(NaturalHealth365)  With their meaty taste and chewy, satisfying consistency, mushrooms are a welcome addition to soups, stews, salads, and main dishes.  But, their benefits extend far beyond the culinary.  Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and other healing systems have long advised nutrient-rich mushrooms as a functional food to help promote health and vitality and combat signs of aging.

For example, a recent study examined the potential benefits of fungi-derived bioactive compounds on lifespan and healthspan, highlighting the importance of finding interventions to minimize age-related diseases.  The value of mushrooms was also showcased by another eye-opening study published in the Nutrition Journal linking dietary intake of mushrooms with longer life.  Researchers credited mushrooms’ high content of ergothioneine, an antioxidant amino acid found in fungi and bacteria.

Let’s see why some researchers believe that consuming ergothioneine-rich mushrooms could help extend one’s lifespan.

Jaw-dropping data: Daily consumption of mushrooms lowers odds of death by over a third, thanks to ergothioneine

Researchers used data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey to conduct the 20-year prospective cohort study of 15,000 participants.  They discovered that people who included mushrooms in their diet had a 16 percent lower chance of death.  And there was an even more significant result.

The team found that consuming one serving of mushrooms a day in place of processed meat reduced the chances of dying from any cause by a whopping 35 percent!  The researchers noted ergothioneine’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects and theorized that its anti-aging properties could result from its ability to protect against telomere shortening.

Anti-aging benefits: Studies support protective effects of ergothioneine on telomeres

Often described as protective “caps” for chromosomes – long strings of delicate, elaborately folded DNA – telomeres function like the plastic tips on shoelaces intended to prevent fraying and damage.  Longer telomeres are associated with better cellular health and are generally linked with longevity.  However, these protective coverings shorten over time, becoming less able to preserve the structure of chromosomes.

In turn, shorter telomeres are linked with aging and chronic degenerative disease.  In a study of people over 60, those with shorter telomeres were three times more likely to die of heart disease than those with longer telomeres – and a staggering eight times more likely to die from infections.  In a separate 2022 preliminary study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, scientists found that treating cells with ergothioneine for eight weeks alleviated telomere shortening from oxidative stress – potentially avoiding mutations in DNA that could trigger deadly cancers.

The team concluded that the research “supports a potential role for ergothioneine in oxidative stress-related conditions and healthy aging.”

Yet another way ergothioneine supports longevity is by helping to replenish and recycle glutathione, the body’s “master” antioxidant.  Supporting longer telomeres, protecting DNA, and recycling glutathione – clearly, ergothioneine can confer a valuable “trifecta” of anti-aging gifts.

Preserve mental function and slow cognitive decline with mushrooms

In one study, people over 60 were found to display lower levels of ergothioneine, and those over 60 with mild age-related cognitive impairment showed even sharper declines in this important amino acid.  This is unfortunate because ergothioneine – which helps to protect brain cells from oxidative stress – is believed to help aging adults maintain healthy cognition and memory.  Test tube and animal studies have suggested that ergothioneine may also help enhance memory by creating new neurons or brain cells.

In a trial published in the Japanese Journal of Pharmacology, both healthy adults and those with mild cognitive impairment were given a mushroom extract containing 5 mg of ergothioneine a day for 12 weeks.  The supplementation caused significant improvements in verbal memory, working memory, and sustained attention for the healthy and the mildly impaired participants alike.

In addition to its anti-aging properties, ergothioneine also boosts the immune system, promotes cardiovascular function, and supports healthy skin.  It is sometimes used in skincare serums and creams to reduce the appearance of fine lines, soothe redness and irritation, and protect against damage and photoaging caused by ultraviolet radiation.

Increase ergothioneine intake through diet or supplementation

Because ergothioneine is not produced by the body, it must be obtained through food or supplements.  Mushrooms are the best dietary source of ergothioneine on the planet, with oysters, shiitake, maitake, chantarelles, pine, and porcini mushrooms believed to offer the highest concentrations.

Ergothioneine content in mushrooms can vary according to the soil in which they are grown.  For maximum benefit, choose organically grown mushrooms, which have higher amounts of ergothioneine and other antioxidants than conventionally grown varieties.  If you’re a fan of broiled mushroom caps, you’ll be glad to know that cooking does not deplete ergothioneine levels in mushrooms.  Of course, you can also enjoy your ‘shrooms grilled on a veggie skewer, simmered into a rich soup, or sprinkled raw throughout a salad.

Ergothioneine is available as a supplement, with typical amounts ranging from 5 mg to 25 mg a day.  However, consult your own holistic physician before supplementing.

It may seem hard to believe that a compound synthesized by a fungus could be so profoundly beneficial.  But, new studies suggest that ergothioneine provides “major-league” health benefits that may even translate to a longer, healthier life.  Maybe it’s time to make some room on your plate for some delicious mushrooms!

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
NIH.gov
Lifeextension.com
NIH.gov
Link.springer.com
Longevity.Technology
Healthbymushrooms.com