary fiber, 2 g pro-

tein, and 14 mcg folate (4 percent of the RDA).

The Most Nutritious Way to Serve This Food

Fresh, in salads.

Diets That May Restrict or Exclude This Food

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Buying This Food

Look for: Smooth, plump, uniformly cream-colored button mushrooms.

The cap should be closed tightly, hiding the gills. As mushrooms age, they

turn darker; they also lose moisture and shrink, which is why the caps

spring open, revealing the pink or tan gills. (Black gills are also an indication

of age.) Older mushrooms are more intensely flavored than young ones, but