Mushrooms are so versatile, it’s no wonder they’re considered the “mushrooms” of the party. There are a lot of delicious recipes you can do with mushrooms, and it’s a great source of health benefits. They also provide nutrients to your body such as Vitamin D and micronutrients your body rarely gets, without increasing calories, fat, or sodium.
Just when you thought mushrooms couldn’t get any better, and not much more could get out of these mushrooms, they come with another benefit. According to our medical expert Laura Burak MS, RDfounder of GetNaked® Nutrition and author of lose weight with smoothiesAn important side effect of mushrooms is that mushrooms can help your body better adapt to stress and create more homeostasis— the process of internal, physical, and chemical conditions to actively maintain the fairly stable conditions necessary for survival.
“You may be hearing the word ‘adaptogens‘ when it comes to mushrooms these days, which is one of the big claims of these new mushroom-based powders, teas, coffees and elixirs,” says Burak. “In short, certain types of mushrooms can help your body to adapt to stress. better and create more balance or homeostasis, something we could all use more of these days. As always, however, look at the big picture of your life rather than selecting a single food to help with your stress levels and your health.”
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According to a study conducted by the Journal of affective disorders, those who ate mushrooms such as white button, shiitake, and portobello were less likely to have depression than those who did not.
The research used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2016, and evaluated 24,699 participants. Two 24-hour structured interviews analyzed and captured detailed information on all mushrooms consumed by the participants.
Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to adjust for any surprise factors. Of all the participants, 5.9% had depression and 5.2% consumed the mushrooms, divided into three groups. General, there were lower odds of levels of depression among those who ate mushrooms versus those who ate little or nothing.
Due to the benefits mushrooms have, it’s understandable if you’re looking to incorporate them more in your diet. There are many ways to do this and other ways to mask the fungus if you don’t want to physically eat the vegetable.
“Mushrooms are all the rage in the food world lately, with new products like mushroom-infused coffees, coffee creamers, and even mushroom jerky hitting shelves (and your Instagram feed) every day,” Burak says. “When cooked, its meaty texture resembles that of beef, so it can be an excellent addition to plant foods for vegetarians and carnivores alike.”
Burak also claims that mushrooms cook quickly, adding bulk and nutrition to your meals with minimal calories, meaning they’re a great “nutrient bang for your buck.” They also add a dose of fiberB vitamins (which are great for energy levels), selenium, and copper for heart and health in general.
“Unlike some health foods, mushrooms actually deserve all the nutritional hype, as they are powerhouses packed with concentrated vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants,” says Burak.
Two of those antioxidants include ergothioneine and glutathione. When present together in foods, they can help prevent aging both inside (your brain and cognitive health) as well as abroad (such as fewer wrinkles).
For more information on healthy eating, see One of the main side effects of eating ham, says dietician.
