Best and Worst Foods Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN tells “Early Show” viewers to always “Go for those ’shrooms!” She makes note of the fact that it’s not always those bright colored veggies that pack a nutritious punch – those that are light in color do too, like mushrooms! Light-colored mushrooms are the leading source of the antioxidant selenium in the produce aisle.

Trend Alert: The ‘Fifth Taste’ Is Coming On Strong, As More People Say I Want My Umami We’ve heard that this is the year for umami and don’t you bet that WE of all people are excited! If you haven’t heard, umami is the savory fifth taste found naturally in mushrooms. Delish.  

How to Order a Healthier Pizza The Baltimore Sun helps readers make healthier pizza choices by advising to load up on the veggies – in particular mushrooms because they are nutrient-packed, high in fiber and low in calories.

Keri Glassman and The O2 Diet Glassman touts her love for mushrooms again in this segment featured on “700 Club.” She highlights mushrooms as the only fruit or veggie with vitamin D, which is very important for immunity. Also discussed are the benefits of swapping meat for mushrooms – if you take away about four ounces of meat a weak and substitute it with mushrooms, you can lose about five pounds over one year!

The fascinating world of mushrooms The Huffington Post flaunts mushrooms for their immunity-boosting power and other nutritional benefits, including their potassium and fiber content. Mushrooms are so versatile; you can serve them as the “meat” of the dish, or as the complement on the side. We couldn’t word it better: “From portobello to shiitake to crimini, the possibilities are endless!”

Mushroom Love The News-Herald lets readers know that mushrooms are the key ingredient for livening up winter meals. Rich in antioxidants and vitamin D (perfect for cold and flu season), mushrooms can easily be added to many types of dishes. Give the Mushroom Strudel recipe a whirl, too!

Boost your immune system with healthy meals Mushrooms increase the production of white blood cells, our immunity bodyguards, making them the perfect low calorie choice for illness-ridden winter months. Jae Berman, MS, RD, also recommends eating chicken noodle soup, as the chicken releases an immunity-boosting amino acid as it cooks. Other protein sources are great for immunity as well – try fish and shellfish for the omega 3 fatty acids, or beef for its zinc content.

Giving your body a boost The Spokesman-Review offers immunity-boosting tips for the winter months. Mushrooms are noted as a food that maintains the immune system, as are pomegranate kernels, kale, garlic, ginger and onions. Get your immunity boost by adding versatile mushrooms to hearty soups and stir-fries!

Illness Fighting Foods This “Today Show” segment features Fitness magazine’s executive editor, Pam O’Brien, to discuss foods that can cure and prevent an array of illnesses:

• Fend off colds and boost immunity with mushrooms, salmon, yogurt and sunflower seeds
• Stop stress with curry, milk, shrimp, red sweet peppers and pistachios
• Eliminate headaches with snapper, quinoa, black beans and cayenne pepper
• Soothe stomach pain with ginger, peppermint oil, yogurt, fennel and fiber

Healthy ways to beat the blues Kick the post-holiday blues with a diet full of nutrients. It is recommended to eat smart carbs (like whole grains) and vitamin-D rich foods (like mushrooms) to calm nerves. Both carbohydrates and vitamin D help to boost moods and reduce anxiety because they aid in raising levels of serotonin in the brain. The Times-Gazette also suggests eating foods that are high in protein to boost alertness. Protein-rich foods contain the amino acid tyrosine that boosts levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, making it easier to concentrate.

Surprise: Mushrooms full of nutrients Don’t be fooled by mushrooms and their lack of color – just because mushrooms are white does not mean they are not nutritional powerhouses. The Detroit Free Press alerts readers of this common misperception, and notes that mushrooms are in fact dense in nutrients. Not only do they supply B vitamins like riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid for energy, but they also are rich in folic acid, iron, potassium and antioxidants like selenium. Get these nutrients by giving their recipe for Mushroom Almond Paté a try at your New Year’s Eve party!

Wild Mushroom Mix Enjoy this vegan and gluten-free mushroom mixture atop pizzas, as a dip with crostinis for an appetizer, or even use it as the base for a hearty mushroom soup! The versatility is endless!

Top 10 health tips for 2010 Our friends from Canada over at The Daily Observer share the most important health tips for 2010. Aside from vitamin D topping the list (be sure to eat your mushrooms!), washing your hands to prevent catching airborne illnesses and measuring your waistline rather than hopping on a scale is recommended. Belly fat is particularly dangerous, possibly leading to a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Measuring tapes are less expensive than scales anyway…

Drug from mushroom may help treat cancer Unrelated to our research at City of Hope on white button mushrooms and breast cancer, researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered that a wild mushroom native to China, cordyceps, may be effective in treating cancer as well. “The researchers say low-dose cordycepin (the medication that includes cordyceps) seems to inhibit the uncontrolled growth and division of cells and at high doses it also inhibits growth by stopping cells from sticking together.” Aren’t mushrooms amazing?

Mushrooms: The Flavor of the Dark The New York Times touts mushrooms as the “most versatile of ingredients,” highlighting their meaty texture and deep flavor. The nutritional bang for your buck that you gain from adding mushrooms to your favorite dishes is also noted. One serving of raw white button mushrooms only adds a mere 18 calories to your meal, but tons of nutrients! Did you know mushrooms are chocked full of B vitamins, which help to break down proteins, fats and carbs to get you energized?

Vitamin D: It does a body better than we thought We’ve all known that vitamin D is great for bone health, but more and more new scientific research suggests links between low vitamin D levels and many chronic illnesses. On the flip side, increasing the amount of vitamin D in your diet (by eating D-rich foods like mushrooms!) can possibly decrease your risk for certain cancers, help you lose weight and boost your immune system.

Fungus or Feast? Make Room for Mushrooms Need a last-minute recipe idea to spice up your holiday menu? Why don’t you give one of these five unique mushroom recipes a shot, per recommendation from The New York Times!

10 Surprisingly Healthy Foods Some people still believe that mushrooms add flavor to meals, but no nutrition. Cooking Light turns this idea on its head by highlighting that mushrooms are the only fruit or veggie with natural vitamin D. A couple other “surprisingly” healthy foods that make the list are dark chocolate (it may help reduce high blood pressure, in small portions of course) and potatoes (they’re a great source of potassium and fiber). Check out their recipe for Mushroom-Herb Chicken as well.

Sick This Holiday Season? The holiday season is busy for all, and unfortunately it’s a prime time for illnesses to weigh us down. CBS recommends three ways to stay healthy for the holidays:

1) Get enough sleep – an adult needs 7-8 hours each night

2) Wash hands properly – scrub for 20-30 seconds and dry with a paper towel, not a blower

3) Load up on vitamin D – try to eat foods like mushrooms, salmon or eggs

Party Food The holiday season crept up fast. If you need some new holiday appetizer ideas, check out these mushroom rolls suggested by The New York Times’ blog, Bitten. Mushrooms are very versatile and add a nutritious kick to any meal.

Adjusting to winter Americans hardly ever get enough vitamin D throughout the winter, as less time is spent outdoors – which is especially true for northerners. The “sunshine vitamin” can be hard to get during the winter months, but not if you eat the right foods (like mushrooms!). A vitamin D deficiency can be very dangerous, not only for bone health but also in regard to cancer prevention, immunity and overall wellbeing.

Health Tip of the week: Going Meatless with Mushrooms Winter is a time of year when we all crave comfort foods, and often times those are the foods full of extra calories. The Plain Dealer suggests skipping the extra fat by replacing meat with mushrooms! A study found that the meals made over with mushrooms not only reduced the participants’ caloric intake, but they felt just as satiated at the end of the meal.

How To Boost Your Immune System Against H1N1 Swine Flu Gather.com recommends an all-natural approach to staving off swine flu by strengthening your immune system – which starts with a healthy diet and drinking plenty of fluids. Stock up on fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein and whole grains. Also look for foods containing powerful antioxidants, like mushrooms!

A healthy makeover of a takeout staple Crave Chinese food but trying to watch your diet? Try this healthy twist on a Chinese takeout classic, chicken and shiitake mushroom lo mein. This recipe will satisfy your cravings, but with only four teaspoons of oil and a lot less sodium.

From the Dietician: Nutrients in food can boost immunity The Des Moines Register says vaccines aren’t the answer to cold and flu season – it’s all about what’s on your plate! Power-pack your diet with probiotics, zinc, antioxidants and vitamin D. Mushrooms are a source of vitamin D, as highlighted in the article, but don’t forget they have zinc and antioxidants too!

Bright Ideas for Treating the Winter Blues Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects six percent of Americans throughout the winter months. To kick those winter blues The Wall Street Journal offers some tips.  Light therapy, avoiding too many carbs in your diet, exercising outdoors and getting enough vitamin D (found in mushrooms!) could help to keep you in bright spirits in darker months.

Get healthy Tri-State: Keep the comfort, lose the calories The Herald-Dispatch knows that cold winter has many of us reaching for warm comfort foods like chili, pasta and beef dishes. While that sounds like the right food to trigger a warm feeling, consuming so much saturated fat isn’t your healthiest option. If you swap out mushrooms instead of meat in your comfort dishes you’ll find yourself with a source of ergothioneine—a compound that helps prevent plaque from forming in arteries. Now that’s comforting way to warm up this season!

Where to trim fat and calories at the Thanksgiving feast During and after your Thanksgiving feast, cutting the fat and extra calories from your holiday meals doesn’t mean cutting the taste. Many of us try to feel less guilty by eating vegetable or fruit side dishes, but forget that adding a stick of butter for flavor doesn’t help our waists much. The Dallas Morning News shares ways to enjoy your holiday and weekend indulgence, like delicious stuffing, while still being conscious of where its going.

Morels are very special mushrooms With such a wide variety of mushrooms to choose from—porcinis, trompettes, chanterelles, maitake and morels—it can be hard to pick a favorite. It can be even more daunting to find some of the more rare varieties that come with a higher price tag. If you do happen to use these special varieties while cooking or enjoy them while dining out, Olive Nation’s blog can help you choose the right pairing for each type. They offer suggestions for using the right sauce, vegetable or wine. The blog also includes tips for handling and preparation.

Tuna and Mushroom Potato Pot Pie Does your family have a favorite pie recipe that’s become a tradition around the dinner table? Bits of Taste was introduced to traditional pies by her mother-in-law and took a chance on making a modern version that not only added fiber to her family’s diet, but was also suitable for a picky eater. For fans of the traditional shepherd’s pie, this recipe is similar except that she has swapped minced mutton or beef for a healthier tuna.

Preventing The Swine Flu: A Comprehensive Approach There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to keeping everyone healthy and immune to influenza according to Mark Hyman, MD, at the The Huffington Post. Not everyone will find the same results from vaccines and treatments, thus the best approach is one that involves keeping healthy through a variety of means.  Hyman provides an overview of things to consider when getting a vaccine and offers alternative ways that support your immune system naturally, such as immune-enhancing mushrooms.

Second time around: What to do with those Thanksgiving leftovers If you find yourself in abundance of turkey leftovers don’t think that the most exciting use for a turkey is over. Silive.com has plenty of ideas for re-using leftovers that will still be as good as the original holiday meal. Whether you want to bake, throw together a quick pasta or warm up with soup, Silive.com has you covered through the weekend of leftovers.

Barbeque mushrooms: An incredible edible egg-cup We typically don’t think of including mushrooms in our everyday breakfast meals. When we see mushrooms at breakfast, its usually the “meat” of a breakfast burrito or a savory addition to an omelet. Well, its time to spruce up your mushroom breakfasts with this barbecue idea from The Home of Eggs. This barbecue mushroom egg recipe even includes a YouTube clip to show you how easy it is to grill a mushroom on your own.

Nature’s Hidden Source of Vitamin D Why is Vitamin D so important to our health? Is the sun the only source of Vitamin D? The Seattle PI answers these questions in their latest post and shares an alternative way to find Vitamin D when we’re limited on sun exposure. The post even includes a recipe for ginger shiitake rice adapted from Gourmet Magazine. Yum.

15 best (and worst) foods for immunity It’s officially cold and flu season—so how are you keeping yourself healthy? Have you thought about how  your diet may make you a germ magnet? MSNBC listed the 15 best and worst foods for your immune system based on their germ-killing abilities. Check them out and stay healthy everyone.

Seriously Meatless: Wild Mushroom Stuffing Thanksgiving is a week away! If you’re having food safety concerns or stressing over making a meal that’ll please a crowd of both vegetarians and omnivores, check out Serious Eats’ stuffing. It’s made outside of the turkey and serves up to 8 people.

Recipe ideas that use your Thanksgiving leftovers Some say that the best part of Thanksgiving is the leftovers. If you find yourself with plates of extra food after the holiday, check out My San Antonio’s ideas for what to do with those leftovers. It’s recipes for using up turkey, potatoes, cranberries and stuffing which sound just as delicious as the original meal itself!

Seasonal Influenza and H1N1 Today As H1N1 becomes more prevalent all around us, many people look for ways to boost their immunity to protect themselves. While basic measures can be taken to prevent the seasonal flu as well, Healthy News Digest reports on the extra steps that can be taken to strengthen the immune system. Dr. Cheri Quincy also shares a little background on how far we’ve come in fighting the flu since a pandemic in 1918 that killed 50 million people in twelve months.

‘Eat on $30 Challenge’ proves it’s possible to keep grocery costs low Kristina McLean took an interesting challenge to live on a $30 per week grocery budget while still eating well balanced meals. Using up food she already had, growing items in her garden and incorporating local ingredients was eye-opening, but more importantly, she learned to change recipes to fit her budget. Calculating everything down to cost-per-ingredient, McLean put together a low-cost Mushroom Barley Soup recipe you can totally afford to try.

Family Meals Matter: Meatless meals are healthy meals The Wichita Eagle reports on economical ways to eat and provide food for the whole family. Now it’s suggesting an economical and healthy way to stay full without the meaty ingredients we know and love.  It reports “even planning one or two meatless meals per week can help families save money without sacrificing taste or nutrition.” Best of all you can swap out meat for their recipe of cheese and spinach stuffed Portabella mushrooms.

Marvelous mushrooms Have you ever tried a “steak-like” mushroom the size of a saucer? The Portabella mushroom, a meaty variety perfect for adapting to many ways of cooking, is just that. Although its exotic looking, the Courier Journal explains that its simply a white button mushroom with “big size and flavor.” It’s large size is nothing to be afraid of however, it allows for more varied uses like stuffing. The Courier Journal includes their pick for Portabella use: KT’s Portabella Pasta. Enjoy!

Just Asking… Alicia Silverstone How many of our followers were once avid watchers of “Clueless”? Alicia Silverstone has come a long way since that time making a big change in her life in order to go vegan. The Wall Street Journal interviewed Silverstone about her new vegan cookbook which definitely includes mushrooms. She says, “one of my favorite dishes to serve at a party is the leek, pesto, mushroom crostini.” If any of you pick up her book, let us know if you test out her crostinis!

In Season: Stock up on fresh mushrooms Did you know that mushrooms have a season? Well, that season is now. Whether you’re into picking up produce at the local farmers market or the supermarket it’s always best to pick up what’s in season. The Dallas Morning News is telling us to stock up now on fresh mushrooms for upcoming occasions like Thanksgiving where they become a nice addition to side dishes and dressing.