Mushrooms & Health: What’s The Latest?
In honor of Mushroom Week, here’s a look at some recent research on our favorite fungi.
Lion’s mane mushrooms may boost nerve health
Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve the health of the brain and nervous system. Now, a laboratory study by researchers at the Queensland Brain Institute in Australia suggests that compounds in lion’s mane may help extend the length and connections of neurons derived from rat embryos and may significantly enhance memory, at least in mice. While more research is needed, the findings add to our understanding of how this mushroom influences nerve health and brain function. The research was funded by CNGBio Co., a Korean mushroom-farming company.
Edible mushrooms linked to better thyroid function
In a recent prospective study of 6,631 people, researchers at Tianjin University in China measured consumption of edible mushrooms, as well as the incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland). After analyzing the data, they found that people who consumed mushrooms four or more times a week were significantly less likely to develop subclinical hypothyroidism than those in the study who ate them less frequently.
Sources
honlinelibrary.wiley/doi/10.1111/jnc.15767
sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S2213453022001264
Try one of my favorite mushroom recipes: Shiitake Mushrooms And Pea Pods
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