Surprising Ways Mushrooms Benefit Your Health and Wellness

September 22, 2022

Published: September 22, 2022

Updated: June 1, 2023

Mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and only recently have scientists begun to understand their full potential. There are many surprising ways that mushrooms can benefit your health and wellness. For example, they can help you live a longer, healthier life. They can also boost your immune system, improve your cognitive function, and more! In this blog post, we will explore the many benefits of mushrooms and discuss how you can add them to your diet.

Portobello Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a rich source of antioxidants and polysaccharides, which are believed to be responsible for their many health benefits.1 Antioxidants help protect your cells from damage and can reduce your risk of diseases like cancer.2 Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate that has been shown to boost the immune system.3

Lion’s mane mushroom

One of the most surprising benefits of mushrooms is their ability to improve cognitive function. A study published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease found that older adults who ate more than two servings of mushrooms per week had a 50% lower risk of cognitive decline.4 Mushrooms are also a good source of vitamin D, which is essential for brain health.5,6 Additionally, some mushrooms, like lion’s mane and reishi, may improve sleep and reduce anxiety based on results from animal studies.7,8

A piece of the adaptogenic chaga mushroom, which grows on birch trees in northern climates

If you’re looking for a way to boost your immune system, look no further than mushrooms. A review published in Nutrients found that people who ate mushrooms – especially chaga mushrooms – had a lower risk of developing upper respiratory tract infections.9

Dried Chanterelles, a mushroom delicacy

Mushrooms are also known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is a key factor in many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. By consuming mushrooms, you can help reduce your risk of these diseases. Mushrooms truly are a super food!10

White button mushrooms

If you’re looking to add more mushrooms to your diet, there are many easy ways to do so. You can purchase them fresh, canned, or dried. You can also find them in supplements, powders, and extracts. No matter how you choose to consume them, mushrooms are a delicious and nutritious addition to your diet!

References

  1. Mushrooms. The Nutrition Source. Published March 19, 2020. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/mushrooms/
  2. Ali SS, Ahsan H, Zia MK, Siddiqui T, Khan FH. Understanding oxidants and antioxidants: Classical team with new players. J Food Biochem. 2020;44(3):e13145. doi:10.1111/jfbc.13145
  3. Barbosa JR, de Carvalho Junior RN. Polysaccharides obtained from natural edible sources and their role in modulating the immune system: Biologically active potential that can be exploited against COVID-19. Trends Food Sci Technol. 2021;108:223-235. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2020.12.026
  4. Feng L, Cheah IKM, Ng MMX, et al. The association between mushroom consumption and mild cognitive impairment: A community-based cross-sectional study in Singapore. J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;68(1):197-203. doi:10.3233/JAD-180959
  5. Anjum I, Jaffery SS, Fayyaz M, Samoo Z, Anjum S. The role of vitamin D in brain health: A mini literature review. Cureus. 2018;10(7):e2960. doi:10.7759/cureus.2960
  6. U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData central. Usda.gov. Published April 2023. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/
  7. Singh R, Dhingra GS, Shri R. Evaluation of antianxiety potential of four Ganoderma (Agaricomycetes) species from India in mice. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2016;18(11):991-998. doi:10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v18.i11.40
  8. Chiu CH, Chyau CC, Chen CC, et al. Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium produces antidepressant-like effects through modulating BDNF/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling in mice. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(2). doi:10.3390/ijms19020341
  9. Shahzad F, Anderson D, Najafzadeh M. The antiviral, anti-inflammatory effects of natural medicinal herbs and mushrooms and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nutrients. 2020;12(9):2573. doi:10.3390/nu12092573
  10. Muszyńska B, Grzywacz-Kisielewska A, Kała K, Gdula-Argasińska J. Anti-inflammatory properties of edible mushrooms: A review. Food Chem. 2018;243:373-381. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.09.149
Read more