Mushrooms have been popular with people in several parts of the world for hundreds of years, because they are considered to have a unique and delicious taste. Even certain types of mushrooms are sought after by people for medicinal purposes, like the health benefits of chaga mushrooms, for example.
They are believed to have several health benefits, as they are a good source of vitamin D, iron, and antioxidants that can strengthen the immune system and protect the liver. Mushrooms can be easily found in supermarkets and traditional markets.
Commonly sold are mushrooms from cultivated types, which are generally white or bright in color such as edible mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, white oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, etc.
Apart from the widely cultivated mushroom species, there are still many mushrooms that grow in the wild. The average mushroom forms are similar, so be careful when picking up wild-growing mushrooms as they can be very poisonous.
Only the laboratory can determine whether a type of fungus is safe to eat or not. So it is better to avoid consuming mushrooms that you find growing wild, if you lack knowledge and experience.
Enoki Mushrooms for Babies
Most of the mushrooms available in supermarkets are generally safe, because it is certain through the selection of the agriculture department or the food control department. Only mushrooms are very safe for sale to the general public.
Many parents think that mushrooms are not an ideal food to be introduced to babies. But you can introduce mushrooms to babies, but after the age they are between 10-12 months.
Among the best choices of mushrooms, like the health benefits of paddy straw mushroom, you can also try to introduce enoki mushroom to your baby.
Enoki mushroom is a type of mushroom with a long stalk commonly used in Japanese, Korean, and several other Asian countries. Not only delicious, this mushroom also has health benefits, especially for your baby.
It contains vitamins B6, B9 or folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid. The combination of these various nutrients makes enoki mushrooms a healthy menu for your food mix.
Health Benefits of Enoki Mushroom for Babies
- Boosts the Immune System
Aside from the matsutake mushroom health benefits, Enoki mushrooms are believed to contain certain protein compounds to boost the immune system. Enoki mushroom also has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects to protect the body from various infections and diseases, thus making it very useful for baby’s growth.
In addition, traditional Japanese and Chinese communities have long used enoki mushrooms as a traditional medicine in the form of a tonic to treat various complaints of diseases such as high cholesterol, hypertension, etc.
The benefits of enoki mushrooms are believed to be due to their complete vitamin and mineral content. A study on mice conducted in Taiwan showed that the enoki mushroom content was successful in boosting the immune system and reducing tumor growth in mice. However, no related studies have been conducted in humans.
- Reducing the Risk of Diabetes
Diabetes is a dangerous disease, not only to us adults, but also for babies. We, as parents, should prevent it in the best way we can do. Enoki mushrooms contain fiber intake needed by the body. Based on research, sufficient fiber content can help increase insulin production in the body.
Insulin plays an important role in helping to slow down the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream which will indirectly reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, there is no scientific research to prove it and you still have to eat a healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent the risk of diabetes. You can also find similarities with the health benefits of lingzhi mushroom.
- Improves Digestive Health
One of the benefits of enoki mushrooms for babies is to overcome digestive disorders because they often suffer from stomach pain due to lack of fiber. Based on research, enoki mushrooms have antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial properties to fight bad bacteria in the intestines that cause various digestive problems.
In addition, the high content of vitamin B complex and high fiber in enoki mushrooms is believed to increase the production of digestive enzymes to facilitate the digestive process properly.
- Improves Brain Development
Enoki mushrooms are believed to improve brain health because these mushrooms contain a source of amino acids. Amino acids are organic compounds consisting of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in various chains.
At least, the body needs 9 types of essential amino acids with different functions. One of the amino acids, L-Tyrosine, functions to increase the neurotransmitter dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and the adrenal glands in the brain. This plays a role in managing stress and mental health.
- Preventing Anemia
There’s a risk of anemia in a baby. If you’ve found the signs, you should treat it as soon as possible. Anemia is a condition in which your body lacks red blood cells so that it interferes with the body’s work function.
This condition often occurs in pregnant women who can pose a bad risk to both pregnant women and the fetus due to iron deficiency. One of the benefits of enoki mushrooms for pregnant women is to reduce the risk of anemia because these mushrooms are rich in iron.
Apart from enoki mushrooms, you can prevent anemia by eating fish, red meat, chicken, dark leafy vegetables, eggs, and tofu. Aside from this mushroom, you can also try to give the benefits of turkey berry if your baby is old enough.