Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitake Mushroom People widely use mushrooms as a part of their diet, and in recent years various varieties of mushrooms have also gained popularity as health supplements. Mushrooms are unique in a way that their content of nutrients and beneficial compounds differ a lot from other plants or herbs, which also explains their unique health benefits.¹

Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinus edodes) is now the second most cultivated mushroom globally. It grows commonly on wood logs in the wild and is cultivated and grown on sawn wood.²

Shiitake Mushroom is appreciated both for its nutritional and medicinal value. It is rich in numerous phytocompounds like polysaccharides, enzymes, free sugars (mannitol, mannose and glycerol), Vitamins (D, B1, and B2), and dietary fibre. Studies confirm that it has numerous health benefits. It is suitable for heart health, boosting immunity and preventing various other disorders.¹^,²

Health Benefits of Shiitake Mushroom

Here are some of the better-known health benefits of Shiitake Mushroom:

Good for Heart Health

Shiitake Mushroom can help prevent heart diseases in many ways. It contains enzymes that seem to lower blood cholesterol. Certain compounds in Shiitake Mushroom may block the absorption of cholesterol in the gut. It may also help due to its content of antioxidants. Shiitake appears to have potent anti-atherosclerotic activity. Therefore, regular consumption of the mushroom may be particularly good for preventing heart-related ailments.¹

Boosts Immunity

Higher immunity may help prevent seasonal ailments. Shiitake Mushroom may also help prevent age-related decline in immunity. Studies show than consuming 5-10 g of Shiitake Mushrooms daily for four weeks may be enough to improve immunity and reduce inflammation. Shiitake Mushrooms seem to boost the proliferation of immune cells, and increases sLgA production, which contributes to improved gut immunity.³
Helps Fight Cancer

It seems that Shiitake also has a role in reducing the risk of cancer and may even be used as an adjuvant in anti-tumour therapy. Studies show that most of its anti-tumour properties are due to the polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein complexes found in Shiitake Mushroom. In fact, a polysaccharide called “Lentinan” is approved for use as an adjuvant in anti-tumour therapy in Japan and China, and it works due to its impact on immunity.⁴
Antimicrobial Properties

One of the earliest antibiotics that is penicillin was derived from yeast. However, with the advent of synthetic antibiotics, researchers stopped paying attention or significantly reduced their interest and research into natural extracts and mushrooms for fighting infections. Studies show mushrooms, including Shiitake, has many antimicrobial compounds. These compounds are not only active against bacteria but may also help fight viral infections.⁴
Good for Bone Health

Mushrooms are the only plant-based source of vitamin D, and therefore they can help strengthen bones, teeth and muscles. Mushrooms may be especially good for older adults due to their numerous health benefits.⁵

Side Effects of Shiitake Mushroom

Side effects with Shiitake Mushroom are rare, and most people can consume them frequently without any health issues. However, some individuals may be allergic to them, mostly when the mushroom is consumed uncooked. Further, supplements may have more significant side effects as people can consume them consistently for months or even years. Prolonged consumption of Shiitake Mushrooms may cause dermatitis and photosensitivity in some individuals.⁶

Properties

Anti-Bacterial²
Anti-Inflammatory⁵
Antimicrobial²
Antioxidant³
Antiviral²
Bone Strengthening⁵
Cancer Prevention⁴
Cholesterol⁵
Heart Support / Health¹
High/Good Levels of B Vitamins¹
High/Good Levels of Fibre³
High/Good Levels of Phytochemicals / Phytocompounds³^,⁶
High/Good Levels of Vitamin D⁵
Immune Booster⁵
Oral Health³

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