What are the health benefits, if any associated with eating mushrooms particularly Shiitake?
Mushrooms are low in fat, contain B vitamins and minerals such as potassium and around 15-30% protein as a percentage of dry matter although some of this protein is indigestible. Mushrooms are also a very good source of fibre. Substances isolated from shiitake mushrooms appear to have immunopotentiating properties (stimulate host resistance against infections & tumours), however, it is not known to what degree these compounds can help the immune system through the ingestion of cooked mushrooms. Lentinan, a water soluble polysaccharide commercially extracted from Shiitake mushrooms, is approved as an anti-cancer agent in Japan and is claimed to have marked antitumour effects when combined with chemotherapeutic agents in patients with recurrent gastric and colorectal cancer. Note: fresh mushrooms consist largely of water (around 90%) hence the high cost of dried mushrooms.
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