Usually thought of as a vegetable, a mushroom is a fungus that is full of nutrients that can boost the immune system and combat many diseases and conditions.
Mushrooms are low in carbohydrates and calories and high in B vitamins, chitin, fiber, iron, niacin, potassium, protein, riboflavin, selenium and zinc. They also contain high levels of beta-glucans, compounds that keep immune cells alert, and ergothioneine, an important antioxidant. Mushrooms also contain germanium, a nutrient that boosts oxygen use in the body and fights free radical damage.
Over 200 mushroom species are used in Chinese medicine and 25% have been found to fight tumors.
Cordyceps
Numerous studies are finding that cordyceps mushrooms can fight cancer by inhibiting cancer cell division and growth. Cordyceps interfere with how cancer cells make proteins and stop metastatic spread of cancerous tumors.
Maitake
Maitake mushrooms have improved the health of AIDs patients and the blood sugar levels of diabetics. They may also reduce hypertension. Maitake enhances the immune system and stops the growth of tumors
Oyster
Oyster mushrooms ease tendon tightness and strengthen blood vessel walls. They are very rich in iron and can help combat anemia.
Reishi
Reishi mushrooms have been getting a lot of attention. Their beta-glucans increase T-cell levels in the immune system which can help people suffering from immune disorders.
This immune boost can help reduce cancer cell growth and the spread of tumors.
Reishi mushrooms contain ganoderic acids that lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of blood clots and even help to correct arrhythmia.
Reishi also contains lanostan, a natural antihistamine that can treat arthritis and muscle aches.
This “medicine of kings” can improve memory and concentration and act as a sleep aid and calming stress-buster.
Reishi, however, is a bitter and woody mushroom.
Shiitakes
Shiitakes contain lentinan, a substance that can heal chromosome damage caused by anti-cancer treatments.
The eritadenine in shiitakes can help reduce cholesterol levels.
Lentinula edodes mycelium (LEM) in shiitake mushrooms helps prevent and treat cancer, heart disease, hepatitis, high blood pressure and infectious diseases.
White mushrooms
White mushrooms have more copper, potassium, protein and selenium than either oyster or shiitake mushrooms.
Porcinis, portabellas and morels are also mushrooms loaded with nutrients and antioxidants.
Mushrooms and vitamin D
Your best source of vitamin D is the sun, but there are very few good food sources of vitamin D as well. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to everything from depression and osteoporosis to heart disease and cancer.
Foods fortified with vitamin D usually have a form that isn’t easily metabolized in the body. Mushrooms contain a form of a vitamin D precursor that can be transformed into usable vitamin D with the addition of ultraviolet light.
Exposing mushrooms to UV light for just five minutes creates 100% of our recommended daily allowance of vitamin D.
You just can’t go wrong going mad for mushrooms.
Healthy Recipes with Mushrooms
Dr. Axe, I’ve been following the healthy diet plan and bone both regime to heal my leaky gut syndrome, and also taking the supplements you have prescribed. My leaky gut has caused an autoimmune issue and I have alopecia, started out slowly, but now have experienced total hair loss. I have been on the program for 2 weeks and will continue; I feel as though I’m going in the right direction. An acquaintance of mine, that suffered with alopecia, in addition to an anti-inflammatory diet, no caffeine and alcohol has also been taking Reishi, Shitaki and Cordyceps mushrooms and is not experiencing really good hair growth. Would it be acceptable to add these mushrooms to my regime as well?
Yes, cordyceps could help. Also check out these:
https://draxe.com/hair-loss-remedies/
https://draxe.com/6-secrets-reversing-hair-loss-balancing-hormones/
I meant to say that he IS experiencing very good hair growth.
I have a supplement by Host Defense called Turkey Tail Immune Support. Is this one of the mushrooms you have mentioned above? A friend who is a health coach suggested it for thyroid problems. Right now, I am actually looking for something to help with anemia. Thank you.
For anemia, I would start following the protocols and suggested supplements given here:
https://draxe.com/anemia-natural-cures/
A FB friend mentioned ‘Healthy Coffee’ (blended with Reishi mushroom, but not OG) recently, so I checked in with a LAc friend who loves adaptogen herbs for his personal favorite. After replying with some info, he sent me some lovely powdered Reishi!
The company warns that the drying process makes it smell/taste rather malty/chocolaty – let me just say YUM! …. I’ve been simmering it with other longevity herbs – ginseng, astragalus, shizandra, ginger, licorice, & a bit of OG roasted chicory in a delightful Reishi Chai!
I’ve also grown shitaki, how fun it is to harvest your own fresh OG mushrooms!
<p>Hi Brandon,</p><p>There are a few doctors out there that hold the belief that ALL diseases are fungus in nature, so eating fungus is bad. This however, reminds me the the common belief system out there that ALL cholesterol is bad, so you shouldn’t eat the egg yolk or anything with cholesterol. The truth is there are different types of fungus. Mushrooms have been used for years for medicinal purposes and have many health benefits. I don’t believe that eating mushrooms would cause an increase in fungus within your system just like I don’t believe that egg yolks cause high cholesterol or that eating fat makes you fat.</p>
<p>Ah – morels! Love those – that is when we are lucky enough to find some! It’s great to know that they are good for us, too!<br/>My Dad used to soak them in salt water, roll them in flour, and deep-fry them, probably killing everything good in them! But they were sooo tasty! From now on if we are lucky enough to find some it will be soaking them in sea salt, battering them with GF flour, and frying them in coconut oil! Or we could try them raw, I guess. I’ve never done that!</p>
<p>This is interesting, since I’ve heard other doctors say stay away from mushrooms because they are a fungus and ingesting a fungus is not something your body is meant to do. Is that incorrect, or where does the difference come from?</p>