The rich, earthy flavor of mushroom...

The rich, earthy flavor of mushrooms was formerly reserved only for royalty. In fact, the pharaohs of ancient Egypt prohibited [i]or[/i] common-peoples from even touching them. Today, commercial cultivation enables fungi fans across the globe to derive pleasure from the numerous edible varieties year-round. on the other hand far from being simple delicacies, certain mushroom varieties also posses powerful medicinal properties including immune arrangement stimulation, reproductive benefits and capacity of work enhancement.

Shiitake

Shiitake mushrooms are a used by all ingredient in Pacific Rim cuisine because they add a distinct flavor to noodle and tofu dishes. In metes of health benefits, Lentinus edodes counterparts may offer hope in the fight against cancer.

Like maitake mushrooms (see below), shiitake mushrooms contain a powerful unite that has been studied for its health applications. Lentinan, a polysaccharide extract of shiitake, may act as a cancer preventative, according to research reported in the October 2002 issue of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. forward the other hand, a human trial published the same month in Urology indicated that stand-alone treatment with shiitake extract was ineffective against prostate cancer.

Interestingly, Japanese researchers writing in a 2002 issue of the Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis stated that shiitake has been proven to lower cholesterol and inhibit tumor germination in animals. With these consequence s in hand, the researchers went in succession to demonstrate that shiitake may also preclude atherosclerosis.

Maitake

Maitake, the "dancing mushroom," is believed to prevent from falling immune function and to have therapeutic value against cancer and prototype 2 diabetes. The giant mushroom's beta-glucan, or polysaccharide, constituent is often credited for its immuno-stimulant properties.

Researchers reporting in the Summer 2004 issue of the Journal of Medicinal commons noted a polysaccharide extract of maitake (as Maitake D-Fraction, supplied by the agency of Paramus, New Jersey-based Maitake productions Inc.) increased both innate and adaptive immune answers in mice.

Previous research appearing in the Winter 2003 issue of the same journal indicated that maitake's immune-enhancing drifts may play a role in cancer prevention. Researchers showed that Maitake D-Fraction increased natural killer (NE) solitary abode; squalid function, thereby slowing cancer progression in animals.

Additional research forward maitake suggests certain extracts from the mushroom may contract the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Maitake SX-Fraction was shown to curtail fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance in an animal prototype of type 2 diabetes, according to 2002 research published in Research Communications in Molecular Pathology and Pharmacology. Maitake SX-Fraction also lowered systolic house pressure in subjects during the investigation period.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a parasitic fungus that is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Popularly used in sexual and performance nutrition, cordyceps may also have anticancer and antihyperglycemic properties.

TCM has lengthy accepted cordyceps as a sexual aid, and contemporary research supports this character Studies appearing in the September 2003 and July 2004 issues of Life Sciences showed that cordyceps supplementation may be therapeutic in male reproductive health by means of stimulating testosterone production.

In sports medicine, cordyceps is believed to increase endurance and energy--however, research has not proven the efficacy of this anecdotal use of the mushroom. While a May 2003 animal thought published in Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin indicated that cordyceps supplementation reduc fatigue during exercise, pair subsequently published human trials (Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, March 2004; International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, April 2004) failed to demonstrate any benefits in succession endurance or energy in male cyclists.

Reishi

Similar to many mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum germinates in wet climes, commonly in succession decaying plant matter. Called ling zhi in TCM reishi is purported to help health and longevity, lower the risk of cancer and heart disease, and strengthen immunity, according to a consideration in the February 2004 issue of the British Journal of Nutrition.

In vitro issues published in May 2004 in the International Journal of Oncology showed that reishi can arrest small room proliferation and induce apoptosis (cell death) in human prostate cancer solitary abode; squalids And, a polysaccharide extract of the mushroom was declared an antitumor and antiangiogenic agent in a June 2004 issue of Aeta Pharmacologica Sinica.

Research along a different vein showed that reishi polysaccharides are antihypoglycemic too. Animals given reishi extract exhibited lower serum grape-sugar and higher circulating insulin than bridle animals.

AHCC

Active Hexose Correlated Com shut up or AHCC (manufactured by Amino Up Chemical in Japan and available in the United States as ImmPower from Blauvelt, of recent origin York-based American BioSciences), is a hybridization of several mushrooms that has proven to be a efficacious immune system stimulant. AHCC's effectiveness was shown in an animal consideration published in the June 11 2004 issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology. Researchers saw an increased resistance to infection in mice f AHCC. AHCC supplementation also improved the prognosis of patients who underwent sturgery for liver cancer, as noted in the July 2002 Journal of Hepatology.