How to Live Longer: Mushrooms Reduce Risk of Alzheimer’s and Age-Related Disease
When researching the best methods to help increase your longevity, it is possible to find a unique solution. From improving cognitive health to preventing dementia, reducing age-related illnesses, maintaining a healthy heart, and even promoting weight loss, just one superfood can do it all.
A study published in the journal Food Chemistry found that mushrooms contain two antioxidants believed to increase longevity and prevent aging.
Professor Robert Beelman, the study’s first author, said the findings were important in the context of the so-called free radical aging theory.
He explained: “[The theory] has been around for a long time [and it] says that when we oxidize our food for energy, there are a number of free radicals that are produced which are byproducts of this action and many of them are quite toxic.
“The body has mechanisms to control most of them,” he continues, “including ergothioneine and glutathione, but ultimately enough to cause damage, which has been associated with many diseases of aging, such as cancer, coronary heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Nutritionist Libby Limon, of Link Nutrition, believes mushrooms are so powerful for overall health that they should be considered a super food.
She explains, “While their benefits have gone unnoticed for some time, people are starting to realize the pronounced benefits they have to offer to a person’s immune system, energy levels and cognition. “
In fact, the evidence suggests the cognitive benefits of consuming mushrooms.
Numerous studies have warned that vitamin D deficiency could fuel the mechanisms that cause dementia.
A study published in the journal Neurology found that a lack of vitamin D may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
For their study, the researchers analyzed blood samples from 1,658 people for vitamin D levels reflected by diet, sun exposure, and supplements.
The study found that people with low levels of vitamin D had a 53 percent increased risk of developing dementia.
People with more severe vitamin D deficiency had a 125% increased risk of developing dementia compared to participants with normal vitamin D levels.
Mushrooms contain rich sources of essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, including thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), and niacin (B3).
Plus, mushrooms are high in fiber and low in calories, making them the perfect food for people who want to lose weight.
Mushrooms also contain many compounds which have protective and therapeutic value against certain diseases.
One of them is beta-glucan, a complex carbohydrate, or polysaccharide, made up of glucose and sugar molecules linked together.
Scientific studies show that glucans are largely responsible for the anti-tumor properties and immunological activity of medicinal mushrooms.