The edible and non-poisonous straw mushrooms are easily mistaken for the poisonous death cap mushrooms, because they are similar in shape, color, and size. The only difference being that death caps have a white spore print, while straw mushrooms have a pink spore print.

Straw mushrooms in the immature egg phase.

Nutrition in Straw Mushrooms

▶ We could call these mushrooms a Weight Watcher's dream food, packed with flavors and low in calories, they can surely works wonders on your hips as well as your tongue. 100 g of dried straw mushrooms contain only about 32 calories. These mushrooms can be easily rehydrated with some hot water and will yield you a good quantity. ▶ A downside to canned straw mushrooms is that they have higher sodium content, about 384 mg per 100 g., though some manufacturers of the dried varieties claim to produce sodium-free canned mushrooms. Another difference between the canned and dried varieties is that while canned mushrooms contain good amount of calcium, the dried ones contain none. 100 g of canned mushrooms contain around 10 g of calcium. Other nutrients remain almost the same in both varieties. ▶ These mushroom are a good source of iron, they contain about 1.43 mg of iron per 100 g of mushroom, and help in the formation of hemoglobin in the red blood cells of our body. This improves the oxygen carrying capacity of blood and increases our stamina. These mushrooms are also rich in riboflavin, thiamin, folate, and vitamin B6. We can call it an excellent source of vitamin B complex. It aids in breaking down the glycogen stored in our body. These vitamins are required for the maintenance of healthy eyes and skin. Folate is also needed in the formation of red blood cells, development of the fetal nervous system, and regular cell growth. ▶ These mushrooms are not only a good source of proteins (3.83 g for 100 g), but also assist in the uptake of proteins by the body. These are loaded with selenium and antioxidants, like L-ergothioneine, which help to fight cancer and prevent premature aging. ▶ In addition to these, straw mushrooms contain minerals like phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium that are required for the normal functioning of various metabolic processes of the body. Another good thing about these mushrooms (like other mushrooms) is that they contain no cholesterol and almost negligible amount of fats. ▶ It is also believed that these mushrooms help remove excess heat from the body. They are believed to have blood thinning qualities and may function in lowering high blood pressure. They have also been observed to help in the treatment of cancer and diabetes. Some claim that these mushrooms helps in managing various autoimmune diseases.