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Fun truth: I’ve a complete basket of mushroom coffees and drinks on my espresso bar. One of the powerhouse mushrooms you’ll discover in there’s maitake.
This humble mushroom can also be referred to as “hen of the woods.” Its overlapping fronds resemble the feathers of a nesting hen, therefore the identify. Over the centuries, maitake’s many advantages have sparked the curiosity of researchers and well being fanatics alike. Not solely is it a medicinal mushroom, however its scrumptious umami taste makes it a prized culinary ingredient.
What Are Maitake Mushrooms?
The maitake mushroom, often known as Grifola frondosa, is an edible mushroom native to China. It additionally grows within the mountains of northeastern Japan, Europe, North America, and different elements of Asia. Besides hen of the woods, one other frequent identify for this mushroom is “sheep’s head.”
“Maitake” means dancing mushroom in Japanese. The identify supposedly comes from folks dancing for pleasure upon discovering it. People have recognized for hundreds of years how useful such a mushroom is. It’s one of many mushroom varieties thought-about a “medicinal mushroom.” Maitake has a protracted historical past of each culinary and medicinal use: “Let food be thy medicine.”
Nutrients in Maitake Mushrooms
Maitake mushrooms are a wonderful supply of amino acids, B nutritional vitamins, vitamin D, phosphorus, and potassium. They additionally present dietary fiber to feed useful intestine micro organism. Their cell partitions are wealthy in anti-inflammatory beta-glucans that assist help the immune system.
Vitamin D
Maitake mushrooms are a pure supply of vitamin D, however the quantity can fluctuate resulting from rising circumstances, solar publicity, and maturity. When Maitake mushrooms are uncovered to daylight or ultraviolet (UV) mild throughout their development, they’ll synthesize vitamin D. It’s form of like what human pores and skin does when uncovered to daylight. The sort of vitamin D present in fungi is D2 slightly than D3.
Phosphorus
Maitake mushrooms even have phosphorus. Our physique makes use of this important mineral for plenty of completely different physiological processes. Just a few examples embody bone well being, power metabolism, cell membrane construction, and DNA/RNA synthesis.
Potassium
Potassium is current in most vegetation and fungi and is essential for the human weight-reduction plan. This important mineral performs an necessary position in sustaining well being, together with fluid steadiness.
Along with sodium and magnesium, potassium is an electrolyte. These parts carry an electrical cost and are concerned in hundreds of a number of crucial processes. Beyond its position in fluid steadiness, it helps nerve operate, muscle operate, and coronary heart well being.
Healing Benefits of Maitake Mushrooms
Maitake mushroom has gained consideration for its potential well being advantages.
It has many bioactive compounds, together with polysaccharides, beta-glucans, antioxidants, and different phytonutrients. These compounds probably contribute to its medicinal properties, making it a sought-after mushroom.
Immune-Supporting
Medicinal mushrooms are recognized for supporting the immune system. Maitake mushrooms aren’t any exception. Like different medicinal mushrooms, Maitake mushrooms include beta-glucans. These mushroom-based polysaccharides assist help a wholesome immune response. Polysaccharides usually are advanced carbohydrates made up of smaller sugar molecules. These sugars might help quite a lot of processes that make the physique extra resilient.
A 2014 animal examine appeared on the immune-enhancing impact of each maitake and shiitake mushrooms. The researchers discovered maitake mushrooms stimulated an intense immune response. However, they labored synergistically with shiitake for a stronger impact. The mushroom mix was essentially the most highly effective, whereas the maitake alone got here in at a detailed second.
Provide Cancer Support
Because they’re good at modulating the immune system, maitake mushrooms might help the physique in preventing towards most cancers. Research reveals the beta-glucans in maitake have an antitumor immune response. In some scientific research, maitake blocked tumor development in mice.
The beta-glucans might improve the exercise of particular immune cells, comparable to pure killer (NK) cells and macrophages. These cells play a vital position in figuring out and destroying most cancers cells. By supporting immune operate, maitake mushrooms might assist our capacity to fight most cancers.
Another manner maitake mushrooms may also help with most cancers is by selling apoptosis. Apoptosis is programmed cell loss of life that eliminates broken or irregular cells (like most cancers cells). Some research recommend maitake mushroom extracts might induce apoptosis in bladder and breast most cancers cells.
A promising extract is maitake D-fraction, which is accessible in complement type. Vitamin C enhances the motion of each D-fraction and MD-fraction maitake mushroom extracts.
Maitake mushrooms shouldn’t essentially change different most cancers therapies. However, they’ll complement different therapies. Always observe the medical recommendation of a healthcare skilled you belief.
May Balance Cholesterol Levels
Another manner Maitake mushrooms might assist thrust back persistent sickness is by balancing levels of cholesterol. While LDL (low-density lipoprotein) ldl cholesterol is sometimes called “bad” ldl cholesterol, it’s not fairly so easy. Lipoprotein professional Dr. Cromwell explains extra right here in this podcast episode. Other well being elements (particularly insulin resistance) play an enormous position in our levels of cholesterol.
Maitake’s antioxidants may scale back oxidative stress and irritation. As irritation decreases, there’s much less accumulation of ldl cholesterol within the arteries. The result’s safety towards coronary heart illness.
May Reduce Blood Pressure
Finding methods to devour maitake commonly might scale back hypertension. In one animal examine, researchers gave maitake extract to rats and lowered age-related hypertension. The researchers had been stunned to search out the D-fraction extract additionally improved insulin sensitivity. This might assist clarify why maitake additionally helps with ldl cholesterol steadiness.
In an older animal examine (1989), researchers fed maitake mushrooms to rats for eight weeks. At the tip of the examine, blood strain, triglycerides, and levels of cholesterol all went down. Maitake mushrooms’ capacity to decrease these markers implies they could assist scale back the danger of metabolic syndrome and heart problems.
Helps Blood Sugar Balance & Diabetes
A Japanese examine examined a powdered maitake fruiting physique on diabetic mice. The maitake mushroom powder had highly effective anti-diabetic properties. The enhancements occurred over 4 months — the period of the examine.
Another examine appeared on the results on diabetic rats. Feeding this mushroom to the rats improved their glucose tolerance and blood glucose ranges by the tip of the examine. The researchers concluded that the bioactive compounds within the mushrooms could possibly scale back the signs of diabetes.
Promotes Fertility
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a situation that causes the ovaries to develop cysts round their outer edges. These fluid-filled cysts include follicles, however they don’t commonly launch eggs. This leads to rare intervals, lack of ovulation, and extra hair development. Women with PCOS might produce other hormone-related signs, however essentially the most discouraging one is infertility.
Maitake mushrooms could possibly assist. A 2010 Japanese examine adopted ladies with PCOS who took both maitake extract or the drug clomiphene citrate. The outcome was that maitake extract induced ovulation for 77% of PCOS sufferers. The mushroom was nearly as efficient because the prescription drug.
Risks & Precautions of Maitake Mushrooms
Maitake mushrooms are typically thought-about fit for human consumption. They have a protracted historical past of culinary and medicinal use in Asian international locations. However, it’s crucial to pay attention to potential dangers and unwanted effects and take mandatory precautions. Here are a number of issues for maitake mushrooms:
Because maitakes can decrease blood sugar ranges, it’s important to watch out when on blood sugar-lowering drugs. In some instances, maitake lowered blood sugar ranges an excessive amount of, which may result in hypoglycemia.
How to Use Maitake
Your native grocery retailer might carry contemporary maitake mushrooms within the produce part. If not, you may typically discover dried maitake in a pure meals retailer or on-line. To retailer, preserve maitake mushrooms in a paper bag within the fridge to permit them to “breathe” and take up extra moisture.
Maitake mushrooms are scrumptious in soups, stir-fries, omelets, and casseroles. You can even take pleasure in them sauteed in butter or olive oil. This hen of the woods can also be glorious when paired with an precise hen, like roast hen. Here are some extra methods to take pleasure in Maitake mushrooms:
- Sauteed or Stir-Fried: Cook them in butter or olive oil over medium warmth till tender and barely browned. Use as a facet dish or add them to salads, rice (risotto), or your favourite sort of pasta.
- Roasted: Roasting maitake mushrooms enhances their taste and creates a pleasant texture. Toss the mushrooms with olive oil, garlic, and herbs, then unfold them out on a baking sheet and roast within the oven till golden brown and crispy on the edges.
- Grilled: Maitake mushrooms are glorious for grilling. Simply brush them with oil and season with salt and pepper. Then grill them till tender and barely charred. Grilled maitake mushrooms make a scrumptious and savory addition to any BBQ or cookout.
- Tea and Broths: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) typically makes use of maitake mushrooms in natural teas or broths. These are straightforward methods to get the well being advantages of maitake.
- Mushroom Coffee: You’ll typically discover powdered mushrooms or maitake mushroom extract in mushroom coffees. Check out this weblog submit to be taught extra about mushroom espresso.
A Few Tips For Eating Maitake
When cooking with Maitake mushrooms, clear them correctly earlier than use. Gently wipe them with a humid fabric or use a tender brush to take away filth or particles. Avoid washing them as they take up water simply. When they tackle an excessive amount of water, it may well have an effect on their texture and taste.
Maitake mushrooms can be found contemporary, dried, or in complement type. If you’re utilizing dried Maitake mushrooms, rehydrate them in heat water earlier than cooking to revive their texture and taste. If you need the advantages of Maitake mushrooms with out consuming them each day, you’ll find them in complement type. Ideally, they’re standardized to 30% D-fraction.
Maitake and different medicinal mushrooms are a wonderful addition to your well being routine.
What I Do
I commonly drink medicinal mushrooms in tasty mushroom “coffees” and teas. The children and I additionally love Four Sigmatic’s scorching chocolate and Golden Chai Latte that includes medicinal mushrooms!
To be taught extra about different kinds of medicinal mushrooms and their advantages see:
Have you eaten or taken maitake mushrooms in some type? What had been your outcomes? Share under!