subject: Shiitake Mushrooms And The Health Benefits [print this page] Author: Heather Hemmings Author: Heather Hemmings
Mushrooms have for many centuries a staple in many dishes and diets of China, Japan, India, and other Asian countries. However, it was a long time coming before anyone else started to see the benefits of what this miracle fungus could do. Some mushrooms, like the Shiitake mushroom, have other benefits other than just tasting good. Health Benefits The Shiitake has been one of those mushrooms that have been around for along time, but nobody really knew what it could do until the twentieth century. In the 70's researchers found that there were some medicinal qualities to the Shiitakemushroom. When studying the qualities of the Shiitake, Japanese researchers found a very specific amino acid that speeds up the way that the liver processes cholesterol. This is significant today as many people are worried about their elevated cholesterol counts. Cancer Fighter Like its mushroom cousin the Maitake, Shiitake mushrooms have also been reportedly proven to be an effective cancer fighter and preventer. Because of the different enzymes, amino acids, sugars, and other nutrients blended into the shiitake mushroom, the immune system is boosted on a cellular level to help prevent and cancerous tumors. This is all made possible by a polysaccharide called lentanin. This component seems to react with the cells in the immune system that it actually pushes back, and even removes cancerous tumors. Lethal To HIV? Shitake mushrooms have also been very responsive in the fight against HIV. In fact, some studies are showing that the extract from the shiitake mushrooms is actually more lethal to HIV than AZT. Still in other studies, the properties of shiitake mushrooms have been shown to actually block the HIV cells from reproducing and growing. Food And Medicine It is something that has been known for many centuries in the Asian world. The mushroom shiitake, is both a wonderful tasting food, but it is also very important in fighting off some life threatening diseases. Because of the great taste of the mushroom, and the heavy nutritional markup, many vegetarians will use the mushroom shiitake for a substitute for animal protein. Either use it in your main diet, or as a supplement in pill form.About the Author:
Shiitake Mushrooms have attracted much attention for a wide range of health benefits in recent years, with research and clinical trials being conducted worldwide for many treatments such as cancer and the immune system.
