Mushrooms can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 64% and they can also keep you mentally sharp as you get older.
Just two servings a week reduce the risk of mild cognitive decline (MCI)—such as occasional memory loss or lapses in concentration by around 50 percent. MCI is generally seen as early-stage dementia.
Although nobody is quite sure why mushrooms have such a therapeutic effect, researchers think it has to do with a compound called ergothioneine, which is found in most types of mushroom.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore studied the effects of various mushrooms—such as golden, oyster, shiitake and white button—on a group of 663 people aged 60 and older for six years.
The researchers tested the group on a range of cognitive, language and visuospatial skills as well as recording how much and what types of mushrooms the participants were eating.
They discovered the optimum amount for MCI protection was one serving, which equates to three-quarters of a cup of cooked mushrooms or 150 g, twice a week.
The mushrooms’ protective effects were “surprising and encouraging,” the researchers said.
References: J Alzheimers Dis, 2019; 68: 197–203
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