Health Benefits

Oyster Mushrooms Health Benefits

Mushrooms have been used in folk medicine for centuries in countries ranging from ancient Rome and Greece to China and India. The health benefits of mushrooms, though, have only been thoroughly studied scientifically in recent decades.

 

High in Antioxidants 

Oyster mushrooms are rich in antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids and phenolics. Antioxidants are substances that reduce or prevent cell damage in your body. Antioxidants fight free radicals, which are linked to diseases like cancer.

Scientists have found that oyster mushrooms contain higher amounts of antioxidants than other types of cultivated mushrooms. This is probably why oyster mushrooms are used in so many dietary supplements.

Mushrooms are also rich in an amino acid called ergothioneine. Scientists say that this substance has potent antioxidant activity. Edible mushrooms are the main source of ergothioneine.

 

May Help Heart Health

Eating oyster mushrooms may be beneficial for your heart. This may be due to beta-glucans, which are fibers that make up the cell walls of yeast and fungi. When fermented by bacteria in your gut, beta-glucans produce short-chain fatty acids that are able to reduce your body’s production of cholesterol.

In a study of 20 adults, participants who drank a soup made with 30 grams of dried oyster mushrooms for 21 days had lower triglycerides, oxidized LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and total cholesterol compared to those who ingested a placebo.

A study of 89 participants with diabetes found that eating oyster mushrooms for 7 days lowered not just their blood sugar but also their cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.

May Improve Cognitive Health

In a study of 663 participants aged 60 and above, those who ate more than two portions of mushrooms a week had a lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment.

 

May Lower Cancer Risk

Scientists have found that mushrooms are high in bioactive compounds. A review of several scientific studies found that eating about 18 grams of mushrooms (about two medium mushrooms) a day may help lower your cancer risk by 45 percent. This may be due to mushrooms' special compounds like ergothioneine.

May Help Control Blood Sugar Levels

Some limited studies have found that regularly eating oyster mushrooms may have an effect on your blood sugar level. One study on hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes found that eating 150 grams of oyster mushrooms three times a day for 7 days reduced fasting blood sugar levels by about 22 percent. After 1 week without mushrooms, fasting blood sugar levels increased by about 13%.

Another study of healthy participants found that taking a mixture of powdered mushroom in water for 14 days reduced their fasting blood sugar levels by 6 percent.