Mushrooms are popping up in odd places all over the supermarket, from coffee and kombucha to snack bars. That’s because the humble fungusis nutritionally impressive: add it to any dish and you’ll impart loads of savory, meaty flavor for very few calories. Six white mushrooms clock in at amere 28 calories. Mushrooms also deliver nutrients that many people lack, like potassium, which keeps blood pressure in check: a cup of whitemushrooms has nearly 10% of your daily recommended target (4,700 mg), a goal only 2% of Americans meet.
      Mushrooms are brimming with phytochemicals, antioxidants and a fiber called beta-glucan, all of which have anti-inflammatory properties.That means they can protect you from a number of diseases. A 2017 study found fungi to be the best source of two disease-fighting antioxidants,ergothioneine and glutathione. Low levels of the latter have been linked with higher risks of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
      The nutritional merits of some of the latest mushroom-enhanced products—like a chocolate drink spiked with mushroom extract—are less clear.But mushrooms are increasingly being used to replace red meat. The fast-food chain Sonic Drive-In briefly introduced a patty made with 75% beefand 25% cooked mushrooms, resulting in a burger with less saturated fat and calories. Another recent launch: mushroom jerky made with shiitakestems, which has less protein but more fiber than meat versions.             When making your own mushroom creations, shop for dry packages at the supermarket that are free of condensation. Store the mushrooms in arefrigerator in a sealed paper bag, and prep them by wiping them down immediately before cooking.
      Mushroom types vary by their antioxidant concentrations. (Meaty porcinis, for example, are one of the most antioxidant-rich fungi.) But youcan enhance the nutritional prowess of nearly any variety just by putting a pack of mushrooms in the sun. Mushrooms use sunlight to make vitamin D,yet most are grown in the dark. A cup of white mushrooms contains little vitamin D, but one study found that putting them in natural sunlight for 30minutes grew the vitamin D content between 150 IU and 600 IU per cup, or 25% to 100% of your recommended daily dose. If you chop them up first,you’ll increase sun contact and maximize vitamin D production. You also can buy vitamin D-enhanced mushrooms at certain grocery stores.
46. What is the passage mainly about?
(A) Why mushrooms are so popular nowadays
(B) A debate on mushrooms’ nutritional merits
(C) How to select and preserve the mushrooms
(D) The health benefits of different mushrooms