{"id":26083,"date":"2021-08-11T10:42:44","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T17:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/?p=26083"},"modified":"2021-08-03T11:45:17","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T18:45:17","slug":"mighty-mushrooms-boost-immune-function-and-brain-health-and-guard-against-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/all-mfn\/mighty-mushrooms-boost-immune-function-and-brain-health-and-guard-against-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Mighty Mushrooms: Boost Immune Function and Brain Health and Guard Against Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Mushrooms seem to be almost magical in promoting health benefits. From fighting respiratory infections to cancer, this assortment of small fungi are gigantic warriors.<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Strengthen\u00a0the Immune System<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Mushroom\u2019s phytochemicals, such as beta-glucan, enhance the activity of several different types of immune cells including natural killer cells, which attack and destroy virus-infected and cancerous cells.<\/p>\n

The immune-enhancing actions of mushrooms are thought to help the body to more effectively attack microbial invaders and developing tumors.1-3<\/sup>According to a study on healthy volunteers who ate white button mushrooms daily, mushrooms may also help to prevent infections by enhancing salivary immunoglobulin A production; \u00a0immunoglobulins are antibodies secreted by mucosal surfaces (such as the digestive system and respiratory tract) to protect against infection.4<\/sup>\u00a0Similar results were found for shiitake mushrooms in healthy people: after 4 weeks of eating 5-10 g dried shiitake mushrooms daily, there was an increase in salivary immunoglobulin A.5<\/sup>The immune system protects us against infection and also cancer. Many clinical trials have investigated concentrated mushroom polysaccharide extracts as an adjunct treatment for improving immune function in patients with cancer.6-9<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mushrooms are unique in their breast cancer preventing effects.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One notable study found frequent consumption of mushrooms (10 g, or approximately one button mushroom per day) has been linked to a 64 percent decrease in the risk of breast cancer.10<\/sup> A meta-analysis estimated that mushroom intake results in a 4-6 percent risk reduction per gram of mushrooms eaten per day.11<\/sup>Mushrooms are thought to protect against breast cancer particularly because they inhibit an enzyme called aromatase, which produces estrogen. Several varieties of mushrooms, especially the commonly eaten white button and portobello mushrooms, have strong anti-aromatase activity.12<\/sup><\/p>\n

Consumption of mushrooms does not only protect against breast cancer. Some mushrooms contain specialized lectins (such as ABL in common white, cremini, and portobello mushrooms) that recognize cancer cells, and prevent the cells from growing and dividing.13,14<\/sup>\u00a0Mushroom beta-glucans interact with immune cells, promoting an anti-tumor immune response.1,2<\/sup>In addition, white, cremini, portobello, oyster, maitake, and reishi mushrooms each contain bioactive compounds with the potential for anti-cancer activity. These mushroom phytochemicals have anti-angiogenic, anti-proliferative, and other anti-cancer effects, which have been studied in relation to stomach, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers.15-24<\/sup><\/p>\n

Mushrooms protect the brain from oxidative stress\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Mushrooms are the richest dietary source of the specialized antioxidant ergothioneine; all mushrooms contain some ergothioneine, but oyster mushrooms contain the most. Other significant dietary sources of ergothioneine include oat bran, black turtle beans, and red kidney beans.25-27<\/sup>\u00a0Many human cells have a transporter protein whose main known function is to bring ergothioneine into the cell.28<\/sup><\/p>\n

Studies on dietary factors and cognitive health in older adults, particularly in Asia, have found that greater mushroom consumption or ergothioneine levels in the blood were associated with better brain health.29-31<\/sup><\/p>\n

Ergothioneine is found in almost all human cell and tissue types and tends to accumulate in tissues exposed to high levels of\u00a0oxidative stress<\/a>.26,27<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0The brain is one of those tissues; there are high levels of oxidation products because of its high metabolic activity, and the mitochondria in particular is the site of highest oxidative stress. Mitochondrial DNA does not have the same robust protection and repair mechanisms as regular DNA, so mitochondrial DNA is more susceptible to oxidative damage. \u00a0Oxidative damage to mitochondria is thought to be a major contributor to\u00a0neurodegenerative diseases, such as\u00a0Alzheimer\u2019s Disease\u00a0and\u00a0Parkinson\u2019s Disease.26<\/sup>\u00a0Ergothioneine\u2019s protection of the mitochondria may protect the brain from oxidative damage, helping to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.<\/p>\n

Mushrooms should only be eaten cooked. Several raw culinary mushrooms contain small amounts of a potentially carcinogenic substance called agaritine, and cooking mushrooms significantly reduces agaritine content.32-34<\/sup> Mushrooms add unique flavors and textures to vegetable dishes, and are delicious paired with fresh herbs. Combining mushrooms with the\u00a0onion family,\u00a0green and cruciferous vegetables, and\u00a0beans, creates delicious, healthful, and powerfully protective meals.<\/p>\n

I discuss the unique health benefits of mushrooms in detail in my book\u00a0Super Immunity<\/a>. For the latest research on how mushrooms promote health, read my new book, Eat for Life<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Originally printed on Dr. Fuhrman’s Eat to Live Blog<\/a>. Reprinted with permission.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Joel Fuhrman, M.D<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>is a board-certified family physician, six-time New York Times bestselling author and internationally recognized expert on nutrition and natural healing, who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. Dr. Fuhrman coined the term \u201cNutritarian\u201d to describe his longevity-promoting, nutrient dense, plant-rich eating style.<\/em>
\n\u00a0<\/em>
\nFor over 25 years, Dr. Fuhrman has shown that it is possible to achieve sustainable weight loss and reverse heart disease, diabetes and many other illnesses using smart nutrition. In his medical practice, and through his books and PBS television specials,\u00a0<\/em>he continues to bring this life-saving message to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/div>\n
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    \n
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  14. Carrizo ME, Capaldi S, Perduca M, Irazoqui FJ, Nores GA, Monaco HL.\u00a0The antineoplastic lectin of the common edible mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) has two binding sites, each specific for a different configuration at a single epimeric hydroxyl.<\/b>\u00a0The Journal of biological chemistry\u00a0<\/i>2005,\u00a0280:<\/b>10614-10623.<\/li>\n
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  31. Cheah IK, Feng L, Tang RMY, Lim KHC, Halliwell B.\u00a0Ergothioneine levels in an elderly population decrease with age and incidence of cognitive decline; a risk factor for neurodegeneration?<\/b>\u00a0Biochem Biophys Res Commun\u00a0<\/i>2016,\u00a0478:<\/b>162-167.<\/li>\n
  32. Toth B, Erickson J.\u00a0Cancer induction in mice by feeding of the uncooked cultivated mushroom of commerce Agaricus bisporus.<\/b>\u00a0Cancer research\u00a0<\/i>1986,\u00a046:<\/b>4007-4011.<\/li>\n
  33. Schulzova V, Hajslova J, Peroutka R, Gry J, Andersson HC.\u00a0Influence of storage and household processing on the agaritine content of the cultivated Agaricus mushroom.<\/b>\u00a0Food Additives and Contaminants\u00a0<\/i>2002,\u00a019:<\/b>853-862.<\/li>\n
  34. Roupas P, Keogh J, Noakes M, Margetts C, Taylor P.\u00a0Mushrooms and agaritine: A mini-review.<\/b>\u00a0Journal of Functional Foods\u00a0<\/i>2010,\u00a02:<\/b>91-98.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Mushrooms seem to be almost magical in promoting health benefits. From fighting respiratory infections to cancer, this assortment of small fungi are gigantic warriors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":238,"featured_media":26084,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[125,89,139],"class_list":["post-26083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-mfn","tag-alzheimers","tag-cancer","tag-nutrition"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26083"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30559,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26083\/revisions\/30559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}