Mushrooms can help beat the flu

By Lucy Halfhead  on Friday 8 May 2009

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Mushrooms may help you beat the flu, scientists claim.

Eating fungi can help fight off infections and viruses by boosting the body's immune system, research shows.

Mushrooms also improved levels of hormone-like proteins called cytokines that play an important role in defending the body against viral infections and tumours.

The research, carried out at Tufts University in Massachusetts, studied the effects of eating white button mushrooms on human immune systems.

Dietitian Glenn Cardwell welcomed the research, which was published in The Journal of Nutrition, saying: ‘Laboratory research found the intake of mushrooms may promote innate immunity – the body's first line of defence – against viruses.

‘Further studies involving influenza infection are now under way to test these findings.’

Mr Cardwell said concerns over the impact of influenza, particularly swine flu, highlighted the need to eat a balanced diet including foods that can naturally boost the immune system.

A separate study in China showed that eating a daily portion of mushrooms could cut the risk of breast cancer by up to two-thirds.

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Friday 8 May 2009

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