Barbara Karafokas - Holistic Nutritionist MSc.
  • Home
  • About Barbara
  • Work With Me
  • Store
  • E-Courses
  • Blog
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Freebies
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Live Long and Stay Young By Eating Mushrooms

15/6/2018

0 Comments

 
Mushrooms, particularly certain wild varieties, are abundant in glutathione and ergothoniene, important protectors against oxidative damage, according to recent research published in Food Chemistry.
Widely varying contents of both glutathione (GSH) and ergothioneine (ERGO) were measured in analysis of numerous species of mushroom conducted by researchers from Penn State University (Centre for Plant and Mushroom Products for Health).

Maitake contained the highest amount of GSH while porcini was richest in ERGO.

The researchers found without a doubt that mushrooms are the highest dietary source of these two antioxidants taken together, and some types are packed with both GSH and ERGO.
Common varieties such as white button and portobello mushrooms contained lower amounts of the two antioxidants than most of the wild species. However, surprisingly, chanterelles - a wild variety in high demand as a culinary delicacy – had the lowest contents of both nutrients.

So What Are the Health Benefits of Glutathione (GSH) and Ergothioneine (ERGO)
Glutathione is a well know powerful antioxidant widely recognised for its ability to maintain immune function, detoxify carcinogens and other toxins.  Optimum tissue levels of gluthathione are known to be essential in maintaining health and preventing diseases.

While the exact role of ergothioneine is unclear, previous research has suggested it may help maintain glutathione levels through interaction with other cellular defence systems. Studies in mice have shown a protective effect of ERGO against beta-amyloid plaque accumulation, while some epidemiological trends also suggest ERGO intake may be linked to lower risk of cognitive decline.

The researchers stated that “It's preliminary, but you can see that countries that have more ergothioneine in their diets, countries like France and Italy, also have lower incidences of neurodegenerative diseases, while people in countries like the United States, which has low amounts of ergothioneine in the diet, have a higher probability of diseases like Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's," "Now, whether that's just a correlation or causative, we don't know. But, it's something to look into, especially because the difference between the countries with low rates of neurodegenerative diseases is about 3 milligrams per day, which is about five button mushrooms each day."

Importantly, the mushrooms appear to retain their antioxidant content when cooked.

In conclusion, by eating mushrooms you receive a uniquely rich dietary source of antioxidants.
Given the important role of oxidative stress in disease development and the ageing process itself and the well-known protective roles of antioxidants, mushrooms could play an important protective role.
   ​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Barbara is a qualified nutritionist offering Health, Nutrition & Lifestyle Counseling. She gives Healthy weight loss advice and promotes the Mediterranean diet. She is the author of the Med Life Diet - creating healthy lifestyle habits and attitudes for life !

    Archives

    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About Barbara
  • Work With Me
  • Store
  • E-Courses
  • Blog
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Freebies
  • Testimonials
  • Contact