The amount of vitamin D mushrooms contain varies widely and depends on how long the mushrooms are exposed to UV light. Both will effectively raise blood levels of vitamin D, though D3 may be absorbed slightly better and break down more slowly than D2.

The other main form of vitamin D is D3 (cholecalciferol) found in animal foods (egg yolks, oily fish) and supplements. Vitamin D2 is also added to fortified foods and supplements. A substance in mushrooms called ergosterol then produces vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), a form found only found in plants. But some manufacturers expose mushrooms to ultraviolet (UV) light to increase their content of vitamin D, either by natural sunlight or a UV lamp. Because mushrooms sold in supermarkets are usually grown in dark, controlled environments indoors, they will contain little if any vitamin D.

are among the top five producers of mushrooms worldwide. Mushrooms vary in appearance with more than 10,000 known types, but generally they are distinguished by a stem, fleshy rounded cap, and gills underneath the cap. Ergosterol can be transformed into vitamin D with exposure to ultraviolet light. They are a type of fungus that contains a substance called ergosterol, similar in structure to cholesterol in animals.

Mushrooms are also recognized by chefs for their ability to create savory rich flavors called umami, thanks to the presence of an amino acid called glutamate, which is also found in meats, fish, cheeses, and simmering soups.ДЄlthough considered a vegetable, mushrooms are neither a plant nor animal food. Perhaps the more interesting properties of mushrooms are their non-nutritive plant substances-polysaccharides, indoles, polyphenols, and carotenoids in which cell and animal studies have shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. All varieties of mushrooms are low in calories and fat, and contain modest amounts of fiber and various nutrients. Traditional and folk medicine practitioners laud the bell-shaped fungi for their healing and cleansing properties. An often under-appreciated food, mushrooms have been eaten and used as medicine for thousands of years.

Long dark reishi mushroom