I love mushrooms. The shiitake mushroom is the most popular variety in Asia and the second most popular in the world.
Shiitakes are available in most grocery stores, because of their versatility and meaty flavor, but did you know that they’re packed with nutrients and disease fighting properties?
Shiitake Mushroom Nutrition
The shiitake is part of the Lentinula edodes species. It’s an edible mushroom native to East Asia. Because of its health benefits, it is considered a medicinal mushroom in traditional herbal medicine.
Shiitakes have a meaty texture and a robust earthy flavor, making them perfect to add to soups, salads and stir fries.
This fungus contains all eight essential amino acids along with a type of essential fatty acid called linoleic acid. It’s a good source of vitamins A, B12, C and D, protein, iron, niacin, pantothenic acid, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, potassium and magnesium.
Shiitake Mushroom Benefits
Shiitakes are often called the “miracle mushroom”, due to their powerful immune boosting and disease fighting properties. Bring more shiitake mushrooms into the diet for these amazing benefits:
• Contains interferons that have strong antiviral effects on the body. These natural proteins inhibit the replication of viruses, bacteria, parasites and cancer cells.
• Slows tumor growth and reduces tumor activity while lessening the side effects of cancer treatments such as chemo and radiation.
• Strengthens the blood, preventing anemia.
• Regulates blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, and thins the blood, helping to prevent strokes and heart attacks.
• Fights obesity by increasing satiety, reducing food intake, delaying nutrition absorption and reducing plasma lipid (fat) levels.
• Boosts the immune system and combats diseases by providing important vitamins, minerals and enzymes and reducing inflammation.
• Reduces gum irritation and inflammation, helping to prevent gingivitis.
• Supports adrenal function and turns nutrients from food into useable energy. They also help balance hormones naturally and eliminate brain fog, which improves focus and cognitive performance.
• Supports bone health and reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and some types of cancer.
• Improves skin health, reducing the severity of acne and preventing scarring.
Using Shiitake Mushrooms
Fresh shiitakes can be used raw in salads and wraps, or added to soups, sauces, stir fries and a variety of dishes. These are typically available in the produce section of the grocery store.
Shiitake mushrooms are also available in dried, powder, capsule and tincture forms. See link below.
Mushrooms contain a moderate amount of purines, a chemical compound that breaks down into uric acid. A diet rich in purines may raise uric acid levels in the body, which could lead to gout. If you already experience the symptoms of gout, limit purine intake.
What’s your favorite shiitake mushroom recipe? I’ll be trying a new stuffed mushroom recipe next Tuesday!
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