Scientists from Penn State found that mushrooms may benefit mental health.
They found that people who ate mushrooms had lower odds of having depression.
According to the researchers, mushrooms contain ergothioneine, an antioxidant that may protect against cell and tissue damage in the body.
The research is published in the Journal of Affective Disorders and was conducted by Djibril Ba et al.
Previous research has shown that antioxidants help prevent several mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.
In the study, the team used data on diet and mental health collected from more than 24,000 US adults between 2005 and 2016.
The team says mushrooms are the highest dietary source of the amino acid ergothioneine—an anti-inflammatory which cannot be synthesized by humans
Having high levels of this may lower the risk of oxidative stress, which could also reduce the symptoms of depression.
White button mushrooms, 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.
In the study, the average age of surveyed participants was 45.
The team found a strong association between mushroom consumption and lower odds of depression.
However, there was no clear additional benefit with relatively high mushroom intake.
The study adds to the growing list of possible health benefits of eating mushrooms.
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