Mushrooms are fungi, not plants or animals

Mushrooms are fungi, not plants, so they belong to a separate biological kingdom distinct from vegetables.

Fungi lack chlorophyll and do not photosynthesize, unlike plants, which is why they are not classified as vegetarian in a strict botanical sense.

Mushrooms offer health benefits such as being low in calories, high in fiber, and containing vitamin D and antioxidants.

Some mushrooms can be toxic; only consume those from reliable sources or properly identified by experts.