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As a good source of meatless protein, mushrooms are hard to beat but be careful where you get them from, as not all wild varieties are edible.

- JENNIFER BOWDEN

QUESTION:

Are mushrooms a good source of protein? And costwise, how do they compare with meat as a protein source?

ANSWER:

Protein is found in all living cells, including animal and plant foods. Some, such as meat, fish and poultry, legumes, eggs, nuts and seeds, are richer protein sources than others, with milk, cheese, yoghurt, other dairy products, whole grains, vegetables and fruit containing smaller amounts. Fresh mushrooms contain 2-6g of protein per 100g, whereas dried mushrooms contain about 24g.

Protein is a handy energy source and an essential building block for our body. Complex protein molecules, built from various amino acids, play many vital roles - they form enzymes to help carry out the thousands of chemical reactions in body cells, form blood transport molecules and hormones, act as antibodies in our immune system and have structural roles such as providing support for cells and skin.