Mushrooms: 9 Benefits of This Superfood

By Jimmy Daoutis, Founder of AdvancedMycoTech · Last updated: March 2026

As you may have noticed, mushrooms are really starting to take center stage in the world of health and nutrition. And no wonder – mushrooms are an absolute powerhouse of nutritional and medicinal properties. Whether you make your favorite stuffed mushrooms recipe with creminis, drink reishi tea or pop a lion’s mane mushroom capsule, there is a lot to like about making mushrooms a bigger part of how you eat.

The ancient Romans referred to mushrooms as the “Food of the Gods” and the ancient Chinese called them the “Elixir of Life”.

Here are the 9 key benefits that are associated with mushrooms.

1. Mushrooms Are Rich In Vitamins And Minerals

Mushrooms are a useful source of B vitamins (notably B2 and B3) and of minerals including potassium, copper, selenium and phosphorus. They are also one of the few plant-kingdom foods that can supply meaningful vitamin D — particularly when they have been exposed to UV light. They are not, despite the common claim, a reliable source of B12.

Whole foods are a great place to get nutrients, and mushrooms are an easy one to add to a normal week of cooking.

2. They Are Loaded With Antioxidants

Antioxidants are important for neutralizing free radical damage caused by stress, diet and environmental toxins. A Penn State researcher, Dr. N. Joy Dubost, PhD, found that mushrooms contain as much or more antioxidant capacity as many fruits and vegetables.

In particular, the humble and common white button mushroom has more antioxidant capacity than tomatoes, green bell peppers, pumpkins, zucchini, carrots or green beans.

As it turns out, white button mushrooms often contain more antioxidants than more exotic species such as shiitake and oyster mushrooms.

3. Mushrooms Are an Active Area of Cancer Research

Unfortunately, cancer is something that has touched almost everyone in the modern world, either directly or indirectly. Maybe you or a loved one has battled cancer or has had a cancer scare. Mushrooms are an active area of laboratory research here, though it is important to be clear that no mushroom or supplement treats cancer, and nothing on this page is a substitute for oncology care.

This study found that 20 different mushroom species have anticancer potential. These mushrooms owe their power to the polysaccharides and beta-glucans they contain.

4. They Support Healthy Immune Function

Improved immune function is something we all can benefit from. Whether you travel often or simply feel run-down from daily responsibilities, your immune system can suffer. While getting proper amounts of sleep, hydration, exercise and eating a healthy diet are absolutely key to keeping a strong immune system, mushrooms are a genuinely enjoyable addition to that foundation.

A clinical trial conducted over a 4 week span on 52 healthy males and females, aged 21-41 years, tested to see if consuming a given amount of mushrooms (shiitake in particular) would improve immunity.

The result was regular daily consumption of shiitake mushrooms improved immunity as seen by cell proliferation and activation, as well as improved secretory immunoglobulin A.

benefits of mushrooms — *Various gourmet and medicinal mushrooms*

5. Mushrooms and Heart Health: An Early Research Picture

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, about 610,000 recorded deaths per year.

A healthy and low stress lifestyle is paramount in reducing your risk of heart disease. While this may seem obvious, modern and busy lifestyles can make this a challenge.

The evidence here is still at the animal stage. A study done on rats with high cholesterol showed that consuming chaga mushroom extract reduced “bad” LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides, all the while increasing antioxidant levels.

6. Mushrooms Give You More Energy

Cordyceps are becoming extremely popular in sports supplement blends, and for good reason. In August of 1993, eight Chinese female runners broke three records at the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Germany. Their coach credited cordyceps, among other things, for their performance. It is a good story rather than evidence — the same training group was later dogged by doping allegations, and a single anecdote from 1993 tells you nothing reliable about what cordyceps does.

The more useful evidence is the human research on oxygen utilization, where several small trials have reported improvements in aerobic capacity and stamina. Cordyceps achieves this feat by essentially lowering your heart rate and having an anti-fatigue effect, which means that you get tired less quickly with the ability to work harder over longer durations.

7. Mushrooms Enhance Cognitive Function

Biohacking and nootropics are among the hottest topics today. A clear head makes most days easier, which is why this is the corner of the category most people get curious about first.

As it turns out, lion’s mane mushrooms could be considered a “smart” mushroom.

Lion’s mane mushrooms induce something called nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that promotes development of the sensory and sympathetic nervous systems and is required for maintenance of sympathetic neurons.

Early human trials on lion’s mane and memory have been small and short, and researchers are still working out what the effect looks like. Lion’s mane is not a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or any other condition.

8. Reishi’s Long Association With Rest

Reishi mushrooms, also known as lingzhi, have been traditionally recommended by Chinese and Japanese herbalists for insomnia due to their “sleep-promoting factor”.

Another scientific study on rats found that extracts of reishi mushrooms prolong sleep time.

9. Mood, and Where the Psilocybin Research Sits

Depression can be quite debilitating and affects almost everyone alive today to varying degrees.

The psilocybin found in magic mushrooms actually causes a decrease in blood flow to particular areas of the brain called the default-mode network or DMN. It’s these areas, when are overactive, are thought to be a root cause of mood disorders and depression.

Studies have found psilocybin to act almost as a ‘reset button’ for the brain.

Unfortunately, psilocybin mushrooms are still very much illegal in most of the world. With groups like the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, and more cities decriminalizing magic mushrooms, this remains an area of active clinical research. To be explicit: psilocybin is a Schedule I controlled substance in the US, it is not a legal or available treatment outside approved trials, and nothing here is a suggestion to seek it out. If you are struggling with your mood, your doctor is the right first call.

Let us know!

If you’ve had any improvements in your health with the consumption of mushrooms, please let us know in the comments section below. We’d love to hear your story!

Nature’s Superfood: 9 Key Benefits of Mushrooms