Friday, February 6, 2009

My Anti-Cancer Treatments: Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms are so good for you - they are high in protein and also provide potassium, niacin and other B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. They have natural antifungal, antiviral and immune boosting properties and are commonly used in natural medicine for fighting viruses and infections, lowering cholesterol, boosting heart health, regulating blood pressure, reducing inflammation, combating allergies, and treating headaches, constipation, nutritional deficiencies and liver ailments.

Lentinan, an immunostimulant found in shiitakes, has been used to treat cancer, AIDS, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other conditions with impressive results.

Lentinan is a beta glucan which is comprised of complex carbohydrates called polysaccharides that build the immune system and inhibit tumors. Mushroom polysaccharides activate macrophages and T-lymphocytes, stimulate interferon, and enhance cell-mediated immune response. They have no toxic effects.

I have very low (if any) eosinophils and NK cells and shiitake mushrooms are also known to increase both.

Shiitake mushrooms increase white blood cell counts.

Herbs2000: Shiitake

Answers.com: Shiitake Mushrooms


The World's Healthiest Foods: Shiitake Mushrooms


American Cancer Society: Shiitake Mushroom

Sloan-Kettering: Shiitake Mushroom

Beating Cancer with Nutrition - Shiitake Mushrooms

Mycological Medicine

Natural Treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

I try to eat some of these mushrooms every day, either raw or sauteed in coconut oil. I put them in my green salads, like below
. . . . they are absolutely delicious!!

When they are sauteed, they taste very meaty.

6 comments:

John X said...

Here's a link to a company that sells shiitake logs, with which you can grow your own 'shrooms.

http://www.shiitakemushroomlog.com/

I've met the dude and eaten soup made from his 'shrooms. Delightful.

Dana Herbert said...

Wow . . . what a great idea! Thanks for the link! You've given me a great idea for birthday and Christmas gifts . . . you know, for those friends and family members who have everything.
Plus, my birthday is coming up next month, so I may get some of those logs myself as a birthday gift.
Very cool!!!
I love 'shrooms!!

Shandy Monte said...

I wish I liked mushrooms... since I don't I am going to be trying this supplement called "Host Defense" it is like 10 or more different mushrooms... I am not sure how many but it is supposed to boost your WBC's... :)

Dana Herbert said...

Shandy,

Do you have low white blood cells too?

Dana

Shandy Monte said...

I actually always have high or normal WBC's BUT my CD57 count is depressed and very low, and those are the fighter cells...

Dana Herbert said...

Ah.

I have zero eosinophils, but elevated basophils.

Weird.