Mental health benefits of mushrooms

Mushrooms may bolster your mental health, with some studies finding that lion’s mane mushrooms (pictured) directly reduced depression.

By Emily Friedel

Mushrooms have a host of known health benefits. They are a low-calorie, fibrerich source of protein, B vitamins and the antioxidant selenium among other things. Recently, there has also been increased interest in finding out what these fabulous members of the fungi kingdom can do for human wellbeing. A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders this November investigated the relationship between eating mushrooms and depression in a sample of around 25,000 adults from the US. The data revealed that consuming mushrooms was associated with significantly lower odds of having symptoms of depression. In other words, those who consumed mushrooms were less likely to be depressed. Interestingly, consuming a moderate or large amount of mushrooms per day did not change the odds of having depression; eating some mushrooms rather than no mushrooms was what appeared to be most important. While this study found an association between mushroom consumption and depression, it is important to note that due to the research methods used, the direction of the relationship between mushrooms and depression could not be identified. That is, either mushrooms could have lowered depression, or people who are less prone to depression had a taste for mushrooms. However, small clinical trials have found that eating a particular type of mushroom (Hericium erinaceus, commonly called lion’s mane) does directly reduce depression. Researchers have suggested that antioxidants are a potential mechanism by which mushrooms could influence depression. Mushrooms are the main source of an antioxidant amino acid called ergothioneine. This antioxidant has been dubbed the ‘longevity vitamin’ by some scientists because of its powerful positive effects on the body. Among other things, ergothioneine protects neurons from oxidative stress, and a growing body of research indicates this oxidative stress plays a substantial role in several mental health disorders, including major depression. More research is necessary to understand precisely what benefits mushrooms may hold in terms of staving off depression. However, their myriad other health benefits mean there’s no harm in heaping an extre serving on your plate – improved mood would be another bonus.

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