Mushrooms May Help Prevent Breast Cancer

Mushrooms are known for their nutritional and culinary versatility. Now there's a new reason to buy this fabulous fungi: they can help prevent breast cancer.

Shiuan Chen, Ph.D., professor of cell biology at City of Hope Cancer in Duarte, California, was one of the first scientists to investigate how white mushrooms offer protection.

"Food is an important factor in the prevention, because it is something that each control is," he said. "Our research shows that women of a balanced diet that includes mushrooms benefit about 3.5 grams per day."

Laboratory tests found that the first ingredient in mushrooms suppress the effects of aromatase, an enzyme that helps the natural hormone estrogen. These data can have on the health of women, 75% of postmenopausal women with breast tumors that rely on estrogen to grow.

City of Hope Clinical studies are underway to further test the benefits of mushrooms. As with other mushrooms, you can count on them to provide the vitamins D and B, as well as powerful antioxidants such as selenium.

Mushrooms are low in sodium and calories, fat and cholesterol free and can be an effective substitute for meat.

In fact, some studies have shown that the replacement of four grams of mushrooms for 4 ounces of meat once a week for a year, more than 18,000 calories and 3,000 grams to store fat. On average, a woman, it means a loss of more than 5 pounds.