Mushrooms are an excellent source of antioxidants -- just as good or even better than carrots, broccoli, green beans, tomatoes and red or green bell peppers. All kinds of mushrooms -- from your everyday white button mushrooms to the more expensive gourmet shitake and oyster mushrooms -- contain rich heart healthy free radical fighters.Both raw and cooked, mushrooms contain high levels of chitin and beta gluten -- known to lower cholesterol. Interestingly, the white button variety -- along with its brother the brown crimini and the larger portabello version -- had a higher antioxidant readings than the more exotic varieties. Full of fiber and protein, mushrooms are delicious in all kinds of dishes from pasta to risotto.
