Although truffles are very expensive, besides the fact that eating a delicacy is very exciting, there are now many more reasons to eat them. One of those reasons is that you consume truffles because they can bring you health benefits.
There has been a general debate over the years about the health benefits and nutritional value of truffles and mushrooms. People say that edible mushrooms like truffles have no nutritional value at all and these are only used to add flavor to a variety of basic dishes.
However, recent reports show that truffles and different types of mushrooms can bring many health benefits, especially for vegetarians, people who do not eat meat and only eat vegetables.
Technically, truffles are mushrooms that have no stalks and are usually discovered underground – usually under oak, pine, beech and pecan trees, mainly in Europe, including various parts of Italy, France, Slovenia and Croatia. In Asia, some varieties are found in China and the Middle East, while there are also some species native to North Africa.
So far, truffles have only been used in the culinary field – as the main ingredient for various dishes or as a flavoring and side dish for various specialties. Some of the most common gourmet edible truffles used in various restaurants include the French black truffle, Italian white truffle, Chinese truffle, and summer truffle.
If you generally enjoy eating truffles and mushrooms, here are some of the health benefits you can expect:
1. It is a good source of protein. Truffles are high in protein, at 20 to 30 percent per serving. Experts say that truffles are excellent sources of high protein, which is very ideal as they contain all the amino acids necessary for good human nutrition. For people who don’t consume fats and carbohydrates – especially those on a western diet – truffles are very ideal as they are a fantastic source of protein.
2. It is also a moderate source of carbohydrates. The main element of truffles and mushrooms are mainly carbohydrates composed of glycogen and chitin or also called fungal cellulose, which is a functional proponent of the fungal cell wall. Despite this, truffles have lower levels of carbohydrates compared to other vegetables. This is also very good for diabetics as truffles have a low energy value.
3. It’s low in fat. Since truffles are vegetable, they are ideal for people who cannot and do not want to consume too much fat. When dried, it contains only about two to eight percent fat, which is primarily crude fat and lipid compounds such as fatty acids, sterols, phospholipids, glycerides, and linoleic acid.
4. It is cholesterol free. This is probably the greatest health benefit of truffles. Over the years, cholesterol has been thought to be one of the risk aspects of coronary artery disease and other related diseases. If you are prone to stroke or heart attack, or have a family history of heart conditions, it would be great to eat cholesterol-free foods like truffles to lower your total cholesterol levels.
Thanks to Kenneth Travis
