Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula edodes) - Dried Whole

Our Seasonal Delight abounds the Catskill Forest once again! These treasured Shiitake mushrooms are Organically grown by our production partners, Tivioli Mushrooms in Hudson NY and their spawn distributed amongst other oaks in our forest to aid in beneficial native regeneration practices, as well to culture our own plugs and mycelium for future mushroom log production efforts. Careful low heat drying to best preserve flavor and medicinal properties of this culinary delight is taken, and zero additives you find in store bought!

Shiitake mushrooms have been a staple food in many Asian households for many centuries. These mushrooms hold the record as the second most popular and the third most cultivated mushroom in existence today.

Shiitake is native to East Asia. It is widely used as a medicinal plant in traditional medicine due to the many health benefits documented in ancient medical books. It has a meaty texture and woody flavor. It is an excellent additive to salads, soup, and meat dishes. It's not surprising that you can find shiitake mushrooms in grocery stores. Its meaty and savory flavor are features that make it attractive to many grocery shoppers. Besides, it is loaded with lots of vitamins, including B12. It is also widely acclaimed to fight cancer as well as other cardiovascular infections, among many other beneficial features.

One might start wondering why this mushroom is so powerful. The reason is not farfetched; shiitake mushrooms have a combination of antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. They are also potent in fighting inflammations and controlling blood sugar. You can gain all these and more from simply adding shiitake mushrooms to your diet.

THE BENEFITS OF SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS Research has shown that shiitake mushrooms contain several phytochemicals that can protect the DNA from oxidative damage. Lentinan is one of its vital components found in shiitake mushrooms; it protects chromosome damage caused by anticancer treatment. This mushroom is also unique because it contains all of the eight essential amino acids and many other types of amino acids. It is not surprising that this mushroom has proved beneficial to human health in many ways. Here are eight benefits of consuming shiitake mushrooms in your diet.

PREVENTS OBESITY Some of the chemical components in shiitake mushrooms, such as eritadenine and b-glucan, have fat-reducing properties. Research has proved that b-glucan reduces food intake, increases satiety, and can reduce the level of fat in the plasma. According to research published in the journal of Obesity, shiitake mushroom was effective in curtailing the weight gain in rats fed with high-fat diets. The results of the study made researchers conclude that adding shiitake mushrooms to high-fat diets is efficient in preventing weight gain. Some other ongoing research is focusing on the efficiency of shiitake mushroom for the prevention and treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders in man.

SUPPORTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM The high nutrient content of shiitake mushroom, which includes vital vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, makes shiitake a potent immune booster. A study carried out by the American College of Nutrition made participants consume five to ten grams of mushrooms daily. The test also has a control group that does not consume shiitake mushroom at all. At the end of the experiment, it was found that the group that consumed shiitake mushroom has improved gut immunity and cell-effector functions. The research also shows that shiitake mushroom consumption leads to a reduction in gut inflammation.

KILLS CANCER CELLS Some research has indicated the potency of shiitake mushroom in fighting cancer cells. Also, lentinan, one of the chemical compositions in mushroom, is thought to restore chromosomes damaged caused by cancer treatments. In 2006, a group of researchers made a study on the potency of ethyl acetate extracted from shiitake mushroom. The result published in the Alternative and Complementary Medicine shows that shiitake mushroom is capable of inhibiting growth in tumor cells through microchemical actions. Shiitake mushroom was able to induce apoptosis, which is the process of programming cell death. This result indicates that shiitake mushrooms could be a potent natural treatment for cancer.

ENHANCES CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH Shiitake mushrooms have a family of compounds called sterols that can control the way the liver produces cholesterol. Apart from sterols, some other phytonutrients prevent the blood cells from sticking to the walls of the blood vessels, thereby preventing plaque accumulation. All these features help in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. A group of researchers at Tohoku University in Japan discovered that shiitake mushrooms prevent the blood pressure in hypertensive rats from increasing, The study shows that feeding on shiitake mushrooms caused a decrease in VLDL and HDL cholesterol. Only the VLDL cholesterol decreased in the rats that fed on maitake mushroom only.

ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES A study carries out in 2011 at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute in London tested the efficacy of shiitake mushrooms in combating gingivitis. They also compared the results with the top gingivitis mouthwash with the active ingredient chlorhexidine. Gingivitis is characterized by the buildup of biofilm in the gingival margin. The results show that the patients subjected to shiitake mushrooms treatment experienced a reduction in bacteria and other infectious oral microbes. Surprisingly, shiitake does not affect non-infectious organisms in the mouth. On the other hand, chlorhexidine has a mild effect on all organisms in the oral cavity.

INCREASES ENERGY AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS Shiitake mushroom has a high level of B vitamins, that is why it does an excellent job of supporting adrenal functions. It also plays a crucial role in converting nutrients from food into energy. They also help improve hormonal balance, increases focus, and cognitive functions. Adding Shiitake mushrooms can help solve the B vitamins deficiency that many Americans are presently suffering. Such deficiency leads to energy slums, cloudy thinking, and unhealthy blood cells, among many other symptoms.

EXCELLENT SOURCE OF VITAMIN D We all know that the sun is the best source of vitamin D, but you can still get a decent amount of this vital vitamin from shiitake mushrooms. Vitamin D is crucial for healthy bone and teeth formation and minimizes the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases as well as autoimmune diseases. This vitamin is also required for the normal absorption and metabolism of phosphorus and calcium. Other benefits of vitamin D include support for the proper functioning of the immune system and maintenance of healthy brain functions. It also reduces the severity of asthma attacks and lowers the risks of multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis in women.

IMPROVES SKIN HEALTH. A combination of selenium, vitamin A and Vitamin E helps alleviate acne and its deteriorating effect on the skin. Do you know that two hundred grams of shiitake mushrooms yeilds about 11.4 milligrams of selenium? This figure amount to 16% of the value you need daily value. That is why shiitake mushrooms is an effective natural remedy for acne. The zink content in shiitake mushrooms also helps strengthen the immune system and improve skin healing by reducing the accumulation of DHT. COMPARING SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS WITH OTHER TYPES OF MUSHROOMS Many species of mushrooms are known for providing high nutritional and healing values.

Let’s take a brief look at how shiitake mushrooms fares among other mushrooms. Shiitake can combat cancer cells, prevents infectious diseases, boosts the immune system, improves brain and cognitive functions, and it’s an excellent source of B family of vitamins In summary, Shiitake can provide the following nutrients in varying amounts, fats, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sugar, proteins, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6 and B12, and vitamin D. The mineral components include manganese, phosphorus, selenium, copper, zinc, potassium, manganese, and iron. IDEAS FOR PREPARING SHIITAKE MUSHROOM MEALS There are many ways of using shiitake mushrooms in recipes. You can decide to buy raw, cooked, or dried shiitake. This mushroom has become very popular due to its many health benefits. They are available in grocery stores all over the nation. Add shiitake to an omelet and garnish with other vegetables and avocado for additional health benefits. Cook brown rice with shiitake mushrooms, grated lemon, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. Add shiitake to your soups for additional nutrients. Add shiitake mushrooms to your Green Bean Casserole Recipe. Create a delicious soup with shiitake mushrooms, peeled shrimps, chicken stock, ginger, coconut milk, and lime juice. Use ghee, marsala wine, and shiitake to create a highly flavored sauce. Shiitake mushrooms Contain the following Minerals and Nutrients Niacin: Almost every cell in the human body requires niacin to function and metabolize other nutrients. Vitamin D: Vitamin D is not easy to find in food products (it typically comes from sunlight). Iron: Red blood cells require iron. One cup of oyster mushrooms gives you 12% of your recommended iron intake which makes them a great meat substitute in that respect. Shiitake mushrooms also contain 8% each of your daily recommended amount of important nutrients like Riboflavin Potassium Vitamin B6 B Vitamins Folic acid (folate) Magnesium Vitamin C Pantothenic acid Amino acids 8 Health Benefits of Shiitake Mushrooms Traditional Chinese medicine has understood the value of Shiitake mushrooms and other medicinal mushrooms for centuries. Here are some of the most well-researched shiitake mushroom benefits.

1. Immune System Support The beta-glucans in Shiitake mushrooms make them one of the best foods on the planet for protecting your immune system against short- and long-term illnesses. Unlike some foods that either stimulate or repress the immune system, mushrooms balance it. Plus, shiitake mushrooms are loaded with other antioxidants to help prevent free radical damage and oxidative stress so your immune system can defend itself against aging.

2. Lowering High Blood Pressure Your body needs nutrients like vitamin D to regulate blood pressure levels. Did you know that most people who live in cold climates are deficient in vitamin D? One study found that dietary mushrooms like Shiitake reduced blood pressure in rats with spontaneous or unexplained high blood pressure.

3. Regulating Cholesterol Levels Since mushrooms like shiitake have a savory flavor and no cholesterol, they're a great substitute for meat in many sautéed dishes.

4. Building Strong Bones Shiitake mushrooms have plenty of important nutrients for building strong bones. Specifically, vitamin D and magnesium. While most people focus on calcium, your body also needs vitamin D and magnesium to process calcium and store it in your bones.

5. Anti-Inflammatory Properties The beta-glucans and antioxidants in Shiitake mushrooms make it a great food for lowering inflammation. Some research shows that beyond beta-glucans, some of the Shiitakes anti-inflammatory properties come from a unique and somewhat unknown amino acid called ergothioneine.

6. Anti-Cancer Properties The beta-glucans in mushrooms like Shiitake function as potent antioxidants that may protect the body against cancer. One study found that Shiitake mushrooms have potential to be effective for certain types of cancer cells. (3)

7. Protecting the Heart Against Cardiovascular Disease Ergothioneine is also an excellent amino acid for protecting the heart because it prevents the buildup of plaque. Perhaps this is also why Shiitake mushrooms are able to lower cholesterol levels. According to the research, ergothioneine lowers "systemic" inflammation across the entire body which often contributes to diseases like dementia and diabetes One study also found that consuming Shiitake mushrooms reduced triglycerides and cholesterol levels in diabetic patients (as well as high blood sugar levels).

8. Defend Against Neurodegenerative Diseases Finally, the amino acid ergothioneine is a cytoprotectant. In other words, it protects cells against oxidative stress and free radical damage. That's why mushrooms like oysters have potential for defending against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia. Happy to share our bounty and blessings with you and supporting our native species regenerative forestry efforts!