Maitake Mushroom Benefits

Just like other medicinal mushrooms like Reishi and Shiitake, Maitake mushroom benefits your health and is used to boost the immune system . Maitake has been used as food and medicine for thousands of years in China and Japan, and is famous for its taste and health benefits.

What are the Maitake Mushroom Benefits?

First, mushrooms in general are valuable health foods - low in calories, high in vegetable proteins, chitin, iron, zinc, fiber, essential amino acids, vitamins & minerals.

Second, Maitake mushrooms not only taste delicious, but are known to strengthen your immune system . Extracts of maitake mushrooms, particularly the beta glucan polysaccharide constituent, have shown to stimulate immune properties, resulting in producing anti-tumor effects. According to Harry Preuss, M.D., a physiology professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine, "Maitake is one of nature's richest sources of beta glucans ... which are among, or even may be, the most potent natural immune forces ever discovered". Laboratory studies have shown that Maitake mushroom extract can inhibit the growth of tumors and stimulate the immune system of cancerous mice.

Finally, Maitake mushrooms are also rich in L-ergothioneine, a potent compound produced by fungi that has strong antioxidant properties and provide cellular protection within the human body. They are anti-viral and may also reduce blood pressure and blood sugar.

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