Discover the Health Benefits of Baby Bella Mushrooms
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Health Benefits of Baby Bella Mushrooms

Health Benefits of Baby Bella Mushrooms
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Updated on July 31, 2025
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Baby bella mushrooms — also known as criminis (or portobellos when they reach full size) — are commonly used in cooking. 

 In addition to their hearty texture and savory taste, they can provide a number of important health benefits.

Basic Baby Bella Mushroom Nutrition

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1 cup of sliced baby bella mushrooms contains about 15.8 calories, 3.1 grams (g) of carbohydrates, 1.8 g of protein, and 0.4 g of fiber.

 Also, a cup of baby bellas provides moderate amounts of potassium and phosphorus: 323 milligrams (mg) and 86.4 mg, respectively. Both are essential minerals for optimal health.

Baby bellas also provide other vitamins and minerals in small amounts, including calcium, magnesium, selenium, and folate.

Improved Immune Function

Baby bella mushrooms can support healthy immune system function.‌‌

One study on animals found that a protein extracted from baby bellas was able to significantly stimulate the release of nitric oxide.

 This molecule is known to eliminate cancerous cells. It also acts as a messenger to help regulate immune responses. The result suggests that the mushroom protein may have a strong immune system–regulating effect, and that it may also inhibit tumor cell growth.
The study found that, overall, mushroom proteins — including from baby bellas — show promise in terms of regulating the immune system and fighting illness.

 But more research on people is needed to confirm these findings and determine how mushrooms can be used medically.
You can also buy mushrooms that have been treated with UV light to increase their levels of vitamin D, which helps regulate immune function.

Reduced Risk of Chronic Disease

Early research suggests that baby bellas may also aid in the prevention of a number of chronic health conditions, such as cardiometabolic diseases and some types of cancer.

 But more research is needed, as most studies have been done on animals or in a lab, rather than on people.
One study on rats suggested that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of baby bellas may be able to help prevent Parkinson’s disease in people.

 After treatment with mushrooms, the rats’ behavioral responses improved, and inflammation decreased. But human trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Enhanced Bone Health

In addition to its macronutrient content, baby bella mushrooms contain certain micronutrients, including vitamin D.

 ‌Concentrations of this micronutrient are increased when the fungus is exposed to light‌. So, the ‌specific values of vitamin D may vary depending on where the mushrooms were grown‌ and whether they were treated with artificial UV light before sale.

There are many benefits linked with ‌getting vitamin D, but its role in bone health by aiding in the body’s absorption of calcium is especially crucial.‌

The Takeaway

  • Baby bella mushrooms, also known as criminis, are known for their savory flavor and hearty texture.
  • They can offer health benefits, including supporting immune function through compounds that may regulate immune responses and inhibit tumor growth.
  • Early research suggests that baby bellas may help reduce the risk of chronic conditions like cardiometabolic diseases and some cancers, and may prevent Parkinson’s disease.
  • Baby bella mushrooms also contribute to bone and immune health due to their vitamin D content. Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption and immune regulation.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Crimini. The Mushroom Council.
  2. 7 Health Benefits of Mushrooms. UCLA Health. January 24, 2022.
  3. Mushrooms, Brown, Italian, or Crimini, Raw. U.S. Department of Agriculture. April 1, 2019.
  4. Xu J et al. Immune Regulatory Functions of Biologically Active Proteins From Edible Fungi. Frontiers in Immunology. January 11, 2023.
  5. Vitamin D. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. June 27, 2025.
  6. Uffelman CN et al. An Assessment of Mushroom Consumption on Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Factors and Morbidities in Humans: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. February 21, 2023.
  7. Latif A et al. Evaluating the Therapeutic Potential of White Button Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) against DMBA-Induced Breast Cancer in Sprague Dawley Rats. Journal of Food Biochemistry. October 26, 2021.
  8. Wang X et al. White Button Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) Disrupts Androgen Receptor Signaling in Human Prostate Cancer Cells and Patient-Derived Xenograft. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. December 31, 2020.
  9. Mehr SR et al. Investigating the Neuroprotective, Anti-inflammatory, and Antioxidant Effects of Agaricus bisporus Mushroom in the Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Life Neuroscience. December 20, 2023.
  10. Haytowitz DB. Vitamin D in Mushrooms. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  11. Calcium and Vitamin D: Important for Bone Health. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. May 2023.
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Roxana Ehsani, RDN

Roxana Ehsani, RD

Medical Reviewer

Roxana Ehsani, RD, is a Miami-based licensed dietitian-nutritionist, board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, and media spokesperson, consultant, and content creator for food and nutrition brands. She is an adjunct instructor for sports nutrition at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

Ehsani appears as a food and nutrition expert for television stations across the nation and in national publications, including Runner's World, Women's Health, Glamour, and more, and is a contributing writer for EatingWell. She has a strong background in sports nutrition and has worked with professional, Olympic, collegiate, and high school teams and individual athletes, whom she sees through her private practice. 

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Sandi Busch received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, then pursued training in nursing and nutrition. She taught families to plan and prepare special diets, worked as a therapeutic support specialist, and now writes about her favorite topics – nutrition, food, families and parenting – for hospitals and trade magazines.

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