{"id":1439760,"date":"2022-04-15T08:29:50","date_gmt":"2022-04-15T12:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1439760"},"modified":"2022-04-15T08:29:55","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T12:29:55","slug":"seven-health-benefits-of-mushrooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seven-health-benefits-of-mushrooms\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Health Benefits of Mushrooms"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fseven-health-benefits-of-mushrooms%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1439760&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><\/div>\n<p>Even if you\u2019re eating them raw in a salad, fungi are on fire right now. In 2019, sales of mushrooms and mushroom-based products grew 33 percent compared with the previous year, the industry magazine <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutritionaloutlook.com\/view\/mushrooms-sales-growth-in-2020-promises-success-this-year-2021-ingredient-trends-to-watch-for-food-drinks-and-dietary-supplements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Nutritional Outlook<\/em><\/a>\u00a0reported in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Nutrition experts are excited about fungi. \u201cMushrooms are low in calories. They also provide a wealth of macro and micronutrients, particularly B vitamins, selenium, zinc, and copper,\u201d says <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katherinebrooking.com\/about\" rel=\"noopener\">Katherine Brooking, RD<\/a>, a registered dietitian in New York City and a co-creator of the Appetite for Health syndicated weekly news series. B vitamins are important in the manufacture of energy in cells, she explains. And selenium is a powerful antioxidant, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/ods.od.nih.gov\/factsheets\/Selenium-Consumer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements<\/a>, while <a href=\"https:\/\/ods.od.nih.gov\/factsheets\/Zinc-Consumer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">zinc<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/ods.od.nih.gov\/factsheets\/Copper-Consumer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">copper<\/a> are essential for a strong immune system.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s clear that whole mushrooms that you eat raw or cook for use in recipes are beneficial for your health, and these, rather than mushrooms in processed forms, are what we\u2019re focusing on in this story. Other forms \u2014 supplements, nutraceuticals, and mouth sprays, for instance \u2014 may provide other benefits, but additional research is needed.<\/p>\n<p>The most popular mushroom produced in the United States is the white button mushroom, says Kim Bedwell of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mushroomcouncil.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mushroom Council<\/a>. \u201cOther varieties, such as cremini \u2014 also known as baby bella \u2014 and portobellos are becoming increasingly popular,\u201d she says. You\u2019re also more likely to find specialty mushrooms (such as shiitakes, oysters, and maitakes) at mainstream grocery stores, she says. You have a lot of choices, depending on your taste preferences \u2014 and that means a lot of ways to enjoy the following seven health benefits of mushrooms.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-wrapper ad-wrapper--audience ad-container inline-widget inline-widget--right-rail _hold-size\"><\/aside>\n<h2><strong>1. Mushrooms Support Immunity and Bone Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When exposed to UV radiation, mushrooms generate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/drugs\/vitamin-d\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">vitamin D<\/a>, according to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6213178\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">review publication in the October 2018\u00a0<em>Nutrients<\/em><\/a>. (A half cup of UV-exposed white raw mushrooms contains 46 percent of your daily value for D, notes the <a href=\"https:\/\/ods.od.nih.gov\/factsheets\/VitaminD-HealthProfessional\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NIH<\/a>.) And that\u2019s an amazing nutritional perk for a veggie (er, fungi). \u201cThere really aren\u2019t that many food sources \u2014 especially plant sources \u2014 of vitamin D,\u201d says Brooking. \u201cThe vitamin plays an incredibly crucial role in immune and bone health.\u201d As the <em>Nutrients<\/em> review of research points out, the recommended amount of vitamin D supports muscle function, reduces the risk of falls, and may have anticancer, antidiabetes, and heart-protective properties.<\/p>\n<p>Your own body manufactures D from exposure to the sun, but several factors can affect your risk of a deficiency in this vitamin. You may be deficient if you\u2019re not getting enough sunlight, are not eating enough in your diet, or have certain medical conditions that affect absorption, such as Crohn\u2019s disease, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/osteoporosis\/guide\/\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">osteoporosis<\/a>, or chronic kidney or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/liver-disease\/\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">liver disease<\/a>, per the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/vitaminddeficiency.html\" rel=\"noopener\">MedlinePlus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When shopping for mushrooms high in vitamin D, look on the front or bottom of the package for this information, says Bedwell. Another way to tell if your mushrooms are high in vitamin D is if they cover at least 20 percent of the daily value, or DV, per serving. You can find this info on the Nutrition Facts label. Make sure that you also pay attention to the \u201cbest by\u201d date and eat the mushrooms before that time, as that will ensure you\u2019re still getting a good amount of vitamin D, the <em>Nutrients <\/em>study notes.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2. Mushrooms May Promote Gut Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Your gut contains trillions of bacteria, and consuming mushrooms may help populate your GI tract with the right balance of bacteria to keep your GI tract healthy and strengthen your immune system, notes a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5618583\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">review in the September 2017\u00a0<em>International Journal of Molecular Sciences<\/em><\/a>. \u201cThe research on mushrooms and gut health is early but really compelling. Mushrooms contain prebiotics, which are the nutrients that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/probiotics\/guide\/\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">probiotics<\/a> feed off,\u201d says Brooking. Therefore, prebiotics from mushrooms may assist in the growth of this beneficial bacteria. Probiotics are live microorganisms, or bacteria, that may have health benefits for the body, as they aid in digestion and produce nutrients, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nccih.nih.gov\/health\/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>3. Mushrooms Are Good for Your Blood Pressure<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>One whole portobello mushroom \u2014 those popular large mushrooms \u2014 provides 306 milligrams (mg) of the important mineral <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/pictures\/foods-high-in-potassium\/\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">potassium<\/a>, per the <a href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/fdc-app.html#\/food-details\/169255\/nutrients\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">USDA<\/a>. Potassium helps <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/high-blood-pressure\/guide\/treatment\/\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">control blood pressure<\/a> by counteracting the effects of sodium and by improving blood vessel function, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/health-topics\/high-blood-pressure\/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure\/how-potassium-can-help-control-high-blood-pressure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">American Heart Association<\/a>. How? More potassium in your diet encourages the excretion of sodium in your urine. The heart-health benefits don\u2019t stop there. Mushrooms may also help improve cholesterol and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/high-cholesterol\/guide\/triglycerides\/\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">triglyceride levels<\/a> and reduce inflammation, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0002934320310925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">review in the May 2021<em>\u00a0American Journal of Medicine<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>4. Mushrooms Have Been Linked With Cancer Prevention<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Consider adding fungi to your cancer-prevention diet. People who had higher routine mushroom intake had a 34 percent lower risk of any cancer than those who ate the least, especially in the case of breast cancer, in a meta-analysis of 17 studies in <a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/advances\/article-abstract\/12\/5\/1691\/6174025?redirectedFrom=fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Advances in Nutrition<\/em> published September 2021<\/a>. Mushrooms are high in antioxidants, particularly ergothioneine and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/diet-nutrition\/diet\/glutathione-definition-uses-benefits-more\/\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">glutathione<\/a>, which may protect cells from damage.<\/p>\n<p>That said, not all research has found positive associations. In a prospective cohort study involving more than 100,000 men and women, researchers concluded that participants who ate five servings of mushrooms per week did not have a lower risk of 16 different cancers than those who rarely ate mushrooms, per <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31164344\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Cancer Prevention Research<\/em> in August 2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>5. Mushrooms May Promote Longevity When Substituted for Red Meat<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Mushrooms add an umami, or savory, meaty flavor, to foods. \u201cThey\u2019re the perfect extender to add in place of or in addition to meat in so many recipes,\u201d says Brooking. As part of a large prospective cohort study published in <a href=\"https:\/\/nutritionj.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12937-021-00691-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 2021 in\u00a0<em>Nutrition Journal<\/em><\/a>, researchers found that study participants who consumed one serving of mushrooms per day versus those who consumed one serving of processed or red meat had a 35 percent lower risk of death from any cause.<\/p>\n<p>The possible reason is that in addition to containing those antioxidants ergothioneine and glutathione, mushrooms are also low in calories, sodium, and fat, and high in fiber, the study authors report. At the same time, people who consume mushrooms tend to eat healthier diets, so it\u2019s unclear whether mushroom consumption alone was responsible for the participants\u2019 longer life spans.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>6. Mushrooms May Boost Brain Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>We all want to stay sharp as we age, but 12 to 18 percent of people age 60 or older have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that\u2019s sometimes a precursor to Alzheimer\u2019s and impacts memory, thinking skills, and judgment, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alz.org\/alzheimers-dementia\/what-is-dementia\/related_conditions\/mild-cognitive-impairment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alzheimer\u2019s Association<\/a>. A healthy diet is important for an aging brain, and mushrooms can be a part of that. In a study on 663 adults ages 60 and older in Singapore, those who reported consuming more than two servings of mushrooms per week had 57 percent lower odds of developing MCI than those who ate them less often than once a week, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/content.iospress.com\/articles\/journal-of-alzheimers-disease\/jad180959\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 2019 study in the <em>Journal of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease<\/em><\/a>. (The study used golden, oyster, shiitake, white button, dried, and canned mushrooms.)<\/p>\n<p>One possible reason for their cognitive-protecting properties? Ergothioneine, which is not only an antioxidant but has anti-inflammatory properties, too, both of which may protect against the neuronal damage.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>7. Certain Psychoactive Mushrooms Are a Possible Treatment for Mental Health Conditions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot of talk about using psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound found in \u201cmagic mushrooms,\u201d as a psychedelic treatment for conditions like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/ptsd\/comorbidities-depression-anxiety-chronic-pain-more\/\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">depression and PTSD<\/a>. And, when done under careful supervision, these therapies have some promise: In a small (59 person) study published in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/nejmoa2032994\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>New England Journal of Medicine <\/em>in April 2021<\/a>, six-week treatment with psilocybin was found to be just as effective as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/drugs\/lexapro\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">escitalopram<\/a>, a standard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/antidepressants\/guide\/\" data-gd-wrapped=\"\">antidepressant<\/a>, in relieving depression. (In addition to being a small trial, there was also no placebo, which limits the strength of the results.)<\/p>\n<p>Currently, large research facilities, such as the Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.massgeneral.org\/psychiatry\/treatments-and-services\/center-for-the-neuroscience-of-psychedelics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Massachusetts General Hospital<\/a>, are researching psilocybin as a therapy for treatment-resistant depression, as psychedelics may be useful in facilitating new neural connections. That said, this type of treatment is in the future. While psilocybin may be used in certain specific research settings, it\u2019s currently a Schedule 1 substance (meaning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/archive\/ndic\/pubs6\/6038\/index.htm#:~:text=To%20Top-,Is%20psilocybin%20illegal%3F,purpose%20in%20the%20United%20States.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">it\u2019s illegal for personal use at this time in the United States<\/a>) and is not approved for medical use, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dea.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-06\/Psilocybin-2020.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Drug Enforcement Administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even if you\u2019re eating them raw in a salad, fungi are on fire right now. In 2019, sales of mushrooms and mushroom-based products grew 33 percent compared with the previous<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":505,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1439760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1439760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/505"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1439760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1439760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1439760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1439760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1439760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}