Amazing Study: Mushrooms Reduce Breast Cancer by 64%

Introduction

Scientists are investigating the medicinal properties of mushrooms and beginning to see exciting results.

In a new article “Food & Health Revolution” the fantastic website that is a leader in the education of people on the importance of a healthy diet, reported that  a recent study by researchers from the University of Western Australia, had found that eating a third of an ounce (9.3 grams) of button mushrooms daily reduced the risk of breast cancer by 64%.

Even better, when combined with drinking green tea, this increased to 89%.

The University of Western Australia  study was carried out on 2,000 Chinese women. (About half had suffered from breast cancer.)

The scientists reviewed the women’s eating habits, and factored out other variables that contribute to cancer, such as being overweight, lack of exercise, and smoking. And they came to a startling finding about mushrooms.

Women who eaten at least a third of an ounce of fresh mushrooms every day were 64% less likely to develop breast cancer.

The article also reported that “Mushrooms are thought to protect against breast and other hormone-related cancers particularly because they inhibit an enzyme called aromatase, which produces estrogen.

Mushrooms are one of the very few foods that inhibit aromatase (pomegranate is another). Several varieties of mushrooms, including the commonly eaten white button and portobello mushrooms, have strong anti-aromatase activity.”

They went on to say that “consumption of mushrooms protects against more than hormone-dependent cancers. Mushrooms also contain specialized lectins that recognize cancer cells, and have been found to prevent cancer cells from growing and dividing.”

Which mushrooms are best to fight cancer?

In addition to button mushrooms, white, crimini, shitake, oyster, portabella, maitake, turkey tail, and reishi mushrooms all contain bioactive compounds with the potential for potent anti-cancer activity.

Be sure to watch the short video in the article (link below) from Food Revolution Summit speaker Dr. Michael Greger, about which mushroom is best for cancer prevention.

How to enjoy mushrooms in your diet

Fortunately, I love mushrooms and enjoy them in my cooked breakfast and salads, so any excuse to eat more is good news.

Mushrooms bring special flavor and texture and are able to enhance a wide variety of dishes. They work well in combination with most food groups.

But they are best enjoyed cooked (never raw), and as close to daily as possible. And of course, never pick wild mushrooms unless you are certain they are edible.

In the article there are some really good looking recipes that use mushrooms.

Here’s the link to the Food Revolution article:

Mushrooms reduce breast cancer risk