Who shouldn't eat mushrooms

> Important: this article is for information only and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. If you have any health conditions, talk to your doctor about your diet.

Wild mushrooms are a valuable source of protein and minerals, but they're also hard to digest. So even safe, well-cooked mushrooms don't suit everyone. Let's look at who should eat them with caution or avoid them.

Children

A child's digestive system has a hard time with the chitin in mushrooms, and poisoning is more dangerous for a child because of their lower body weight. That's why mushrooms usually aren't given to little ones, and older kids get them with care and in moderation. More details in the article at what age children can eat mushrooms.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women

During pregnancy, the cost of any mistake with a species goes up, and heavy food is an extra burden. We wrote about the precautions in the article can you eat wild mushrooms while pregnant.

People with stomach and bowel conditions

With gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis or gallbladder conditions, mushrooms can make things worse: they take a long time to digest and stimulate the digestive glands. People with these conditions should limit mushrooms and check with their doctor.

People with kidney conditions and gout

Mushrooms contain purines, so with gout and some kidney conditions it's advised to limit them. Your doctor's advice is especially important here.

Key rules for everyone

• Moderation. Even healthy people should eat mushrooms in small portions.
• Proper cooking. Only well-cooked mushrooms, never raw.
• Certainty about the species. Poisoning from a misidentified species is dangerous for anyone; check against the dangerous lookalike pairs.
• Clean foraging spots. Not near roads or industrial zones.

Sources

• "Field Guide to the Mushrooms of Ukraine" (Kyiv, Naukova Dumka publishing house).
• Edible mushroom on Wikipedia.
• Mushroom poisoning on Wikipedia.