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Shiitake Mushroom
By Peace | March 23, 2006
Scientific name: Lentinus edodes
Common names: Shiitake, Shiitake Mushroom, Japanese Mushroom, Hua Gu, Lentinan Edodes, golden oak mushroom, the black forest mushroom, and the oakwood mushroom
Shiitake is an edible mushroom that has been cultivated in the orient for centuries. The shiitake mushroom is scented, edible and is considered to be the finest edible mushroom in Asia, where it has been used for over 2,000 years. Shiitake mushrooms are cultivated on oak logs in forests,although more recently, synthetic logs made of sawdust and other agricultural wastes have become a new place to cultivate them. Shiitakes range in color from tan to dark brown, and have broad, umbrella-shaped caps, wide-open veils, and tan gills. Shiitake caps have a soft, spongy texture. When cooked, these mushrooms have a rich, smoky flavor and a meat-like texture.
In the United States, Shiitake was considered an exotic just a few years ago. It is now considered a specialty gourmet mushroom. This reflects an increase in both supply and demand.
Shiitake is the second most popular mushroom it the world. Second only to the
button mushroom. Cultivation of shiitake in the United States began in the early 1970’s.
U.S. sales reached $27 million in 2000. Up from $11 million in 1993.
Medicinal Properties &Uses
Shiitake Mushrooms contain all eight amino acids that are ideal for human nutrition, two of which are leucine and lysine, and B vitamins, including B12. Scientists have isolated substances from Shiitake which may play a role in the cure and prevention of heart disease, cancer, and AIDS. It exhibits strong immune responses and has been extensively studied for use with cancers and viral infections. Shiitake Mushrooms contain a polysaccharide called “lentinan” that has proven to slow the growth of cancerous tumors in animals. This mushroom contains a variety of constituents that have demonstrated many actions including anti-tumor, liver protecting, anti-viral, immune modulation, and blood pressure lowering. Its extract is a powerful anti-fungal agent, used effectively to treat candida albicans. It is thought that lentinan enhances the immune system’s ability to fight infection. It is one of the three mushroom-based anti-cancer drugs approved by the FDA in Japan in 1985.
Shiitake Mushrooms are used in Japan and China as a cancer-fighting agent. Studies have shown that Shiitakes also lower cholesterol.
In short, it is is good for preventing high blood pressure and heart disease, for controlling cholesterol level, building resistance against viruses, and fighting diseases.
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