White Fungus: Benefits, Uses, and What to Know.

White fungus (Tremella fuciformis) is a wild edible mushroom that grows on tree bark and branches, especially on broad-leaved trees.

It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Today, it’s still lauded for its medicinal benefits, including its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

This article explores the benefits, uses, downsides, and ways to prepare and enjoy white fungus.

What is it?

White fungus is an edible mushroom that belongs to the Tremellaceae family.

It’s also known as snow fungus, silver ear, snow ear, white wood ear, and white jelly mushroom — due to its characteristic features and because it’s generally found attached to fallen branches of broad-leaved trees.

It has a white to pale yellow color, a soft, jelly-like texture that’s almost translucent, and a shape that resembles underwater coral.

White fungus commonly grows in Asia but is also found in tropical climates worldwide, including South and Central America, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

It has been used as a medicinal herb in Chinese medicine for years to promote health and longevity.

Nutrition.

There’s currently no available information on white fungus nutritional value.

However, its nutrition profile is likely similar to that of other wild mushrooms — or mushrooms in general.

Overall, mushrooms tend to be low in calories and provide small amounts of protein and fiber.

Adding fiber to your diet may help lower the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and gastrointestinal diseases.

Mushrooms, in general, also provide small amounts of vitamin D, zinc, calcium, and folate, which play a key role in immunity, bone health, and brain development, respectively.

Potential benefits.

White fungus is appraised for its multiple health-promoting effects, most of which are attributed to its content of carbohydrate chains known as polysaccharides.

However, research is limited and mostly in animals and test tubes. Thus, keep in mind that although findings seem promising, human research is needed.

May be anti-inflammatory.

Inflammation is a natural way your body responds to injury and supports the healing process. It typically goes away once a wound has healed.

However, if your body stays in a permanent state of inflammation, it’s called chronic inflammation. This is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer.

Chronic inflammation is also associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers like nitric oxide, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Test-tube studies suggest that white fungus extract has an anti-inflammatory activity capable of lowering said pro-inflammatory markers.

May have antioxidant properties.

If your body is exposed to too many free radicals, it can lead to oxidative stress, which can cause negative health effects like cell and tissue damage.

Antioxidants are molecules that help neutralize free radicals, thus protecting your body from oxidative stress.

Test-tube studies show that white fungus polysaccharides may reduce oxidative stress by fighting free radicals. This may help protect you from certain chronic conditions.

May promote brain health.

White fungus polysaccharides may protect brain cells against nerve cell damage and degenerative diseases.

One test-tube study found that white fungus extract may reduce brain toxicity caused by beta-amyloid — a protein that in high amounts has been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Research also suggests that the extract may improve memory.

One 8-week study in 75 people found that consuming either 600 mg or 1,200 mg of a white fungus supplement per day improved memory questionnaire scores — especially in short-term memory parameters — compared with a control group.

Similarly, one 14-day study in rats showed that a daily oral treatment with white fungus extract significantly reversed drug-induced memory loss.

May boost your immune system.

Bioactive compounds in white fungus may stimulate some of your immune system’s defense cells.

One test-tube study concluded that a protein found in white fungus may stimulate macrophage activity — a type of white blood cell that kills bacteria and eliminates damaged tissue.

Another study showed that its polysaccharides might help regulate the immune response and reduce infection-related mortality in a laboratory-induced infection in mice.

However, more human research is needed to better understand what this means for human health.

May improve skin complexion.

White mushroom is popular in the beauty industry due to its anti-aging and moisturizing properties.

Its polysaccharides may improve skin hydration by reducing water and collagen losses in the skin after sun or ultraviolet exposure.

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