Mushrooms are super healthy! They offer cancer protection and boost arterial function, brain function and immune function.

In a study, women who averaged at least half a mushroom a day appeared to drop their odds of getting breast cancer by 64%! That's mind-boggling!

Mushrooms have a unique amino acid called ergothionine. Dr Greger says that if he were to extend his Daily Dozen to include a thirteenth component, it may be mushrooms because of ergothionine.

In addition to cancer protection, mushrooms promote arterial function, immune function and cognition.

Can we eat mushrooms raw? A few. But a safe strategy is to boil them for several minutes.

By exposing white button mushrooms to the midday sun for 15–20 minutes, they provide more than 10μg/100g (400 IU per 100 grams). But is that enough? Dr Greger recommends 2,000 IU daily.

An overview of medicinal mushrooms.