Shiitake Mushroom and Its Importance

Introduction

Shiitake mushroom is a type of edible mushroom that has been grown and eaten for thousands of years by the peoples of the United States and Asia. It grows in the woods of a variety of species. Because of its easy way of cultivation and pungent flavour, it is considered an alternative crop in the United States. For centuries, the Shiitake mushroom is a popular food source in Asia. Shiitake has been used in the Orient for about 2000 years but have only been commercially cultivated since 1940.

Importance of Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitake mushroom has a lot of importance for our body in which one of which is that it protects human DNA from oxidative damage due to the availability of certain chemical compounds which are beneficial in less concentration. Shiitake contains Lentanin which heals chromosome damage caused by anticancer treatments. Another substance that helps reduce cholesterol levels and support cardiovascular health also available in Eritadenine.
Shiitake mushroom contains almost all eight types of essential amino acids for the human diet. Also contains fatty acids which are essential for the body which is known as linoleic acid. This acid helps us in maintaining weight and building muscle as well as bone-building benefits improve digestion and reduces food allergies and sensitivities.

The importance of the Shiitake mushroom explained below:

1. Fight Obesity
Some of the ingredients of the shiitake mushroom contain fat-reducing effects, such as, a soluble dietary fibre i.e. eritadenine and b-glucan, which is also present in barley, rye and oats. From studies on Shiitake Mushroom, we come to know that b-glucan reduce food intake, reduce plasma lipid (fat) levels and delay nutrition absorption.
The Scientists who are working on Shiitake Mushrooms are saying that shiitake mushrooms help to gain body weight, fat deposition and plasma triacylglycerol when taken with a high-fat diet. This encourages an effort to pursue human studies that observe Shiitake Mushroom’s efficacy for the treatment of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders.

2. Support Immune Function
The immune system of the Human body increases its ability by absorbing the important vitamins, minerals and enzymes which are present in large quantity in Shiitake Mushroom.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition evaluated 52 healthy males and females, aged 21–41 years, to check that Shiitake Mushroom improves the human immune system or not. In this test, five or 19 grams of mushrooms are consumed daily by each member of every group who participated in this test. This study last for four weeks.
As a result of this test, many of the functions of the human immune system improve, which includes cell-effecter function improved and improved gut immunity. Inflammation of the body also reduced due to mushroom cultivation.

3. Destroy Cancer Cells
Shiitake mushroom helps to fight against cancerous cells and some components in shiitake mushroom help to heal the damage of chromosome caused by anticancer treatment. From this research, Shiitake mushroom can be used as a natural cancer treatment.
Shiitake mushrooms were able to inhibit growth in tumour cells with their myco-chemical value. Shiitake mushrooms also help in starting apoptosis, a process of programmed cell death.

4. Support Cardiovascular Health
By consuming Shiitake mushroom Cardiovascular diseases can be lowered because it contains sterol compounds that delay the cholesterol production in the liver. It also contains the important type of nutrients known as Phytonutrients which stops sticking the cells from the blood vessels and stops friction of cells which maintains human blood pressure improve the circulation of blood in the vessels. Consumption of Shiitake mushroom decreases Low & high-density lipoprotein Cholesterol.

5. Contain Antimicrobial Properties
Shiitake mushroom also has medicinal importance because it contains some Antimicrobial Properties. In 2011 an institute of London tested the antimicrobial activity of Shiitake mushroom in gingivitis (A disease that involves inflammation of chewing gums due to biofilm of microorganisms at the gingival margin). its effect is compared with the mouthwash which was used at that time for gingivitis containing Chlorohexidine. Shiitake mushroom extract gives a positive result for this disease because it kills the harmful microorganisms which cause gingivitis but don’t kill beneficial micro-organisms. While Chlorohexidine has a limited effect on all the microorganisms.

6. Boost Energy and Brain Function
Shiitake mushroom also boosts human Brain function because it contains a very much important Vitamin which is B Vitamin. It is very helpful to turn the nutrient absorbed from food into useable energy for the body and support adrenal glands to function properly. It is also helpful in balancing hormones released from the pituitary gland which retain the human body active and improve performance. Thousands of people have a deficiency of B vitamins which causes unhealthy adrenal gland function and week blood cell production. Adding this mushroom to your diet full increase the consumption of B vitamins and deficiency can be minimized.

7. Provide Vitamin D
Shiitake mushroom is also an important source of vitamin D which was previously known to be best obtained from Sun. Although the value of vitamin D is not as much high as obtained from the Sun, it provides a decent source of it. Vitamin D is helpful in many ways i.e. it reduces the risk of diseases of the heart, best in improving bone health and helpful in some type of cancer. Vitamin D has a very important function in the body. i.e. it is important for the metabolism of phosphorus and calcium.
When vitamin D is taken with food it maintains human healthy body weight and regulates the immune system. It also manages brain function with the passage of time i.e. with age. Sun, eggs and Mushrooms are rich sources of Vitamin D.

8. Promote Skin Health
Shiitake Mushroom promotes our skin health because of its nutritious value. It contains selenium which is when taken with vitamin A and Vitamin E will be very helpful to reduce the acne and the scare which produce on the face. This mushroom contains 5-7% of selenium which is when taken with diet will reduce the scares and glow our skin. In this way, we can say that this mushroom is also a Natural Acne Treatment.

Shiitake mushroom also contains Zinc which is also helpful in promoting immune function which is helpful to improve skin healing. A trial has been done to check its effect on human skin which gives a positive result.

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