Saturday, October 5, 2013

Medicinal Mushrooms



First of all, I must confess that I never ate a mushroom before I became an adult. I had only read or heard about edible mushrooms here and there. To be honest, I didn’t think mushrooms looked very appealing in the first place. However, I was intrigued by their look.   Eventually, I ended up buying some mushrooms at a local supermarket. Then, I began to develop a taste for them.
In my opinion, the problem with mushrooms is that you either like them or hate them. Personally, I like to eat them together with some type of meat. However, before you dismiss the idea of consuming mushrooms in any form, you should consider their medicinal properties.
 Nowadays, I use mushrooms mainly in supplemental form to strengthen my immune system. I have found that they play an important role in keeping me healthy, especially during the cold season. I think the reason for their beneficial effects on my health is their long list of health benefits.
Here is a list of some of the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms:
1.     Mushrooms contain potent antioxidants.
2.     They also contain vitamins such as some forms of vitamins B, and D.
3.     They contain minerals such as iron, potassium, and selenium.
4.     Mushroom extracts have been shown to increase immune system activity.
5.     Some types of mushroom have been shown to possess natural cancer-fighting properties because they contain a type of polysaccharide called beta glucan. Beta glucan is found in several mushrooms, yeasts, and other foods.  Beta glucan is believed to stimulate the immune system and activate certain cells and proteins that attack cancer, including macrophages, T-cells, natural killer cells, and interleukin-1 and -2.
If you are interested in trying any of these types of mushrooms, you should begin with some of the most popular types such as reishi, shiitake, maitake, cordyseps, or chaga mushrooms. Alternatively, you can try taking them in a multi-mushroom complex form. This way, you will be guaranteed to take advantage of their various benefits.
 

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