Mushrooms

Evidence: Preliminary

Wood ear, or black fungus, is a jelly-like culinary mushroom common in Chinese cooking. Its polysaccharides have been studied in the lab and animals, ...

Evidence: Limited

Reishi is a traditional Asian medicinal mushroom. A Cochrane review found it did not improve cholesterol, blood pressure or blood sugar in people with...

Evidence: Preliminary

Shiitake is a common culinary mushroom. Small food-based trials suggest effects on immune markers and a modest drop in triglycerides, but cholesterol ...

Evidence: Preliminary

Maitake is an edible mushroom rich in beta-glucans. Most research is in the lab or animals, a 2009 systematic review found little rigorous human data,...

Evidence: Limited

Turkey tail is a bracket fungus whose purified extract PSK is used alongside cancer treatment in Japan. Cochrane rates the evidence as low to very low...

Evidence: Preliminary

Chaga is a fungus that grows on birch trees and is popular as a tea. Its benefits come almost entirely from lab and animal studies, and it is extremel...

Evidence: Preliminary

Royal sun agaricus, or almond mushroom, is a Brazilian-origin mushroom studied mainly for immune and allergy markers in small trials. There is no good...

Evidence: Preliminary

White button mushroom is the everyday grocery mushroom. It is a nutritious, filling food, but there is no human evidence that small amounts of extract...

Evidence: Preliminary

Cordyceps is a medicinal fungus promoted for energy and stamina. Small exercise trials give mixed results, and there are no studies on prostate health...

Evidence: Preliminary

Lion's mane is an edible mushroom studied mainly for memory and mood. Human trials are few and small, and gut-related findings are mostly from lab and...