Carbohydrates are sugars in the food you eat that your body turns into glucose for energy. Think of carbohydrates as simple, such as in sweeteners added to processed foods, or complex, such as starches and fiber. Complex carbs are the “good carbs,” says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dried shiitake mushrooms keep at room temperature indefinitely, making them an attractive year-round alternative to fresh mushrooms. For most preparations, you'll need to rehydrate dried shiitake mushrooms first, then use them in whatever dish you are making.

When it comes to fruits and veggies, generally the brighter the color, the more nutritious. However, white mushrooms break the rules, and these relatively dull and colorless veggies come packed with nutrition.

When crimini mushrooms mature and their tops extend, they take on the name portobello mushrooms. Around 6 inches in diameter, these large mature mushrooms boast an earthy flavor that gives them a whole new usefulness in cooking.

Mushrooms aren't just for salad bars or topping burgers anymore. Mushrooms, besides being delicious, offer surprising nutritional benefits, containing copper, potassium, B vitamins, and selenium.

Mushrooms are a rich source of nutrients such as vitamin D and B, according to the University of the District of Columbia; 2 1/2 cups count as one daily vegetable serving. Baking mushrooms plain will give them a roasted flavor, and you can add baked mushrooms to another dish or as a topper on meats such a steak.

Puffball mushrooms are similar to tofu in color and in texture and can be cooked in a similar fashion. Preferred methods of cooking puffballs range from cubing the flesh and simmering it in a soup to slicing the mushroom and frying it. Puffballs can also be baked, grilled, sautéed and steamed.

Champignon -- also known as white button -- mushrooms have a mild taste that easily blends with other flavors. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, both raw and cooked white button mushrooms contain a significant measure of minerals and trace elements.

Button mushrooms are the most consumed mushrooms in the United States, accounting for 90 percent of mushroom intake according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Oyster mushrooms have been used for thousands of years as a culinary and medicinal ingredient. The white mushrooms resemble oysters, and can be found growing in the wild on dead trees or fallen logs.

Portobello mushrooms are one of 38,000 varieties of mushrooms, according to Oregon State University Extension. Although not all mushroom varieties are edible, portobellos are not only good to eat, they provide important nutrients.

The Chinese have used the shitake mushroom for medicinal purposes for over 6,000 years; consequently, it has become the Asian symbol for longevity, according to The George Mateljan Foundation's website The World's Healthiest Foods.