The shiitake mushroom, whose scientific name is Lentinula edodes, is a mushroom of Asian origin widespread mainly in Japan and China. It is considered the second most consumed edible mushroom in the world. The name shiitake means oak mushroom.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousThe mushroom shiitake, whose scientific name is Lentinula edodes, is a mushroom of Asian origin widespread mainly in Japan and China. It is considered to be the second most consumed edible mushroom in the world. The name shiitake means oak mushroom.
The cap of the shiitake mushroom is circular or kidney-shaped and its dimensions vary between 5 and 12 cm in diameter. The stem of the shiitake mushroom is squat and white-ocher in color. The color of the mushroom is brown with whitish patches. The shiitake mushroom grows in autumn and spring on the trunks of deciduous trees.
Index
Properties of Shiitake mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are also known as Chinese mushrooms o Japanese mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms are credited with stimulating properties of the body's immune defenses. In particular, the shiitake mushroom is said to be active against bacterial and viral agents.
Shiitake mushrooms are also associated with hepatoprotective (liver protective) properties. These mushrooms would also be able to help lower cholesterol and fight tooth decay and atherosclerosis.
Shiitake mushroom, along with reishi and miitake, is sandwiched between 'healing mushrooms' in the homonymous book written by Georges Halpern, scientist engaged in research related to the healing properties of mushrooms.
This group of fungi would be able to help our body with an antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action. The 'health mushrooms' would also help control Alzheimer's symptoms, raise the level of the immune system and detoxify the liver. In addition, shiitake mushrooms would support the intestinal bacterial flora.
Source photo: Rodales Organic Life
Uses of Shiitake mushrooms
The most common use for shiitake mushrooms is in nutrition. In fact, shiitake mushrooms are a typical ingredient of Chinese, Japanese and macrobiotic cuisine. They are used above all for the preparation of soups but can also be used in other first courses, for example in combination with rice, or as a side dish and as a condiment for other dishes.
Shiitake mushrooms are available for purchase in dried form especially in health food stores. Their use for cooking requires you to leave them to soak until they are softened and then move on to cooking and preparing the chosen recipe.
The use of shiitake mushrooms now goes beyond cooking. In fact these mushrooms, together with other mushrooms considered medicinal, such as reishi, are used for the realization of supplements. Thus, shiitake-based supplements can be found on the market, which are recommended to raise the immune system and protect cells from oxidative stress.
Controindicazioni
As stated by Dr. Luca Avoledo, the contraindications of shiitake concern those suffering from allergy to fungi and who has suffered a organ transplant.
Also, we've noticed that there's been a lot of talk lately medicinal mushrooms (a 'new business'?), but not everyone agrees on the healthiness of mushrooms for our diet. Some yogic traditions, for example, consider fungi to be parasites in which harmful toxins can accumulate for our organism and advise against their consumption as foods that are not beneficial for the body or the mind, therefore neither on a physical level nor on a spiritual level, inserting them among the 'static' foods, that is to say a low vital energy. The ancient yogis cataloged the different foods on the basis of the effects they felt in their body and at the level of the mind thanks to deep listening to themselves and intuition. As for the consumption of mushrooms, therefore, the choice is yours.
Marta Albè
Photo source: Lifestyle
Read also:
6 medicinal mushrooms with unexpected properties
Mushrooms: calories, properties and characteristics
How to grow mushrooms at home
