1 week Ago By [email protected] (Ben Hurst, Ben Hurst)
Diet expert Professor Tim Spector has singled out a 'nutritional powerhouse' packed with vital vitamins like B and D. The King's College London genetic epidemiology professor, who also co-founded the Zoe health app, has detailed how this superfood can boost mental health, fortify immune systems, and cut down the risk of cancer and dementia. On the Zoe podcast, where he appeared with fungi expert Merlin Sheldrake, Prof Spector recommended adding this food to our daily meals.
Merlin pointed out that in certain countries, mushrooms are even used alongside standard cancer therapies: "In Japan, there's a chemical from shiitake mushrooms, which is used very widely for treating cancer alongside more conventional cancer treatments." He continued: "And some of the reasons why those are not used so widely here is because it's not totally clear how they're working, although it seems to be very clear that they work. Fungi are metabolically ingenious.
They're chemical wizards. They can produce all sorts of fascinating chemicals." The NHS suggests taking vitamin D every day, as new studies show it could greatly lower the chances of developing dementia – and mushrooms are an outstanding natural source.
Prof Spector has recommended a hearty dose of mushrooms in your diet, suggesting an ideal daily intake but at least thrice weekly to truly benefit your health. "I would say Try and get some mushrooms in every day if you can at least three times a week. Most of the studies done for preventing cancer, etc.
" He advises, "Have at least two cupfuls a day. So I think if you're really trying to make a big difference to your health, the more you get, the better. And there are these mushroom teas and mushroom coffees generally have very small amounts of actual mushroom in them, so don't be fooled into thinking that's really the same as having a full mushroom meal.
" The Zoe Instagram page also underscored the impressive nutritional profile of mushrooms: "Mushrooms are nutritional powerhouses, containing high levels of essential B vitamins and vitamin D that can be hard to access from a purely plant-based diet." On the podcast, Prof Spector spoke about the advantages of natural Vitamin D found in mushrooms over supplements, as reported by Wales Online. "Vitamin D is pretty good for our immune system.
But we know that my particular views are that, you know, see, vitamin D supplementation has not really succeeded in preventing many diseases at all. So, natural forms of vitamin D are really important." Dr Michael Mosley, a respected name in the dieting world, has previously revealed a trick to boost the Vitamin D content in mushrooms.
By leaving them in sunlight for around an hour before cooking, their Vitamin D levels are significantly increased.
