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Mushrooms and Immunity

Mushrooms and Immunity

Let’s start with mushrooms and vitamin D. Mushrooms are the only fruit or vegetable source of this important vitamin. Like us, mushrooms produce vitamin D when they are exposed to sunlight.

Vitamin D can modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses, reducing autoimmunity and making you less susceptible to infection. During the winter months, we seldom produce enough vitamin D ourselves, through sun exposure, to maintain optimal levels. Intake of mushrooms can bolster our vitamin D levels and thus improve immune function.

In addition to being a source of vitamin D, mushrooms also improve your immune function by increasing production of antiviral and other proteins released by cells while they are trying to protect and repair your body’s tissues.

Our gut health plays a significant role in your ability to fight disease and certain mushrooms have been proven to be a prebiotic which can help stimulate the growth of healthy gut bacteria (probiotics).

These are just a few of the ways mushrooms and mushroom extracts can improve your immune health.

To learn more about mushrooms and their positive effects on your health, speak to the Live Well team at Pharmasave Summerland.

Dan Cassidy, Nutritional Product Advisor