What Can Mushrooms Do For You?

This fungus which can be used in anything from soups to stews to stir-frys, may offer more than just a touch of flavor. The specific varieties that are continually being studied for their profound health properties are the group of Asian mushrooms such as Maitake, Shitake and Reishi. These types of mushrooms have been used therapuetically for many years in Asian cultures. The body benefits are touted as having significant immune boosting capacities. In recent studies using Reishi extract, it was found to stimulate macrophages and increase the levels of interleukins and TNF (tumor necrosis factor). All of these components impact the immune system's capacity to fight disease, including cancer. Additionally, a 1997 study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Science found that maitake D-fraction, a preparation of this mushroom, was able to enhance the immune system and inhibit the spread of tumors in mice implanted with breast cancer. In a 1995 report published in the same journal, researchers concluded that maitake D-fraction was able to activate the immune systems of mice that had been injected with liver cancer cells. The active compound is a polysaccharide called beta glucan. It is even being studied at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to learn whether it can increase the effectiveness of a specific chemo drug by increasing cancer cells' sensitivity to it.

Clearly, it's a food worth adding. The only consideration in preparation is to make certain they are washed very well, since they are grown in compost and not on top of soils like other produce. When making recipes that call for mushrooms, pick one of these varieties not only to add greater nutrition, but more flavor as well. You will find them a tasty addition to rice dishes and vegetable sautes as well as stroganoff and pasta dishes. So enjoy the discovery of this nutritious food...bon appetit!