Hyderabad: Pop a plateful of mushrooms and sharpen your memory? It’s a nice thought and quite a popular idea these days, but nutritionists and research institutes in India are cautious about attributing mind enhancement powers to this fungus, though they consider it a great health food. Mushrooms are a rich source of dietary fibre, which makes them excellent food for those wanting to lose weight, said nutritionist Usha Sree. Mushrooms are rich in Vitamin D and B, so they are good for bones and for improving metabolism, but the link to brain activity is not so clear.
The National Institute of Nutrition has stated that while mushrooms are healthy foods, their affect on the brain is still undergoing research. “No technology can ascertain which food is going to sharpen the brain,” said Dr M. Maheshwar of the National Institute of Nutrition. “Some varieties of mushroom may have enzyme action that can reduce inflammation, but walnuts, which have branched chain amino acids, have a better impact on brain health,” said Dr Deepa Aggarwal of Apollo Cradle, Jubilee Hills.
The experts go with flax seeds, fish, walnuts, almonds, liver and milk for brain health as these contain amino acids that have a direct link to memory. “Some of it is logic. Sugar and curd, which is given before exams, is nothing but sugar sharpening the mind by giving a burst of energy,” says Ms Usha Sree.
