Eating mushrooms may help prevent depression, study shows

[TexasTowelie]

Studies have shown that eating mushrooms can positively impact physical health and, according to new research, it appears that consuming fungi may be beneficial to one's mental well-being, too.

Researchers at Penn State's College of Medicine found that people who ate mushrooms were less likely to experience symptoms of depression, according to a study published Monday in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Researchers pointed to the presence of ergothioneine for reducing depression levels in people who ate mushrooms. Studies have shown that antioxidants like ergothioneine may protect against cell and tissue damage and can help prevent bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia.

"Mushrooms are the highest dietary source of the amino acid ergothioneine — an anti-inflammatory which cannot be synthesized by humans," lead researcher Djibril Ba said. "Having high levels of this may lower the risk of oxidative stress, which could also reduce the symptoms of depression."

Read more: https://www.phillyvoice.com/mushrooms-mental-health-depression-research-study-penn-state/