# How to unlock the secret power of mushrooms to heal your gut, cut cholesterol and protect your brain | Prof Robin May

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/zoe-science-nutrition-5045246/how-to-unlock-the-secret-power-of-mushrooms-to-heal-your-gut-cut-cholesterol-and-protect-your-brain-prof-robin-may
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/zoe-science-nutrition-5045246/how-to-unlock-the-secret-power-of-mushrooms-to-heal-your-gut-cut-cholesterol-and-protect-your-brain-prof-robin-may.md
Podcast: [ZOE Science & Nutrition](https://stenobird.com/podcast/zoe-science-nutrition-5045246)
Published: 2026-06-04T11:06:00+00:00
Episode link: https://zoe.com?utm_medium=zoe_podcast&utm_source=audio&utm_campaign=BAU
Audio file: https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/ZOELIMITED8519480946.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/zoe-science-nutrition-5045246/episodes/how-to-unlock-the-secret-power-of-mushrooms-to-heal-your-gut-cut-cholesterol-and-protect-your-brain-prof-robin-may
Duration seconds: 3396

## Resource

Could mushrooms hold the secret to better gut health, lower cholesterol, and can they protect your brain? Today, Professor Robin May, a leading microbiologist and the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Officer, explores why our interest in mushrooms has exploded. He explains why they are not just another vegetable but could hold the key to better gut health, brain health, immune health, and lower cholesterol. By the end of the episode, you’ll know which health claims about mushrooms are real, which are exaggerated and where the science is just too early to trust. You’ll have a solid understanding of what mushrooms are really doing inside our bodies and how to unlock the secret health powers they hold. Should mushrooms become a regular part of your weekly shop rather than an occasional side dish? And if fungi have evolved alongside humans for millions of years, what else might they reveal about the future of nutrition and health? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 03:32 Are mushrooms closer to humans than plants? 06:20 What is a mushroom, really? 10:46 Why we’re eating more mushrooms now 12:14 The hidden nutrients inside mushrooms 13:56 Can mushrooms boost vitamin D? 15:35 The sunlight trick for healthier mushrooms 17:27 How many mushrooms give you enough vitamin D? 18:01 The mushroom with 500x more vitamin D 20:25 The mystery compound found in mushrooms 22:00 Should you take mushroom supplements? 24:30 Do all mushrooms contain this rare compound? 26:22 Can mushrooms help you live longer? 28:35 Can lion’s mane protect your brain? 30:24 Do mushrooms reall…

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