Consumption Of Mushrooms In Moderation Lowers Depression, New Study Finds
What if we told you that eating mushrooms everyday could lower one's risk of developing depression? Don't trust us, trust the science.?
A new study from Penn State College of Medicine in the United States investigated the benefits of consuming mushrooms. First, they found that eating mushrooms lowers risk of cancer. Then, they found that eating mushrooms regularly helps scare off premature death.
Now, they've come with another astounding mushroom-laden associated. With just moderate amounts of mushroom consumption, people could cut down their chances of developing depression.
The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders assessed 24,699 participants, who were given two questionnaires on two different occasions.
How did scientists reach this conclusion?
Researchers asked all participants to recall each food item they had consumed over the last 24 hours. 5.2 per cent of all participants were mushroom eaters, while overall incidence of depression among the pool of participants was at 5.9 per cent.
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A reduction in the rate of depression was noted among those who consumed a moderate amount of mushrooms, roughly 4.9 grams per day.
"Moderation is key" true holds for mushrooms as well. Those who crossed the moderate threshold (with at least 19.6 grams each day) of mushroom consumption did not note a dip in instances of depression.
What's so special about mushrooms?
Dr. Djibril Ba, the lead author of the study told Medical News Today that the secrets may lie in the antidepressant properties present in the fungi of mushrooms.
Dr. Ba said that mushrooms have an extremely high concentration of amino acid ergothioneine, an anti-inflammatory natural agent. According to Dr. Ba, high levels of this acid may help alleviate oxidative stress, which in turn could reduce the symptoms of depression.
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In addition, it's entirely possible that mushroom's depression avoiding qualities come from potassium, which has also been linked to a reduction in anxiety earlier.?Regardless, it appears that mushrooms trigger some natural processes that help ease the symptoms of depression among human beings.
What do you think about this revelation about nature's gift to humans called the mushroom? Let us know what you think in the comments below.?For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
Citation
Mushroom intake and depression: A population-based study using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005?€¡°2016. (2021, November 1). ScienceDirect.?
