Content
- 1 Composition of shiitake mushrooms
- 2 What are the benefits of shiitake mushrooms?
- 3 Shiitake mushrooms during pregnancy
- 4 Shiitake mushrooms in treatment
- 5 Is it possible to get poisoned by shiitake?
- 6 Uses of shiitake mushroom
- 7 Contraindications for shiitake mushrooms
- 8 Shiitake mushroom calories
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Reviews about the benefits and harms of shiitake mushrooms
The beneficial properties of shiitake mushrooms are widely known throughout the world. The product has a unique composition and numerous medicinal properties. To fully appreciate the benefits, you need to read the description in more detail.
Composition of shiitake mushrooms
The mushroom grows naturally in China, Japan and other countries in Southeast Asia. For thousands of years, it has been highly valued in cooking and folk medicine and is considered truly miraculous. In the rest of the world, the mushroom does not grow on its own, but is cultivated artificially.
The benefits of Japanese mushrooms are due to their rich chemical composition. The pulp contains the following valuable substances:
- B vitamins in a wide range - B1 and B2, B4, B5, B6, B9;
- vitamins PP and D;
- ascorbic acid;
- monosaccharides and disaccharides;
- magnesium and iron;
- campesterol;
- copper and manganese;
- selenium and zinc;
- stearic, palmitic and myristic acids;
- sodium;
- ergocalciferol;
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids;
- linolenic and linoleic acids;
- amino acids - arginine, leucine, lysine, valine and others.
Thanks to this composition, Japanese mushrooms have many healing properties. But they are also valued for their pleasant taste; they go well with most culinary dishes.
What are the benefits of shiitake mushrooms?
The health benefits of shiitake mushrooms are varied and have beneficial effects on almost every system of the body. Namely:
- strengthen immune resistance and make the body more resistant to viruses;
- reduce the level of bad cholesterol and improve the condition of blood vessels;
- protect the cardiac system from the development of dangerous ailments and thereby prolong life;
- increase resistance to cancer - medicine uses shiitake mushrooms for cancer;
- prevent the formation of blood clots and are of great benefit if you are prone to varicose veins;
- improve the state of the metabolic system and promote weight loss when dieting;
- have a beneficial effect on the skin and help delay the aging process;
- promote healthy blood supply to the brain, strengthen memory and improve concentration;
- help remove toxic substances and accumulated waste from the body;
- help increase overall endurance and prevent the development of anemia;
- have a positive effect on the condition of the stomach and intestines.
Japanese mushrooms are useful to use if you are prone to nervous disorders. They are beneficial for long-term stress and depression, help cope with emotional stress and relieve insomnia.
Shiitake mushrooms during pregnancy
The benefits and harms of shiitake mushrooms become ambiguous for pregnant women.Despite the fact that the product has a beneficial effect on the human body and has few contraindications, it is better to avoid it while expecting a child.
The fact is that Japanese mushrooms contain quite a lot of chitin polysaccharide. When consumed, it easily enters the body of the developing fetus, penetrating the placental barrier, and can cause significant harm. According to doctors, the benefits and harms of shiitake mushrooms are also ambiguous during breastfeeding - the polysaccharide chitin is present in a woman's breast milk in minimal quantities, but can also harm the baby's health. During pregnancy and lactation, it is better to avoid this unusual product completely.
Shiitake mushrooms in treatment
The chemical composition of mushrooms makes them a valuable component in both folk and official medicine. The properties of mushrooms are especially popular in Southeast Asia - Japan and China, where shiitake mushrooms are included in many pharmaceutical products.
Medicines usually contain a liquid or dry extract - an extract of mushrooms in water or alcohol, or a fine powder from dried pulp. Shiitake mushroom is most often used in oncology; it is believed that its properties very effectively activate the body to fight cancer cells.
In Europe and America, the medicinal properties of Japanese mushrooms are currently the subject of research. However, experts now agree that the product has very great medical potential.The polysaccharide lentinan in the product is responsible for increasing resistance to tumors and infections. According to the results of experiments conducted on animals, shiitake mushrooms against cancer have a particularly good effect in combination with traditional remedies, enhancing their therapeutic effect.
The product is used to treat not only cancer, but also another dangerous disease. It has been established that shiitake in multiple sclerosis has a beneficial effect on the immune system and promotes the restoration of damaged myelin fibers. Under the influence of a useful product, the body intensively produces interferon, which plays a vital role in the fight against viral diseases. This is significant because it has been established that multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. It is necessary to take products based on the product for quite a long time - at least six months, but the results of the treatment bring very good results.
In addition to cancer and multiple sclerosis, shiitake vitamins also treat other serious and unpleasant ailments. Namely:
- lack of blood circulation and impotence, the product improves blood supply to the body and has a positive effect on the reproductive system, thereby returning a healthy libido;
- inflammatory diseases of any nature - reduces temperature and helps fight infection, thereby promoting rapid recovery;
- atherosclerosis and hypertension - scientific research confirms that regular consumption of medicinal mushroom powder allows you to reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood by 15-25% in just 1 month;
- arthritis - the anti-inflammatory properties of the product help fight joint swelling and pain, restore mobility to the limbs and help prevent new exacerbations;
- diabetes - the product stimulates the healthy functioning of the pancreas and allows, if not to refuse insulin injections, then at least to reduce their number.
The product is used not only to treat ailments, but also for rejuvenation purposes. Mushroom powder is included in many lotions, creams and masks with a restorative effect. Medicinal mushroom extract improves skin condition, increases its elasticity and stimulates rapid renewal of epidermal cells. Thanks to this, the skin can remain beautiful, smooth and radiant longer.
Is it possible to get poisoned by shiitake?
The product does not contain toxic substances. Shiitake mushrooms sold in stores are usually grown under artificial conditions under close supervision. Therefore, you cannot be poisoned by them - fresh mushrooms are completely harmless to the body and bring great benefits.
However, the benefits and possible harm of shiitake mushrooms have a fine line. The mushroom pulp contains the substance chitin. It is not digested in the stomach and intestines, and in excess amounts shiitake can lead to indigestion and associated discomfort.
Uses of shiitake mushroom
The product is widely used in traditional Asian recipes. Shiitake can be found in broths and side dishes, sauces and marinades. Mushroom pulp is combined with vegetables or meat, noodles or cereals, seafood, and also served as a main dish.Shiitake is completely versatile and suitable for any processing; they can be boiled and pickled, fried and salted, dried and frozen for long-term storage. Shiitake is often found in rolls and sushi.
Both fresh and dried shiitake are used in cooking. If we are talking about dried pulp, then before cooking it is pre-soaked in water for 8-10 hours.
Contraindications for shiitake mushrooms
The medicinal properties and contraindications of shiitake mushrooms are inseparable from each other. Basically, the product brings great benefits, but in some conditions it is better to avoid it.
In particular, contraindications for shiitake are:
- the presence of individual intolerance, an allergy to mushrooms or the components present in them is not very common, but if it exists, then it is necessary to completely abandon the product;
- bronchial asthma - shiitakes can provoke an exacerbation of the disease, especially if you are predisposed to allergies, since asthma is often one of the manifestations of an allergic reaction;
- tendency to constipation - any mushrooms are very rich in vegetable protein, and protein foods in large quantities make digestion difficult;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is better not to consume shiitake during the period of bearing and feeding a child, since the substance chitin, if it enters the baby’s body, even in small quantities, can cause significant harm;
- children's age, it is recommended to offer a healthy product to a child for the first time only after 14 years of age, since previously the sensitive child's stomach may not be able to cope with the digestion of shiitake.
When using the product, it is recommended to adhere to small daily dosages. Even with a healthy stomach, eating shiitake should not exceed 150 g per day. It is best to consume the product in the morning or daytime; if you eat mushrooms shortly before resting at night, this will interfere with healthy sleep, since the body will be busy digesting food.
Shiitake mushroom calories
Despite their high nutritional value and rich chemical composition, shiitake mushrooms have a fairly low calorie content. 100 g of fresh shiitake contains about 50 kcal. Dried mushrooms are much more nutritious because they contain no moisture; the figure is 300 kcal per 100 g of product.
Conclusion
The beneficial properties of shiitake mushrooms are in demand not only in cooking, but also in medicine, both folk and official. Traditional Asian mushrooms have a strong positive effect on the body and can provide relief even from serious chronic diseases.
Reviews about the benefits and harms of shiitake mushrooms
