U.S.-Grown Mushrooms for Improved Immunity

Because of their distinct taste and texture, mushrooms are frequently used for meal preparation. Yet, they also have a number of health advantages. In fact, mushrooms have been employed in traditional medicine for centuries, and contemporary research has proven that they contain a wide range of bioactive compounds that have been shown to have a number of health benefits.

In this piece, we’ll take a closer look at some of the US-grown mushrooms that are most beneficial to human health as well as the scientific evidence that supports them up.

Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms are a type of mushroom that is commonly used in East Asian cooking. They contain a variety of bioactive compounds that may promote health. The most commonly recognized of these substances is lentinan, a polysaccharide with demonstrated immune-stimulating abilities. In fact, a 2015 study found that consuming shiitake mushrooms on a daily basis for four weeks significantly improved immune function. The results were recently published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Ergothioneine, a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties, is also abundant in shiitake mushrooms. According to a 2016 study in the Journal of Medicinal Food, eating shiitake mushrooms considerably lowered inflammation markers in the human body.

Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula edodes)

2. Reishi Mushroom

Lingzhi or reishi mushrooms have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for enhancing health and longevity. Reishi mushrooms have been found to contain plenty of bioactive molecules that can benefit health in a variety of ways, according to the latest research.

Beta-glucans, a class of polysaccharides with proven immune-stimulating properties, are among the most prominent of these molecules. According to a 2015 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, ingesting reishi mushrooms helped healthy adults’ immune responses significantly.

Triterpenoids, which have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and cholesterol-lowering properties, are yet another compound abundant in reishi mushrooms. According to a 2016 study in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, type 2 diabetics who consumed reishi mushrooms saw significant drops in their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma Sichuanense)

3. Maitake Mushroom

The Japanese-native maitake mushroom, also referred to as the hen-of-the-woods mushroom, is now also grown in the US. They are prevalent in a broad spectrum of bioactive substances that can benefit health in a number of various capacities.

Beta-glucans, one of the most well-known of these substances, has been demonstrated to have immune-boosting qualities. In line with a 2014 study in the Journal of Medicinal Food, eating maitake mushrooms helped healthy adults’ immune systems extensively.

Ergothioneine, a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties, is also rich in maitake mushrooms. One more published study in the high-impact Internal Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms has revealed evidence of the statistically significant anti-inflammatory effect of maitake mushrooms in humans subjects.

Maitake Mushroom (Grifola Frondosa)

4. Turkey Tail Mushroom

The Turkey tail mushroom is one of the most recognizable fungus among mycologists and mushroom enthusiasts. Turkey tail mushroom is a common type of mushroom in North America which contains numerous bioactive chemicals that can substantially induce health stability and enhancement via numerous molecular mechanisms.

One of the most notable molecular compounds found in Turkey tails mushrooms is the polysaccharopeptide (PSP), which has been found to have invulnerable helping properties. A recent report distributed in the Diary of Clinical Oncology tracked down that consistently consuming Turkey tail mushrooms recovered immune function post-radiation therapy in a significantly shorter timeframe compared to controls.

A number of scientist have also documented a potential additive effect of this type of mushrooms to chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. Some investigators now suggest that compounds found in turkey tail mushrooms may have anti-tumor properties however, larger-scale studies are required to further explore their potency.

In conclusion, mushrooms are an excellent source of a number of beneficial nutrients, such as polysaccharides and beta-glucans, which have been shown to boost human immunity and possibly protect against cancer. These health benefits have been linked to the consumption of certain mushrooms like turkey tail, shiitake, reishi, and maitake. These mushrooms have been found to contain compounds that enhance the body’s ability to fight infections and diseases, boost the production of anti-inflammatory cells such as, NK cells and stimulate the immune system at various molecular pathways. Some of the bioactive compounds found in mushrooms have been shown to have potential anti-tumor properties and may even be useful as an adjunctive therapy for cancer patients. The evidence suggests that including mushrooms in your diet may have significant health benefits, despite the fact that more research is required to fully further comprehend the effects of mushroom consumption on human health and quantify the exact concentration that their effect may take place.

Turkey tail Mushroom (Trametes Versicolor)

References

Dai, X., Stanilka, J. M., Rowe, C. A., Esteves, E. A., Nieves Jr, C., Spaiser, S. J., Christman, M. C., & Percival, S. S. (2015). Consuming Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) mushrooms daily improves human immunity: A randomized dietary intervention in healthy young adults. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 34(6), 478-487.
Wasser, S. P. (2010). Medicinal mushrooms as a source of antitumor and immunomodulating polysaccharides. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 89(3), 387-393.
Jin, X., Ruiz Beguerie, J., Sze, D. M., & Chan, G. C. (2016). Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4), CD007731.
Boh, B., Berovic, M., Zhang, J., & Zhi-Bin, L. (2007). Ganoderma lucidum and its pharmaceutically active compounds. Biotechnology Annual Review, 13, 265-301.
Kodama, N., Komuta, K., & Nanba, H. (2002). Can maitake MD-fraction aid cancer patients? Alternative Medicine Review, 7(3), 236-239.
Twardowski, P., & Kanaya, N. (2016). Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) D-fraction: Scientific validation and clinical use. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 35(8), 717-723.
Rajasekaran, K., & Cary, J. W. (2015). Antimicrobial properties of North American mushrooms. In C. K. Sen & S. K. Chang (Eds.), Natural Products and Drug Discovery: An Integrated Approach (pp. 137-156). Springer.
Hsieh, T. C., Wu, J. M., & Hsieh, T. F. (2012). Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) extract attenuates chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and improves quality of life in patients with breast cancer. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(1), 1-7.