Mushrooms are a familiar food source in many families' meals and play an important role in both traditional and modern medicine. With high nutritional value and numerous health benefits, mushrooms are loved not only for their flavor but also for their medicinal and nutritional properties. Let's explore popular mushroom types such as reishi, shiitake, straw mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms to better understand their benefits and nutritional values.
1. Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidum)
Reishi mushrooms have long been known as a rare medicinal mushroom, rich in polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and amino acids. They also contain a large amount of antioxidants that help the body combat harmful free radicals.
Reishi mushrooms are famous for their ability to support the immune system, helping the body fight various diseases. They are also believed to reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and assist in treating liver conditions. Some studies show that reishi mushrooms may help prevent cancer, regulate blood pressure, and protect heart health. Reishi is often used in the form of tea, powder, or dietary supplements.
Relieves stress and fatigue: Studies show that reishi mushrooms help regulate testosterone levels, boost the body's energy, improve sleep, elevate mood, enhance memory, reduce headaches, and prevent the risk of depression.
Boosts the immune system: This mushroom contains nutrients that enhance immunity, including B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, dendritic cells (DC), macrophages, and NK cells, which help strengthen health and fight diseases.
Good for heart health: Research indicates that using reishi mushrooms can reduce triglycerides in the blood and control cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.
Cancer prevention: Reishi mushrooms are known for their strong antioxidant properties, which help eliminate free radicals and reduce the risk of cancer. Notably, triterpenoids in reishi mushrooms inhibit the growth of leukemia and stomach cancer cells.
Blood sugar control: Reishi mushrooms can help reduce blood sugar and lipid levels while improving pancreatic blood flow, promoting continuous insulin production, and effectively managing blood sugar levels.
2. Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula)
Shiitake, or black mushrooms, are rich in vitamin D, B vitamins, and minerals such as iron, zinc, and selenium. This low-calorie mushroom is an excellent source of fiber, supporting digestion.
Health benefits: In traditional medicine, shiitake mushrooms are considered immune-boosting foods that help prevent the flu and are great for skin health.
Provides B vitamins: Shiitake mushrooms supply complex B vitamins that help the body metabolize food into energy. B vitamins also help produce red blood cells, preventing anemia in children. Consuming four mushrooms can provide 1/7 of the recommended daily riboflavin, 1/6 of vitamin B6, and 1/5 of niacin.
Protects heart health: The compound d-Eritadenine in shiitake mushrooms reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. Beta-glucans in shiitake also provide a similar effect, preventing the adhesion of certain molecules and protecting blood vessels.
Supplementary cancer treatment: Shiitake mushrooms contain lentinan, which inhibits enzymes linked to inflammation and cancer. Animal tests show that shiitake extracts can effectively fight colon cancer cells. Lentinan also supports the immune system, slowing the growth of breast cancer cells.
Fights TB toxins: Lentinan in shiitake mushrooms helps combat TB toxins. If used at 1g per day, twice a week, lentinan raises opsonin levels, potentially neutralizing TB toxins completely.
Supports weight loss: 100g of shiitake mushrooms contains only 34 calories, less than most vegetables, but offers 2.5g of fiber, plenty of water, and just 0.5g of fat, making it ideal for weight management. Shiitake mushrooms also contain 515 IU of vitamin D per 1,800g when cooked, which helps promote weight loss.
3. Straw Mushroom (Volvariella Volvacea)
Straw mushrooms are commonly grown on straw in rural Vietnam. They are rich in protein, carbohydrates, B vitamins, and fiber.Straw mushrooms support digestion due to their high fiber content. They are also beneficial for treating obesity, lipid disorders, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. Straw mushrooms help lower cholesterol, support memory and boost resistance.
4. Enoki Mushroom (Flammulina Velutipes)
Enoki mushrooms are thin, long, and have a sweet, crunchy taste. They contain high amounts of fiber, protein, B vitamins, and folic acid.
Despite being low in calories, enoki mushrooms are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are particularly rich in niacin, thiamine, and riboflavin, which are crucial for brain function.
Enoki mushrooms are high in fiber, important for digestive health, and help prevent conditions like constipation, hemorrhoids, liver issues, and stomach ulcers.
Supports heart health: Studies on mice have shown that those consuming enoki extracts have lower total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol levels, reducing heart disease risks.
Inhibits cancer cell growth: Research on mice shows enoki mushrooms' potential to slow the growth of cancer cells, particularly breast cancer cells in laboratory settings.
Boosts immunity: A protein compound in enoki mushrooms can enhance immune function. Animal studies in Taiwan found that enoki mushrooms effectively increase immune response and slow tumor growth in mice.
Mushrooms are not only a diverse, flavorful cooking ingredient but also offer significant health benefits. Each mushroom type has unique nutritional values and medicinal properties, from boosting the immune system to protecting heart health and preventing cancer. Adding mushrooms like reishi, shiitake, straw mushrooms, and enoki to your diet not only enriches meals but also improves overall health.
Check out some of our designs featuring mushrooms here.
