Mushroom Powder and Cholesterol

 

Mushroom Powder and Cholesterol

Apparently mushroom powder as a dietary supplement is trendy. So trendy that Marks and Spencer, bastion of ‘mainstream but in touch’ now have their own range of products containing mushroom powder. ! Low fat, high in protein and fibre, mushroom powder products tick all the boxes, especially when made into a popular format such as ‘creamy shakes’.

When you search for the nutritional benefits of mushroom powders you get all the normal superfood guff but omitted is a very significant ingredient. That ingredient is called ergosterol. Ergosterol is a cholestero-genic compound, in other words it is a precursor to cholesterol. 

Like cholesterol It is readily converted to Vitamin D2 (via cholesterol) by the action of UV in sunlight, hence the availability of ‘Vitamin D enriched mushrooms’ which are pre-exposed to sunlight before sale. Another, closely related, cholestero-geneic compound is squalene found in extra-virgin olive oil. 

I just find it amusing that still living in a world that obsesses about levels of cholesterol circulating in the blood that two superfoods are exemplars of foods that increase blood cholesterol. This effect would be marvelous at increasing our Vitamin D levels if only we went out into the sunlight without factor 50 suncream to prevent it.

Oh well, it looks like cholestero-geneic diets are good for you, maybe even essential if you are on statins which stop your body making cholesterol.

ps..if you are interested, M&S mushroom products use 'Lion's Mane' mushroom powder which is particularly high in ergosterol.