Eat mushrooms for stronger immunity

Nutritionist and author, Madeleine Shaw, explains how the superfood boosts immunity and that eating just eight medium-sized vitamin rich mushrooms a day could help you hit your RDA following latest NHS advice.

“Mushrooms are easily overlooked in the fruit and veg rainbow we’re advised to eat. High in antioxidants, they’re commonly overlooked as a significant source of the sunshine vitamin D. As a key vitamin essential in supporting a normal immune system, Vitamin D plays a vital role in keeping our bones healthy, as it works to regulate our intake of calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. With local lockdowns becoming more widespread, Brits will face less hours in the sun this summer, so we need to explore different ways of finding how to best get what our bodies need. A readily available and easily overlooked source are mushrooms.”

Research commissioned by The UK & Ireland Mushroom Producers, has revealed that one in four of us aren’t getting our daily recommended vitamin intake, with a further quarter having “no clue” on what the recommended daily amount even is. Since the nation has embraced a renewed focus on wellbeing following the arrival of Covid-19, 13 per cent have admitted to the worry that they will develop a vitamin D deficiency. With lack of sunlight under lockdown a cause for concern, it’s time to eat more mushrooms.