So you’ve got mushrooms in your Metabolic Balance nutrition plan: are they a protein or a vegetable? That is the question!
Fish, meat, poultry, eggs and cow’s milk products are great sources of proteins. Vegetarian protein sources are soy, legumes, sprouts, nuts and seeds and some mushrooms. In the case of mushrooms, however, a distinction is made between those high in protein and those considered a vegetable. At Metabolic Balance we distinguish between protein and vegetable based on the biological value of the mushrooms. This is calculated based on the amount of protein in a food that our bodies can use directly – basically this needs to be a good value for us to consider as a protein.
The protein mushrooms are oyster and shiitake mushrooms. They can be used fresh or dried. Preparation suggestion can be fried in a wok or pan. They make a great mushroom risotto-style dish with a delicious cauliflower rice! All other mushrooms, such as button mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, or chanterelles, are considered vegetables and can be combined with a protein.
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