Scientists Are Stunned: How Medicinal Mushrooms Can Cleanse Your Body of PFAS ("Forever Chemicals").
- Gaelic Fungi Farms
- Nov 5
- 3 min read
What are PFAS you ask?!
Why are “forever chemicals” a concern?
PFAS are synthetic compounds that are found literally everywhere. They are used in non-stick coatings, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging ( even "eco" food packaging) and so much more.
The world has become so polluted by them, they are now being detected in human urine, placentas and breastmilk.
They are called “forever chemicals” because of their extreme persistence in the environment and in the human body. They can remain in the body up upto 9 years.
Researchers have linked PFAS exposure to a variety of adverse health outcomes including liver damage, hormone disruption, immune issues, and increased risk of certain cancers.
Mushrooms, β-Glucans & “Forever Chemicals”
— What We Know
At Gaelic Fungi Farms, we believe in the power of mushrooms as hugely potent functional foods.
One of the key compounds in many medicinal mushrooms are β-glucans — long-chain polysaccharides found in fungal cell-walls.
These molecules have been studied for immune support, gut health, and now, intriguingly, for their potential role in helping remove so-called “forever chemicals” (the class of compounds known as PFAS: per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) from the body!
What exactly are β-glucans anyway??
Mushrooms such as:
Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane),
Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster),
Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) and others ...
contain β-glucans in their fruiting bodies.
These are glucose-based chains with β-1,3 and β-1,6 linkages (in mushrooms) that form complex, branched structures.
They aren’t digested in the usual way, but can influence gut health, immune signalling, and form gel-like structures in the gut lumen.
The emerging link: β-glucans and PFAS elimination
Recent pilot studies suggest that certain gel-forming dietary fibres can help reduce the body burden of PFAS. For example:
• A mouse study: Mice exposed to a PFAS mixture and fed diets containing oat β-glucan (a cereal fibre, not a mushroom β-glucan) had lower serum concentrations of certain PFAS (PFHpA, PFOA, PFOS) compared to mice fed a non-gel fibre.
• A human pilot intervention: In a group of adult men with detectable PFAS levels, those who received ~1 g oat β-glucan three times daily for 4 weeks before meals showed an ~8-10% reduction in two of the major PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) compared to placebo.
• Mechanistic rationale: PFAS behave similarly (to some extent) as bile acids in the body — they are amphipathic (both water and fat loving), and undergo enterohepatic recirculation (excretion into bile, then re-absorption from gut).
Gel-forming fibres like β-glucans can trap PFAS in the gut and interrupt the cycle of re-absorption, causing more to be excreted in stool rather than recirculated.
Check out the study via the link below...
Okay, so where mushrooms come in...?
Now you might ask: ok this evidence is with oat β-gluca, what about mushroom-derived
β-glucans?
While there is strong evidence for mushroom β-glucans in immune modulation and gut health (see reviews) there is less direct human studies far linking mushroom β-glucans to PFAS elimination - becasue they simply havnt been done, yet!
That said:
• Because mushrooms are extremely HIGH in β-glucans, and these fibres act via physical gel-formation in the gut (rather than being absorbed unchanged),
it is biologically plausible that high quality mushroom β-glucan supplements or extracts can support the same type of binding or trapping of PFAS in the gut lumen! [GREAT NEWS!!]
Lets break this down even further so you fully understand.
Source | β-Glucan Content (dry weight) | Type / Structure | Notes |
Mushrooms (fruiting body) | 20–55% (varies by species) | β-(1→3),(1→6) branched chains | Highly bioactive for immune & gut modulation; form gel matrices but also engage immune receptors. |
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) | ~35–45% | β-(1→3),(1→6) | One of the highest β-glucan mushrooms. |
Turkey Tail (Trametes Versicolor) | ~25-55% | β-(1→3),(1→6) | One of the highest β-glucan mushrooms. |
Reishi (Ganoderma Curtisii) | ~25–35% | β-(1→3),(1→6) | Also contains triterpenes; potent antioxidant profile. |
Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) | ~20–30% | β-(1→3),(1→6) | Excellent food source of fungal fibre. |
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) | ~25% | β-(1→3),(1→6) | Famous for “lentinan,” a β-glucan with immune-modulating effects. |
Oats & Barley | ~3–7% | β-(1→3),(1→4) linear chains | Water-soluble, viscous, forms gels; proven for cholesterol & PFAS binding. |
In raw concentration, mushrooms often contain 3–10 times more β-glucans than oats (by dry weight).
• Oats: 3–7% β-glucans
• Mushrooms: 20–55% β-glucans
That means a 100 g dried mushroom could provide roughly 20–50 g of β-glucans, whereas 100 g oats provides only 3–7 g.
While oats contain around 3–7% β-glucans by weight, most medicinal mushrooms — like lion’s mane, reishi, and oyster — contain between 20–50%.
That’s up to ten times more β-glucans, and in a more complex branched form that interacts deeply with the gut and immune system.
This makes mushrooms one of the richest natural sources of
β-glucans — not just for supporting gut health and immunity, but potentially for helping the body process and eliminate persistent chemicals.
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