Search

5 Mushrooms With Fantastic Health Benefits

We are an online community created around a smart and easy to access information hub which is focused on providing proven global and local insights about sustainability

25 Oct, 2023

This post was originally published on Eco Watch

Fungi are everywhere, even if we can’t see them. There are between two and four million known species of fungi on Earth with thousands more discovered every year, and we’re increasingly recognizing their ability to address plastic pollution, climate-warming greenhouse gases, and environmental toxins. Below the soil, mycelium breaks down organic matter, and mushrooms are the fruiting body that rises above ground. Some are toxic, some are medicinal, and many have specific cultural importance. The mushrooms below are just a few of the many that have proven benefits to human health. If you’re foraging and harvesting mushrooms yourself, remember to use caution and consult foraging guides to make sure you’re collecting the right species, and doing so in a way that isn’t harmful to the ecosystems you find them in.

General Health Benefits of Mushrooms 

Mushrooms are high in vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, selenium, and zinc, and are good sources of protein and fiber. They also have numerous other benefits for brain, heart, and gut health, and are even showing anti-cancer properties — long believed in traditional medicine — in emerging research.

Brain Health 

A 2018 study conducted in Singapore found that participants who ate two cups of mushrooms each week were 50% less likely to develop MCI: that is, mild cognitive impairment, which includes difficulty with language and memory. The study lasted from 2011 to 2017 and involved 663 participants, who ate six common mushrooms including button, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms. 

Heart Health 

Mushrooms have multiple features that make them beneficial for heart health and for lowering your risk of heart-related illnesses. A high intake of sodium is associated with high blood pressure and hypertension, which can cause stroke and heart diseases. Mushrooms are naturally low in sodium — a cup of white mushrooms has only five milligrams of sodium, but they can reduce the need for salt in meals while maintaining flavor. Thus, mushrooms are a great substitute for meat — even partially — in some recipes if you’re hoping to decrease sodium levels in your diet. They are also a great source of potassium, which helps reduce the impact of sodium and relieve blood vessel tension, all of which is beneficial for blood pressure.

Gut Health 

Besides their high concentrations of fiber, mushrooms provide other benefits to the gut. They are high in polysaccharides — a type of carbohydrate that helps the body grow healthy bacteria — and also act as “prebiotics,” a type of fiber that cannot be digested by the body, but is stored and fermented in the large intestine by bacteria. As a prebiotic, mushrooms stimulate the growth of microbiota in the gut. 

Vitamin D and Immune Health 

Mushrooms have gotten increasing attention for their immune system benefits, with their concentrations of Vitamin D being one of the many factors. In fact, mushrooms are the only sufficient produce and non-animal source of vitamin D. When mushrooms are exposed to UV light, they become higher in Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is important for bone and immune health. It’s also considered a “shortfall nutrient,” meaning it’s common for Americans not to reach their recommended intake. 

Cancer Prevention 

Given their concentrations of ergothioneine — an antioxidant/amino acid that works to prevent and slow down damage to cells — there’s some evidence that mushrooms can decrease your risk of cancer. A review of a relatively small number of cancer studies between 1966 and 2020 found that consuming 18 grams of mushrooms per day could reduce the risk of developing cancer by about 45%. The study found that any variety of mushrooms was helpful, but shiitake, oyster, maitake, and king oyster have especially high concentrations of ergothioneine. 

Five Super Beneficial Mushrooms 

While fungi as a whole have tons of awesome health benefits, these mushrooms are especially known for their medicinal properties, and many have been used in traditional medicine throughout history. 

Shiitake 

A basket of freshly picked shiitake mushrooms at Le Saut aux Loups restaurant in Loire Valley, France. Tim Graham / Getty Images

Growing on fallen logs, Shiitake mushrooms have a long history in East Asia as both a source of medicine and food. Shiitake are high in vitamin B6, which is important for the formation of red blood cells and proteins. B vitamins in general help with cell growth, thus aiding hair, skin, and nails. Shiitakes are also high in eritadenine, a compound that can reduce cholesterol levels. That in combination with their inflammation-reducing beta glucans prevents cholesterol from being absorbed. So, if you’re struggling with high cholesterol, add some shiitakes to a stir fry, noodle or pasta dish, sauce, or over rice for a delicious and healthful meal. 

Chaga

A chaga mushroom growing on a birch tree trunk. Ksenia Shestakova / iStock / Getty Images Plus

The first known use of Chaga was in 17th-century Russia, and now it’s famous for its immune system benefits. Chaga grows on birch trees in colder climates, and looks more like a rock than a mushroom. Its woody texture makes it a better candidate for tea or capsules than actual cooking, but it does nothing to diminish its benefits. It contains polysaccharides (that healthy, bacteria-growing carbohydrate) that help the body produce lymphocytes — white blood cells that help with immune response to infection. They also contain oodles of antioxidants — just one cup of chaga tea has the same level of antioxidants as thirty pounds of carrots

Reishi 

Reishi mushrooms growing in a forest. James Mahan / iStock / Getty Images Plus

The history of reishi’s use in traditional Chinese medicine is long — its first records were from the Han Dynasty. Like many other mushrooms, their beta glucans and glycoproteins boost the immune system. Some research also points to reishi’s anti-allergy properties due to its ability to inhibit the release of histamines, which cause cells to swell and result in typical allergy symptoms like sneezing and runny noses. By reducing dermal oxidation, reishi protects your skin from wrinkling and other symptoms of aging, while also benefiting energy levels. 

Lion’s Mane

A lion’s mane mushroom on a tree trunk. Arterra / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Lion’s mane doesn’t look like your typical mushroom with a distinctive round, smooth cap — instead, it’s characterized by the tons of long, thin, pale strands hanging from a central body that looks, of course, like the head of a lion. In Chinese medicine, the mushroom was traditionally used for treating stomach problems with its strong anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, particularly those relating to the spleen and the gut. It was called the “spirit plant,” and was believed to promote longevity. Lion’s mane also has strong neurological benefits, and early research shows that it protects against neurological damage and prompts nerve-tissue growth. It stimulates NGF — standing for nerve growth factors — which are proteins that protect neurons and help new ones grow, and thus helps nervous systems. Therefore, it could be beneficial for people with MS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. 

Turkey Tail

Turkey tail mushrooms. Arterra / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Like Lion’s mane, turkey tail looks just how the name suggests, like a flared turkey’s tail. The mushroom is greatly beneficial to the immune system, especially with its high concentrations of polysaccharides and triterpenes that have immunomodulating benefits. Turkey tail also contains PSK — a cancer drug used in Japan — and PSP: two beta-glucans that regenerate white blood cells, and create and support T-cells, macrophages, and NK (natural killer) cells, all of which support the immune system.

The post 5 Mushrooms With Fantastic Health Benefits appeared first on EcoWatch.

Pass over the stars to rate this post. Your opinion is always welcome.
[Total: 0 Average: 0]

You may also like…

Taking the electronic pulse of the circular economy

Taking the electronic pulse of the circular economy

In June, I had the privilege of attending the 2025 E-Waste World, Battery Recycling, Metal Recycling, and ITAD & Circular Electronics Conference & Expo events in Frankfurt, Germany.

Speaking in the ITAD & Circular Electronics track on a panel with global Circular Economy leaders from Foxway Group, ERI and HP, we explored the evolving role of IT asset disposition (ITAD) and opportunities in the circular electronics economy.

The event’s focus on advancing circular economy goals and reducing environmental impact delivered a series of insights and learnings. From this assembly of international expertise across 75+ countries, here are some points from the presentations that stood out for me:

1. Environmental impact of the digital economy

Digitalisation has a heavy material footprint in the production phase, and lifecycle thinking needs to guide every product decision. Consider that 81% of the energy a laptop uses in its lifetime is consumed during manufacture (1 tonne in manufacture is equal to 10,000 tonnes of CO2) and laptops are typically refreshed or replaced by companies every 3–4 years.

From 2018 to 2023, the average number of devices and connections per capita in the world increased by 50% (2.4 to 3.6). In North America (8.2 to 13.4) and Western Europe (5.6 to 9.4), this almost doubled. In 1960, only 10 periodic table elements were used to make phones. In 1990, 27 elements were used and now over 60 elements are used to build the smartphones that we have become so reliant on.

A key challenge is that low-carbon and digital technologies largely compete for the same minerals. Material resource extraction could increase 60% between 2020 and 2060, while demand for lithium, cobalt and graphite is expected to rise by 500% until 2050.

High growth in ICT demand and Internet requires more attention to the environmental footprint of the digital economy. Energy consumption of data centres is expected to more than double by 2026. The electronics industry accounts for over 4% of global GHG — and digitalisation-related waste is growing, with skewed impacts on developing countries.

E-waste is rising five times faster than recycling — 1 tonne of e-waste has a carbon footprint of 2 tonnes. Today’s solution? ‘Bury it or burn it.’ In terms of spent emissions, waste and the costs associated with end-of-life liabilities, PCBAs (printed circuit board assembly) cost us enormously — they generally achieve 3–5% recyclability (75% of CO2 in PCBAs is from components).

2. Regulating circularity in electronics

There is good momentum across jurisdictions in right-to-repair, design and labelling regulations; recycling targets; and voluntary frameworks on circularity and eco-design.

The EU is at the forefront. EU legislation is lifting the ICT aftermarket, providing new opportunities for IT asset disposition (ITAD) businesses. To get a sense, the global market for electronics recycling is estimated to grow from $37 billion to $108 billion (2022–2030). The value of refurbished electronics is estimated to increase from $85.9 billion to $262.2 billion (2022–2032). Strikingly, 40% of companies do not have a formal ITAD strategy in place.

Significantly, the EU is rethinking its Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management targets, aligned with upcoming circularity and WEEE legislation, as part of efforts to foster the circular economy. A more robust and realistic circularity-driven approach to setting collection targets would better reflect various factors including long lifespans of electronic products and market fluctuations.

Australia and New Zealand lag the EU’s comprehensive e-waste mandated frameworks. The lack of a systematic approach results in environmental degradation and missed positioning opportunities for businesses in the circular economy. While Australia’s Senate inquiry into waste reduction and recycling recommended legislating a full circular economy framework — including for imported and local product design, financial incentives and regulatory enforcement, New Zealand remains the only OECD country without a national scheme to manage e-waste.

3. Extending product lifecycles

Along with data security and digital tools, reuse was a key theme in the ITAD & Circular Electronics track of the conference. The sustainable tech company that I lead, Greenbox, recognises that reuse is the simplest circular strategy. Devices that are still functional undergo refurbishment and are reintroduced into the market, reducing new production need and conserving valuable resources.

Conference presenters highlighted how repair over replacement is being legislated as a right in jurisdictions around the world. Resources are saved, costs are lowered, product life is extended, and people and organisations are empowered to support a greener future. It was pointed out that just 43% of countries have recycling policies, 17% of global waste is formally recycled, and less than 1% of global e-waste is formally repaired and reused.

Right to repair is a rising wave in the circular economy, and legislation is one way that civil society is pushing back on programmed obsolescence. Its global momentum continues at different speeds for different product categories — from the recent EU mandates to multiple US state bills (and some laws) through to repair and reuse steps in India, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The European Commission’s Joint Research Commission has done a scoping study to identify product groups under the Ecodesign framework that would be most relevant for implementing an EU-wide product reparability scoring system.

Attending this event with the entire electronic waste recycling supply chain — from peers and partners to suppliers and customers — underscored the importance of sharing best practices to address the environmental challenges that increased hardware proliferation and complex related issues are having on the world.

Ross Thompson is Group CEO of sustainability, data management and technology asset lifecycle management market leader Greenbox. With facilities in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Greenbox Group provides customers all over the world a carbon-neutral supply chain for IT equipment to reduce their carbon footprint by actively managing their environmental, social and governance obligations.

Image credit: iStock.com/Mustafa Ovec

Renewables Helped Prevent Blackouts on New England’s Hottest Day This Summer

Renewables Helped Prevent Blackouts on New England’s Hottest Day This Summer

Renewable energy sources, such as solar power and battery storage, have helped keep power on in New England, even during peak demand on the hottest day of summer. According to a recent report from the nonprofit Acadia Center, more than 5 gigawatts of behind-the-meter solar provided additional support during peak demand times, despite the temperature […]
The post Renewables Helped Prevent Blackouts on New England’s Hottest Day This Summer appeared first on EcoWatch.

0 Comments