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The Goodness Of Mushroom
Today's Question
I've been trying to include more mushrooms in my diet
because I heard you say that they're really good for
you. But now I've been told that certain ones are
carcinogenic! Can you give me the straight scoop on
this? -- Anonymous
Today's Answer
Mushrooms are a big favorite of mine, but if you're
just learning about their medicinal properties, I
don't blame you for being confused about which ones
are -- or aren't -- good for you. In general, I advise
against eating a lot of the cultivated white or
"button" mushrooms found on supermarket
shelves across the nation. They are among a number of
foods (including celery, peanuts, peanut products, and
salted, pickled, or smoked foods) that contain natural
carcinogens. Just how dangerous these natural toxins
are is unknown, but we do know that they are not
present in other kinds of mushrooms that offer great
health benefits.
Instead of white mushrooms, I suggest you look for the
more exotic varieties which are becoming increasingly
available in this country. Some are edible and can
make a delicious addition to your diet, but some are
strictly medicinal mushrooms, and they come dried or
in capsule form. Here's a brief guide to my favorites,
in alphabetical order:
Cordyceps: A Chinese mushroom used as
a tonic and restorative. It is also known for
improving athletic performance. You can buy whole,
dried cordyceps in health food stores and add them to
soups and stews, or drink tea made from powdered
cordyceps. You can also get cordyceps in capsule form.
To treat general weakness, take cordyceps once a day,
following the dosage advice on the product. For health
maintenance, take it once or twice a week.
Maitake: This delicious Japanese
mushroom is also called "hen of the woods"
because it grows in big clusters that resemble the
fluffed tail feathers of a nesting hen. You should be
able to find it dried or fresh in Japanese markets,
gourmet foods stores, or upscale supermarkets.
Research indicates that maitake has anticancer,
antiviral, and immune-system enhancing effects. It may
also reduce blood pressure and blood sugar.
Reishi: Strictly a medicinal mushroom
-- not a culinary one -- reishi is hard and woody and
has a very bitter taste. Like maitake and other
related mushrooms species, reishi can improve immune
function and inhibit the growth of some malignant
tumors. It also shows significant anti-inflammatory
effects, reduces allergic responsiveness, and protects
the liver. You can buy dried, ground mushrooms and use
them to make tea if you don't mind the bitterness.
Otherwise, I suggest buying reishi tablets or
capsules, which are available in health food stores.
Follow the recommended dosage, and take reishi every
day for at least two months to see what it can do for
you.
Shiitake: These meaty and flavorful
mushrooms contain a substance called eritadenine which
encourages body tissues to absorb cholesterol and
lower the amount circulating in the blood. One
Japanese experiment showed that eating 90 grams (about
three ounces) of fresh shiitake a day lowered serum
cholesterol 12 points in a week -- it even
counteracted cholesterol increases caused by adding
butter to the diet. Shiitakes also have antiviral and
anticancer effects. Dried shiitakes, available at all
Oriental grocery stores, are also effective. Fresh
ones are becoming increasingly available thanks to
domestic cultivation of this delicious mushroom.
Are there any drawbacks to eating mushrooms? It's
rare, but some people are allergic, and some find them
hard to digest. To learn more about the
health-promoting effects of mushrooms, check out
www.fungi.com, the Web site of Fungi Perfecti, an
excellent source for information about medicinal and
gourmet edible mushrooms.
By Dr Andrew Weil
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