This food can help reduce risk of strokes and heart attacks; Hint: It's not a vegetable

Did you know mushroom consumption can help reduce the possibility of a heart attack? (Picture Credit: Canva)

What if we tell you that there's one food item that can make your heart stronger and reduce the risk of heart attacks and heart stroke? Well, it is true and the food item we're talking about is mushroom.

Professors in the Department of Nutrition Science at Purdue University actually published a review of 22 original studies in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition after analyzing the health effects of eating mushrooms.

As per Cleveland Clinic, it was found in the findings of the experiment that regular consumption of mushrooms helped reduce triglycerides, a common fat found in the body. For the uninitiated, high levels of triglycerides in the body can lead to rise in heart attacks and strokes.

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The more mushrooms you eat, the lower risk you have of cardiometabolic disease. Also, eating mushrooms as part of a self-chosen diet helped decrease diastolic blood pressure.

“Given the association between elevated triglycerides and blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease risk, these results underscore the healthfulness of including mushrooms in the habitual diet,” the review read.

Moneycontrol's team spoke to Dt Komal Malik, Head Dietician, Asian Hospital, Faridabad, to understand how mushrooms are good for heart health. "It is true that mushrooms act as natural protector of heart. Packed with essential nutrients, the best part is that mushrooms do not increase weight. One can get a lot of vitamins and minerals from regular consumption of mushrooms. From manage the blood lipid levels, boosting blood circulation to maintaining proper blood pressure levels, there are many health benefits of mushrooms," said Dt Malik.

When one consumes mushrooms over a period of time, the heart becomes stronger and more resistant to damage through the long-term action of antioxidants, which decreases blood vessel and heart stress, concluded the dietician.

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Yes, mushrooms provide B vitamins like B2, B3, and B5, which support energy and metabolism.

They offer moderate protein—about 3 grams per 100 g, depending on the variety.

Yes, they contain selenium, potassium, copper, and phosphorus.

They are high in antioxidants like ergothioneine and glutathione, which help reduce oxidative stress.

Very low—around 22 calories per 100 g, making them great for weight management.