The Shitake mushroom is more than a delicious addition to your stir-fry (though, with its signature meaty texture and umami flavor, it’s always a crowd-pleaser). The truth is, disciples of this East-Asian fungus have sworn by its functional properties for thousands of years. Packed with B vitamins and a host of antiviral and antibacterial properties, Shitake mushrooms hold their own when it comes to nutrition.
So what makes these delicious capped mushrooms so mighty? Keep reading to find out why you should be talking about Shitake.
The human body depends on protein for even the most basic of functions. Whether you’re trying to pack on the muscle, or just need enough energy to get through the day, your body depends on its daily serving of protein. So how does Shitake fit in?
Shitake mushrooms are packed with amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Unique among plants and fungi, Shitake actually contains all eight essential amino acids, plus the fatty acid known as linoleic.
This impressive collection of compounds can help humans build muscle and lose weight, while offering bone-building benefits, digestion aid, and allergy reduction. Not bad for a finger-food.
But the nutritional benefits don’t stop there. Shitake also contains eritadenine substances, which aid in reducing cholesterol levels and bolstering cardiovascular health…
What is cholesterol again?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that circulates in your veins. It’s not necessarily a bad chemical, as it builds cells and produces vitamins and other hormones in your body. But in excess, cholesterol can wreak havoc on your heart health, causing higher risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke. Much of this excessive cholesterol comes from the fatty foods we like to eat, like cake, steak, and cheese.
But Shitake mushrooms have a proven ability to lower cholesterol levels. In fact, scientists at the Shizuoka University in Japan even found that eritadenine compounds in Shitake significantly decrease the concentration of cholesterol in human plasma. Talk about a hearty mushroom.
Immunity
Shitake also packs a punch when it comes to immunity. In 2015, The Journal of the American College of Nutrition published a study which evaluated 52 healthy males and females to decipher just how well Shitake mushrooms improve human immune function. The results were pretty juicy.
Participants consumed either 5 or 10 grams of mushrooms every day for four weeks. By the end of the trial, researchers concluded that consuming mushrooms improved cell effector function, while boosting gut immunity. Both of these results mean that the nutrients from Shitake can prepare your body to fight off disease and infection. Researchers additionally noted a reduction in inflammation resulting from the mushroom diet.
In yet another study, scientists claimed that the lentinan in Shitake mushrooms could help heal chromosome damage caused by anticancer treatments. In other words, the Shitake mushroom may just prove to be a cancer-fighting food.
Holy Shitake
Don’t switch to an all-Shitake diet just yet. There’s an easier way to get your daily fill of these amazing, disease-fighting fungi. Just reach for the ZHROOM Hydration Immunity Mix!
ZHROOM includes a healthy dose of Shitake among five other functional mushrooms, in a special blend designed to boost your immunity. It’s perfect if you’re pushing your heart-rate to the max at the gym. ZHROOM’s Shitake content can ensure that your heart is working at its optimal capacity, while managing cholesterol and blood pressure. And with all the nutritional value that makes Shitake a superfood, ZHROOM is sure to satisfy.
*LEGAL DISCLAIMER*
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ANY NEW DIET, EXERCISE AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENT PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR ARE TAKING PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS. THE STATEMENTS MADE ON THIS WEBSITE ARE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT MEANT TO REPLACE THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.