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AIIMS-trained gastroenterologist explains how including mushrooms in your diet can boost immunity, support gut health

Updated on: Dec 8, 2025, 18:44:04 IST
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Incorporating mushrooms in our diet helps boost the gut immune axis, believes Dr. Sethi. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Incorporating mushrooms in our diet helps boost the gut immune axis, believes Dr. Sethi. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
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Dr Sethi highlights the benefits of eating mushrooms, from honing our body's ability to detect abnormal cells early to gaining natural prebiotics.

Mushrooms are a nutrient-dense, low-calorie food that is often used as a meat substitute because of their umami flavour. Its popularity across cuisines makes people naturally curious about whether it is a simple source of necessary nutrients or if there are allied health benefits.

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Dr Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist trained at AIIMS, Harvard, and Stanford Universities, took to Instagram on December 7 to share why we should happily incorporate more mushrooms in our diet.

Benefits of including mushrooms in diet

Among them, Shitake, Maitake and Reshi are packed with beta-glucan that trains our immune systems to “recognise abnormal cells early,” said Dr Sethi in his post.

“They also contain selenium, which protects your DNA from oxidative stress,” he continued. “From a gut perspective, mushrooms act like natural prebiotics, feeding beneficial bacteria that calm inflammation throughout your body.”

The doctor advised adding mushrooms to stir-fries and soups along with garlic to create a synergy to support the gut immune axis.

What is the nutritional value of mushrooms?

Cremini mushrooms are among the most commonly available mushrooms in kitchens across the globe. One cup of cremini mushrooms contains the following nutrients:

Calories: 15

Protein: 2.2 grams

Fat: 0.1 grams

Carbohydrates: 3.7 grams

Fibre: 0.5 grams

Sugar: 1.5 grams

It also serves as an excellent source of micronutrients like selenium, copper, thiamin, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debapriya Bhattacharya

Debapriya Bhattacharya is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times. He started his career in 2022, working in newsrooms in beats like education, US news, trending stories, and entertainment. In his new role in the lifestyle desk, he seeks to deliver a balanced blend of research-driven reporting and creative storytelling from health and recipes to art and culture. Science, philosophy, food and pop culture are what pump his veins and help bring heart to his stories. Debapriya tries to see out subjects that will allow him and readers to explore new frontiers and improve the quality of life for all. The explorations can be both external and internal, as thoughts seek to be as chaotic as the greater universe. As a citizen of the world, Debapriya has been fascinated by the lives of people across the globe throughout time. His curiosity leads him to explore new linguistic and cultural landscapes to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding of global narratives. Beyond the newsroom, Debapriya loves to participate in debate and theatre, spaces that he considers to be holy grounds for nuance and self-expression. A graduate from Ashutosh College, University of Calcutta, Debapriya completed his Master's degree from the same university in 2022. An ambiverted bibliophile, he loves his solitude as much as he adores stimulating conversations. And despite his reverence for tech, libraries continue to be his favourite place for research.

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