The Fungus You Should Be Eating

Add mushrooms to the list of foods, such as apples, that may keep the doctor away.

Eating shiitake mushrooms daily could result in an enhanced immune system and reduced inflammation, reports the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

In a University of Florida study of mushroom health benefits, 52 healthy adults each ate a 4-ounce serving of cooked shiitake mushrooms daily for four weeks. During the study, participants could not follow a diet high in produce, tea, antioxidant supplements or probiotics that could help the immune system.

At the end of the experiment, the participants showed improved immune systems and a reduction in inflammatory proteins compared with their pre-mushroom status. So try a ‘shroom topping on your next pizza or salad for added healthy benefits.