Over the years, mushrooms have said to be able to lower the risk of cancer and premature death. Now, new research led by Penn State College of Medicine also reveals that these superfoods may benefit people’s mental health.
Penn State researchers used data on diet and mental health collected from more than 24,000 US adults between 2005 and 2016, discovering that people who ate mushrooms had lower odds of having depression. Mushrooms contain ergothioneine, an antioxidant that may protect against cell and tissue damage in the body. Studies have shown that antioxidants help prevent several mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.
White button mushrooms, which are the most commonly consumed mushroom variety in the US, contain potassium, which is believed to lower anxiety. In addition, certain other species of edible mushrooms, especially Hericium erinaceus, also known as Lion’s Mane, may stimulate the expression of neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor synthesis, which could have an impact on preventing neuropsychiatric disorders including depression.
