The most well-known of all the oriental mushrooms, the shiitake mushroom not only tastes good, but also has a number of potencies. Its name comes from the Japanese words ‘shii’, which refers to the tree it grows on, and ‘také’, which simply means mushroom. Now you know a little bit more about these wonderful fungi you probably want to know what the advantages of eating them are? Well you’re in the right place as here follow the Top 5 Health Benefits of Shiitake Mushrooms!
1. Helps prevent weight gain
Shiitake mushrooms are well-regarded for their ability to deter fat and weight gain. A study done on rats showed that shiitake mushrooms prevent fat deposition and weight gain even when the rats had a high fat diet.
2. Lowers cholesterol
Shiitake mushrooms contain an enzyme called eritadenine. This enzyme has been shown in studies to reduce the amount of blood cholesterol in people, shown by an increase in cholesterol in faeces. This in turn reduces the amount of cholesterol in the body.
3. Antioxidants
Research has shown that these mushrooms contain more of the antioxidant L-ergothioneine than either of the two sources that were believed to have the most, namely: chicken liver and wheat germ. L-Ergothioneine is often used to counter liver damage, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and heart disease. Shiitake mushrooms are useful as a result to help fight off or prevent these conditions.
4. Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is a modern day issue with people being exposed to less and less sunlight, especially in the winter months. As a result, supplementing your diet with vitamin D rich foods is incredibly important. Producing vitamins D2, D3 and D4, shiitake mushrooms are an easy way to increase your vitamin D intake.
5. Skin care
Containing a good amount of selenium, shiitake mushrooms have also been called a natural acne treatment. Research has indicated a selenium deficiency can lead to skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis. Therefore, introducing shiitake mushrooms into your diet should help improve such problems.
Now you know more about these ‘fun-guys’ you are probably itching to find a way to put them into your diet. Watch the video above for a quick and easy recipe for these wonderful mushrooms. With the ability to help your skin, heart and more these mushrooms are well worth trying. Already tried them out, how did it go? Let us know below, join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. (Check out our other mushroom articles too while you’re here: Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, Reishi, and these other Top 5’s if you’d like to easily get and Keep YOUR Fit ON!)
