Why Should I Give a Shiitake About Maitake Mushrooms?
Since I was a young boy, I always remembered the Shiitake mushroom. Not because of its nutrient density or its umami flavor.. but rather, because it began with shit.
You know it’s true. Don’t act like there’s any other reason. It’s all in the shiit.
But we’re not just talking shiit today. We’re also talking Maitake.
These mushrooms both date back thousands of years ago into Asia’s history.
The Origin of these Two takes
Shiitake
You may have been able to guess that in Japanese, Take means mushroom.
The prefix shii is the name of the tree that Shiitake naturally grows from. So when we say Shiitake mushroom, we’re actually saying “shii-tree mushroom mushroom.”
This mushroom mushroom’s scientific name is Lentinula edodes and it grows naturally across East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Maitake
Maitake, or Grifola frondosa, can be found growing in forests of China, Japan, Europe, and North America. Its prefix Mai means dancing, translating Maitake literally to “dancing mushroom.”
Why dancing? Because people were so hype when they found Maitake mushrooms that they would do a little happy mushroom dance.
Seriously.. you can’t make this shiit up.
Maitake has also been called the “hen of the woods” as it has feather-like frills and goes well in a variety of dishes.
Shiitake and Maitake Nutrients
Both mushrooms are nutrient-packed powerhouses. In terms of vitamins and minerals, they both contain calcium, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, potassium, iron, and zinc, along with healthy amounts of vitamins A, Bs, C and D.
But it’s the polysaccharides and antioxidants in these mushrooms that have been a topic of study for many years. A topic of which us here in the US are beginning to take notice of.
What Can Shiitake and Maitake Mushrooms Do?
Like the other medicinal mushrooms we’ve covered this Shroomin’ September, Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms are adaptogens. Adaptogens help the body adapt more readily to environmental changes, both physically and mentally.
All these medicinal fungi, including Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms, contain soluble dietary fibers called polysaccharides. The most notable of which, beta-glucan, is known to enhance immune function.
Studies suggest that both Shiitake and Maitake may inhibit the growth and spreading of cancer cells, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, decrease inflammation, and improve insulin resistance.
Studies have also linked their consumption to reduced stress, an overall boost of mood, reduced risk of heart/circulatory disease and diabetes.
Some research even suggests that Shiitake and Maitake together are even better at assisting the immune system.
How to Take Shiitake and Maitake Mushrooms
To Taste..
Shiitake Mushroom Teriyaki
Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms are common in many foods. As such, they can be found in most grocery stores. So depending on personal preferences, cooking them may be your way to go.
Personally, I prefer to know exactly how much of each health supplement I take. In this case, capsules or powdered form give you a precise dosage in dried Shiitake and/or Maitake.
Comparing the two, powder always costs less, providing you more servings. Before buying a Shiitake or Maitake mushroom powder, be sure there are no added fillers or artificial ingredients like in some mass-produced capsules, tablets and powders.
Because Shiitake and Maitake have light, earthy flavors, mixing them in various liquids for consumption can be a pleasant experience.
..Or Not to Taste
Mushroom Powder in a Blate Pape
You can also take the powder directly using edible films like Blate Papes. Our papes can hold up to 20x the amount a single capsule can, but they mold to your throat to be easily swallowed.
Weighing beforehand is also made simpler as they’ll hold your powder on the scale. Then you consume the pape and powder as one piece with no cleaning up.
We prefer to mix all of our mushroom, herb and supplement powders together in a mixer or blender, then keep this mix in a tub so it’s quick and easy process.
Every morning we scoop the powder into a pape, dip the whole thing in water and swallow it. Quick, easy, and all natural.
Precautions When Taking Shiitake or Maitake
Being that they’ve been used for many years across the world, Shiitake and Maitake supplements are generally considered safe to consume.
Nonetheless, some side effects have been reported, especially when consuming in large quantities and/or over long periods of time. Those include digestive upset, skin reactions, high white blood cell counts and allergic reactions.
Of course, one probably shouldn’t take Shiitake or Maitake mushroom powder if they’re allergic to any mushrooms! And it’s likely best to avoid if you have a condition that affects your blood sugar levels, as Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms may have an effect on that.
It’s always best to ask your doctor before starting any new health supplement regimen.
Sources:
The use of lentinan for treating gastric cancer
Recent developments in mushrooms as anti-cancer therapeutics: a review
A Review on General Nutritional Compounds and Pharmacological Properties of the Lentinula edodes Mushroom
Immune-enhancing effects of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) and Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) extracts
Lentinula edodes-derived polysaccharide enhances systemic and mucosal immunity by spatial modulation of intestinal gene expression in mice
