King oyster mushrooms should be included more often in your diet! In fact, as demonstrated by two recent scientific studies, these tasty mushrooms have an antidepressant and neuroprotective action, also helping to counteract Alzheimer's disease and to strengthen memory and learning ability. The studies were both published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, the first by a Chinese team and the second by a group of Taiwanese scientists (Zhang et al, Int J Med Mushrooms, 2020 - Liang et al, Int J Med Mushrooms , 2020).
King oyster mushrooms, properties
King oyster mushrooms, scientific name Pleurotus eryngii, also known as king trumpet mushrooms, are very well known and appreciated mushrooms, since ancient times. King oyster mushrooms are characterized by a firm, cylindrical, fleshy and edible stem, which therefore should not be removed when you want to consume these mushrooms. The flavor of king oyster mushrooms is sweet. This mushroom provides fibers, polysaccharides, proteins but also precious substances with an anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant action and capable of regulating the immune system. The two studies we are talking about today focused on the benefits that king oyster mushrooms can bring to the brain and mood.
King oyster mushrooms contrast Alzheimer's and depression, the study
Both studies were carried out in the laboratory, both on cell cultures and on a population of mice with Alzheimer's. King oyster mushroom extracts were placed in contact with cell culture and administered to rats. Well, after a month and a half of treatment it emerged that the king oyster mushroom helps to reduce brain atrophy and improves memory and learning ability. After seven months of treatment, the king oyster mushroom was shown to increase cell viability, even in the presence of toxic compounds such as beta amyloid and tau protein aggregates, characteristic of Alzheimer's, and to reduce neuronal death. Not only that, the king oyster mushroom has also shown an antidepressant action. The mechanisms underlying these properties of king oyster mushrooms are not yet known, but it is believed that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances contained in this mushroom and capable of counteracting free radicals and neuro-inflammation can play a role. Another possible mechanism of action, which emerges from the research in question, is the king oyster mushroom's ability to regulate calcium channels. In Alzheimer's disease, in fact, there is a continuous activation of a receptor that allows the flow of calcium ions into neurons. If this flow is continuous this leads to neurotoxicity. Instead, king oyster mushroom extracts reduce the presence of calcium ions in neurons, with a neuroprotective action.
Conclusions
Whether it's to improve mood, memory, learning ability or to counteract neurodegeneration, a good choice is therefore to include king oyster mushrooms in your healthy and balanced diet! In the healthy food section you can find some interesting ideas on how to serve these delicious mushrooms, such as penne pasta with artichokes and king oyster mushrooms or even nettle dumplings with mushroom and hazelnut sauce.
