Mushroom intake and depression: A population-based study using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005-2016

Fondness for mushrooms may improve an individual's odds of staying free from depression.

This research work studied mushroom consumption in relation to the occurrence of depression. Researchers examined the diets of 24,699 American men and women with the aid of validated food frequency questionnaires. The mental health of all the participants was also assessed regularly throughout the duration of the study.

Researchers observed that lovers of mushrooms had slight chances of experiencing depression compared to infrequent consumers of these plant foods. This 2021 study of American men and women documented a favorable association between frequent ingestion of mushrooms and reduced risk of depression.