Today we thought we would chat some more about one of the world's most consumed and loved mushrooms, the shiitake (Lentinus edodes). The shiitake, meaning "mushroom of the shii or oak tree" in Japanese, is highly prized for its taste and reputed medicinal value.
It's been said that the first written record of shiitake cultivation can be traced to Wu Sang Kwuang, born during the Song Dynasty in China (AD 960–1127). However, some documents record the uncultivated mushroom being eaten as early as AD 199.
One of their most well-known health benefits is the positive influence eating shiitake has on aging, specifically the proven anti-aging benefits of this marvelous mushroom. How it can potentially slow down the aging process is thanks to the presence of antioxidant L-ergothioneine. Which helps prevent cell breakdown and encourages a faster cellular renewal process, leading to healthy collagen and elastin production.
L-ergothioneine (EGT) is a sulfur-containing amino acid derived from microorganisms, especially in edible mushrooms. It has strong antioxidant and anti-inflamatory effects on the human body. Antioxidants are crucial for longevity as they help the body's cells defend against changes associated with free radical damage.
EGT has a unique role in the protection of mitochondria from oxidation (often referred to as the powerhouses of our cells) and can only obtained from dietary sources with shiitake mushrooms being a top source. EGT is bioavailable in shiitake mushrooms at roughly 13 mg per 84-gram serving.
There are many factors that influence the rate at which we age, from genetics and lifestyle to environment and nutrition. Dietary and lifestyle factors play a significant role in influencing the ageing process, and the choices you make have the power to either speed up or slow down ageing.
It's not surprising that these mushrooms are the second-highest consumed mushroom in the world that have been eaten by people for nearly a century. We LOVE them and eat shiitake mushrooms most days.
As an edible medicinal mushroom, shiitakes can be cooked and eaten in the same way you would cook any mushroom, by adding them to soups, stews, stir fires, hot pots, salads and BBQ's.
FUN FACT: L-ergothioneine or EGT is only produced by bacteria and fungi. Mammals - such as us - need to consume and absorb it from an external source.
Maddrake Mushroom Farm naturally grows and freshly harvests organic Shiitake mushrooms on our farm in the Nambucca Valley.
Vanessa Lahey Copyright 2024