Consuming This Superfood Could Help Improve Your Life Expectancy

Advances in science over the years have proven that the secret to a long life is not attained using superstitious means but by living a healthy lifestyle. Many studies have proven that diet plays a major role in determining longevity.

Health organizations recommend that for you to gain optimal health benefits from your diet, you must focus on certain food groups instead of specific food items. Recent studies have been able to single out particular food items for their many health benefits. Including such food items in your regular diet would provide you with a host of benefits.

An Unassuming Superfood

You may not believe it, but the unassuming mushroom can bring you dozens of health benefits. Libby Limon, a LinkNutrition.com nutritionist, said that the benefits of mushrooms have been largely unnoticed for some time now. Today, however, many have realized the many health benefits that mushrooms offer to one’s energy levels, cognition, and immune system. There is even strong evidence that shows the cognitive benefits gained from consuming mushrooms.

In a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease, the elderly who consumed mushrooms regularly are at lesser risk of developing MCI, also known as a mild cognitive impairment. MCI is a brain disorder often seen as a forerunner of Alzheimer's disease, as well as other forms of dementia.

The study was based on a comparative examination of dietary information of 663 Singaporean women and men aged 60 and above. Researchers found that those who consumed one to two portions of mushrooms per week enjoy a 43% reduction in MCI risk. Comparatively, those who consumed more than two portions of mushrooms weekly are at a 52% lesser risk of developing MCI.

Mushrooms Improve The Immune System

Nutritionist Libby Limon said that mushrooms are a rich source of polysaccharides, a type of carbohydrate molecules that boost your immune system at a cellular level. Limon also revealed that mushrooms contain sufficient amounts of antioxidants that help manage your body’s inflammatory response systems.

In one scientific study, participants were given two dried shiitake mushrooms to consume every day. After 30 days, the immune markers of the participants improved, and there is also a significant drop in their inflammation levels.