Mushrooms are valued worldwide for their nutritional properties. They have been part of human culture for thousands of years; the Chinese have treasured mushrooms for centuries as an “elixir of life”.

Nowadays, mushrooms are popular for humans because they are low in calories, carbs and sodium and are cholesterol free. And they provide important nutrients. Because they contain bioactive compounds like phenolic acids, wild mushrooms are often described as functional foods or a source of nutraceuticals.

The Hypsizygus is also renowned for its nutritional properties[1]. The more common beech fungus mushrooms come in brown (Hypsizygus tessellatus) and white (Hypsizygus marmoreus). This group of mushrooms is referred to as medicinal and has long been valued for proven healing and nutritional properties and consumed by humans for their health benefits. Their dietary effects are attributed to active substances such as proteins, amino acids, vitamins and enzymes[2], compounds that give them anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihypertensive and antiallergic properties; one study has evaluated the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the stems[3].

Nutritional Value of Beech Fungus Mushrooms

In short, beech fungus mushrooms offer a rich array of vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds that can enhance canine health, from boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation to supporting digestive health and bone strength. While specific studies on their effects on dogs are limited, there is extensive existing research on their bioactive compounds to support their potential advantages.

Key nutritional components include:

Protein
Beech mushrooms are a good source of high-quality protein, which is essential for growth, repair, and maintaining muscle mass in dogs.
Dietary Fibre
Beech mushrooms an excellent source of fibre, which aids in digestion and promotes gastrointestinal health by promoting regular bowel movements and supporting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
Vitamins
These mushrooms are rich in vitamins such as B vitamins (B1(thiamine), B2(riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine) and B9 (folate)). B vitamins play a crucial role in energy metabolism, ensuring that dogs can efficiently convert food into energy, which is particularly beneficial for active dogs and working dogs that require sustained energy levels. The vitamin D and calcium in beech mushrooms contributes to maintaining strong and healthy bones
Antioxidants
Beech mushrooms are high in antioxidants like selenium, ergothioneine, and phenolic compounds, which help combat oxidative stress and inflammation. The high antioxidant content in beech mushrooms can also help bolster the canine immune system.
Phenolic compounds
Phenolic compounds and other bioactive substances in beech mushrooms exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have demonstrated that mushroom phenolics could reduce inflammation, which is beneficial for dogs suffering from inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
Minerals
Beech mushrooms contain: potassium, which is crucial for cellular function and fluid balance and helps to ensure proper heart muscle function and a healthy nervous system; phosphorus , which works with calcium to maintain strong bones and teeth and supports energy reduction, kidney function and muscle contraction; calcium, which is vital for bone health, muscle function and nerve signalling and in maintaining normal heart rhythm; and magnesium, which is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body including energy production and muscle and nerve function, and which helps to regulate blood pressure and support immune system health.

Palatability
And not only that, mushrooms are delicious – as evidenced by their fundamental role in many cuisines!

References:

[1] Kala K, Lazur J, Karnafał J, Pająk W, Sulkowska-Ziaja K, Muszynska B. Beech Mushroom (Hypsizygus marmoreus, Agaricomycetes) Cultivation and Outstanding Health-Promoting Properties: A Review. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2024;26(3):15-26. doi: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2023052257. PMID: 38505900.
[2] Liu M., Meng G., Zhang J., Zhao H., Jia L. Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of mycelia selenium polysaccharide by Hypsizigus marmoreus SK-02. Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 2016;172:437–448. doi: 10.1007/s12011-015-0613-z.
[3] Shah S.R., Ukaegbu C.I., Hamid H.A., Alara O.R. Evaluation of antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the stems of Flammulina velutipes and Hypsizygus tessellatus (white and brown var.) extracted with different solvents. J. Food Meas. Charact. 2018;12:1947–1961. doi: 10.1007/s11694-018-9810-8.

Want to know more? These studies may be useful:

  • Gründemann C, Reinhardt JK, Lindequist U. European medicinal mushrooms: Do they have potential for modern medicine? – An update. Phytomedicine. 2020 Jan;66:153131. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.153131. Epub 2019 Nov 2. PMID: 31790898.
  • Heleno, S. A., Barros, L., Martins, A., Queiroz, M. J. R. P., & Ferreira, I. C. F. R. (2015). Nutritional value, bioactive compounds, antimicrobial activity, and bioaccessibility studies with wild edible mushrooms. LWT – Food Science and Technology
  • Valverde ME, Hernández-Pérez T, Paredes-López O. Edible mushrooms: improving human health and promoting quality life. Int J Microbiol. 2015;2015:376387. doi: 10.1155/2015/376387. Epub 2015 Jan 20. PMID: 25685150; PMCID: PMC4320875.
  • Li IC, Lee LY, Tzeng TT, Chen WP, Chen YP, Shiao YJ, Chen CC. Neurohealth Properties of Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Erinacines. Behav Neurol. 2018 May 21;2018:5802634. doi: 10.1155/2018/5802634. PMID: 29951133; PMCID: PMC5987239.
  • Son, S.Y.; Park, Y.J.; Jung, E.S.; Singh, D.; Lee, Y.W.; Kim, J.-G.; Lee, C.H. Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics unravel the metabolic pathway variations for different sized beech mushrooms. Int. J. Mol. Sci.2019, 20, 6007.
  • Ukaegbu, C. I.; Shah, S. R.; Hamid, H. A.; Alara, O. R.; Sarker, M. Z. I. Phenolic Compounds of Aqueous and Methanol Extracts of Hypsizygus Tessellatus (Brown and White Var.) and Flammulina Velutipes Caps: Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities. Pharm. Chem. J. 2020, 54(2), 170. DOI: 10.1007/s11094-020-02174-2.

Nutrient information:

Mushroom, beech, 100 g


For full nutrient content see Food Data Central

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • As some commercial foods contain mushroom as an ingredient, check the label to see whether it’s in your dog’s food before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.