'SHROOM STRENGTH

Mix mushrooms into your diet for mighty benefits. The flavorful fungi are packed with powerhouse nutrients that may help prevent memory loss and boost brain health.

- BY JERLYN JONES

Mushrooms are celebrated for their rich flavors and meat-imitating umami properties, making them an excellent vegetarian alternative to animal products.

Several studies have shown plant-based eating reduces inflammation and in turn protects our brains. And adding mushrooms, such as porcini, to your diet can further fight inflammation, thanks in part to the antioxidant ergothioneine (ERG). According to a 2023 review published in Nutrients, low levels of ERG in people age 60 or older may be a risk factor for age-related diseases, such Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

But a couple of cups of mushrooms weekly may be all you need. A 2019 study in