2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Shiitake is a medicinal mushroom, which takes its name from the shea - chestnut, and so - a tree, and means a mushroom that grows on a tree. In fact, it grows on hornbeam, oak and maple. Shiitake grows in Japan and China, but nowadays it is extremely widespread throughout the world.
Shiitake mushroom is also known as Imperial spongebecause in ancient times it was known for its powerful healing properties. It was during the imperial dynasty that Min Shiitake became known for his qualities. A curious fact is that all the collected mushrooms of this species went directly to the imperial court and so the valuable food is not known among the people. In the imperial court, shiitake was considered not only extremely useful for health, but also a powerful aphrodisiac.
The stump of Shiitake mushrooms is whitish to brownish in color, has a length of 3 to 5 cm and a thickness of about 1.3 cm. The flesh of the mushrooms is white and under the skin is brownish. It has a pleasant aroma. The fruiting body consists of a cone and a stump, the plates of Shiitake are white, and later acquire a gray-brown color. The spores are smooth and white.
In China, shiitake mushrooms are called the elixir of life. Research on the mechanism of action of this type of mushroom has been conducted for more than 50 years, and the proven benefits are many. Shiitake can be used not only to treat diseases, but also as an excellent health prevention.
In Eastern folk medicine, shiitake mushrooms are a food that is believed to activate the blood, which sounds very ordinary, but hides in its sense amazing health properties, the most popular quality of mushrooms is the anti-cancer effect.
Composition of Shiitake
Shiitake mushrooms are extremely rich in a number of valuable polysaccharides, lentinacin and lentinan. It contains proteins, essential amino acids, proteins, vitamins A, B1, B2, B12, as well as vitamins C, E and D. Shiitake are extremely rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, silicon.
However, special attention should be paid to the ingredient lentinan. It is actually a hydrocarbon that is thought to activate anti-cancer immune defenses.
Benefits of Shiitake
Shiitake mushrooms have many health benefits. Shiitake has been shown to be a powerful immune stimulant that has an excellent antiviral effect. Shiitake has a powerful restorative effect, helping to fight chronic fatigue.
Undoubtedly the most valuable property of the Shiitake mushroom is the anti-cancer effect. Japanese doctors have long found that the ingredient lentinan has a strengthening effect on the human immune system and the fight against tumors. Lentinan has been shown to stimulate immune cells, which is why they begin to produce interleukin or the so-called tumor necrosis factor.
Shiitake mushrooms are believed to help lower cholesterol, regulate blood pressure and prevent heart attack and the development of atherosclerosis. Mushrooms are used to improve the overall health of the body. Recommended against gallstones, joint pain, potency disorders, kidney and eye diseases. Shiitake are useful in hepatitis, infections, HIV.
The high amount of iron in Shiitake mushrooms makes them an extremely suitable food for vegetarians who may be deficient in this valuable mineral.
Shiitake mushrooms are extremely rich in honey, and only the consumption of 100 g of them provides half of the recommended daily intake for an adult, which is extremely high and makes these mushrooms one of the best plant sources of honey. Honey, on the other hand, is a mineral that works enviably with iron to form hemoglobin in red blood cells. Honey deficiency can cause dangerous conditions such as anemia and even osteoporosis.
Shiitake mushrooms are rich of lentionine - a compound that prevents platelet aggregation. This means that shiitake are excellent for preventing thrombosis.
Shiitake mushroom stump broth is believed to have been used by the ancient Chinese as a cure for diabetes and liver disease.
The use of shiitake to treat liver disease is not just a myth, because the ingredients of the mushroom have been shown to accelerate the processing of cholesterol in the liver and have a protective effect on rats, exposing the liver to a dangerous chemical.
Compared to white-haired mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms are 10 times more fragrant. This can be exacerbated when dried and rehydrated in water. Although still growing in the wild, China, Japan or America are making great efforts to breed them.
Shiitake mushrooms are known to stimulate the immune system and help fight many diseases. They provide important amounts of vitamins, minerals and enzymes and thus help effectively reduce free radicals.
Several studies have shown over time that these fungi would even help kill cancer cells, indirectly, through the strong effects that macrophages have on cells. They are responsible for identifying and neutralizing potential cancer cells in the body. Shiitake mushrooms stimulate macrophages and help them fight cancer cells.
Shiitake greatly help cardiovascular health. They contain phytonutrients that prevent the formation of deposits on blood vessels and improve circulation.
They are a real energizer for the body due to the large amount of vitamin B they contain. Vitamin B is also one that contributes to the body's hormonal balance.
Shiitake mushrooms can provide a fairly large amount of vitamin D, which is extremely useful when we spend most of the day in the office, away from sunlight. Vitamin D contributes to bone health, reduces the risk of heart disease, autoimmune diseases and increases the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
Shiitake in cooking
Dried shiitake mushrooms are an amazing universal spice that adds a deep umami flavor to dishes. Umami taste is typical of Asian cuisine, completely different from our familiar tastes sweet, bitter, salty and sour. Dried mushrooms can be added to some dried meats, fish and aged cheeses.
Shiitake can be added to vegetable and meat soups, pasta, sauces, salad dressings, risotto, meat dishes. Like some other types of mushrooms, dried shiitake has a much stronger aroma than fresh mushrooms. Before use, dried mushrooms should be washed and soaked for about 20 minutes in warm water.
Shiitake has a porous structure, thanks to which it will quickly rehydrate. The water in which the mushroom has remained should not be discarded because it has absorbed the aromas of Shiitake and can be used in cooking.
Photo: VILI-Violeta Mateva
Recipes with shiitake mushrooms can be found at the link on the site.
Reception at Shiitake
In addition to its edible mushroom form, shiitake can be found in the form of tinctures and dry extracts, various dietary supplements, immunostimulants, and some herbal preparations.
Shiitake mushrooms in powder form can be easily introduced into the diet. Just add in the mushroom soup cream or in a glass of water. This way you can take advantage of the properties of this superfood without complicating your menu too much.
It is recommended to use one or two teaspoons of shiitake mushroom powder every day. The powder can also be added to sauces, smoothies or used in tea infusion.
When buying dehydrated shiitake mushrooms, they should be firm, not moist. It is good to keep them in the refrigerator in a paper bag for up to a week. Dried, they can be stored for up to a year.
It's considered that Shiitake mushrooms are completely safe and can be taken without concern for drug interactions with other preparations. Sometimes it can cause stomach discomfort. It is not yet clear whether it is possible for the fungus to be ingested by pregnant and lactating women.
There are also no clear limits on the daily dose, and it is best for consumers to read the instructions for the product containing Shiitake. In the most common cases, take between 6 and 10 g of dried sponge per day or 1 to 3 g of dry extract (up to three times a day).
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Little Secrets In Cooking Mushrooms
Freshly picked mushrooms should be processed immediately - you should clean, process and eat them so that you can fully enjoy their perfect taste. However, wild mushrooms should be used with caution and should not be overused. You should not eat more than 250 g per week, because they still contain the radioactive element cesium 137, warn the Fresenius Institute.
Poisonous Mushrooms: Spotted Fly Agaric
One of the members of the large family of poisonous mushroom fly agaric is the Spotted fly agaric or also called Panther. You can see it from late spring to October. It is distributed mainly in deciduous and mixed forests and extremely rarely in coniferous ones.
Edible And Poisonous Mushrooms
There are many types of mushrooms, but some of them are extremely poisonous and even mushroom pickers who have years of experience can make a mistake and collect poisonous mushrooms. It is known that even if a poisonous mushroom has mushrooms in the total mass, they must all be discarded.
How To Cook Shiitake Mushrooms?
Shiitake mushroom , also called the Imperial Mushroom, has a history of several thousand years of cultivation and its use for healing and cooking. The name of the mushroom consists of two words - shea / chestnut / and take / tree /. Literally translated, the name of the mushroom means a mushroom that grows on a chestnut.
Useful Properties Of Shiitake Mushrooms
It cannot be said that shiitake mushrooms are typical for our native latitudes. The truth is that they gained popularity very soon - around the entry of more and more international products in the native cuisine. However, their popularity is justified - because they have great benefits for our health.
