What are the benefits of Maitake Mushroom Extract?
Maitake Mushroom offers the following health benefits
● Rich source of vitamin D (Improves immune function)
● Decreases Cholesterol (Improves the health of the heart)
● Cancer support (By attacking cancerous cells)
● Can help in Diabetes management (By lowering blood glucose level)
● Good source of essential minerals (Phosphorous and Potassium)
● Can help treat cold and flu
● Improves energy (Decreases fatigue or tiredness)
● Can lessen side effects of cancer chemotherapy
● Weight management
● Reduces inflammation and irritation
● Antioxidant (Reduces the risk of many diseases)
● Helps recover from stress
● Improves digestion (Rich source of prebiotic fiber)
● Supports weight management
● Improves brain health
What is Maitake Mushroom?
The Maitake mushroom is a type of edible mushroom. The scientific name of the Maitake mushroom is Grifola Frondosa.
The Maitake Mushrooms grow in the forests of Japan, China, North America. It grows at the base of trees such as Oak, Elm, and Maple. The Mitake mushroom is brown and has a flowery appearance. It has a peppery, earthy flavor and is used in various receipts. Maitake mushrooms can be easily found in grocery stores or health food stores.
What is Maitake Mushroom called in Chinese?
In Chinese, the Maitake mushroom is called Huishu Hua (灰树花).
Maitake mushrooms are being consumed in China for over 3000 years. In China, Maitake mushrooms are used as a part of various meals and for their various healing properties.
Maitake mushrooms have a long history of use as a part of traditional Chinese medicines. The early reference of usage of Maitake mushrooms in china can be found in Han Dynasty (206-210 AD). From various marketplaces in China, Maitake mushrooms can be purchased as a raw herb, powdered form, or even as a tablet and capsule.
In the video below, Dr. Berg talks about the amazing health benefits of Maitake Mushroom:
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Can Maitake Mushrooms be used for the treatment of cancer?
Studies performed on animals show that Maitake Mushrooms can be used for the treatment of cancer.
A study was performed in mice to determine the anticancer activity of Maitake mushrooms. The study found that a carbohydrate extracted from Maitake mushroom has antitumor activity. The antitumor activity of the mushroom extract was a result of increased activity of certain cells that attack tumors and increased activity of the immune system.
Another study was performed on rodents to test the anticancer activity of Maitake mushroom extract. It showed that the extract inhibited the capability of cancer cells to attach to other cells, preventing the spread of cancer to the other body parts.
Can Maitake Mushroom treat prostate cancer?
Studies show that the Maitake mushrooms could be used for the treatment of prostate cancer. However, more animal and lab studies are required to test the effectiveness of Maitake Mushrooms for the treatment of prostate cancer.
A study conducted in the laboratory on prostate cancer cells showed that the Maitake mushroom extract has a toxic effect on prostate cancer cells leading to the death of cancer cells. The said study was performed in a lab, in cells grown in a petri dish.
More studies are ongoing to test the effectiveness of the Maitake mushroom on prostate cancer.
Can Maitake Mushroom be used for the treatment of Colon cancer?
Maitake mushroom along with other varieties of medicinal mushroom did show effectiveness against colon cancer.
A study performed by researchers in Croatia shows that the mixture of extracts obtained from 6 different types of mushroom including Maitake mushroom, was able to inhibit tumor growth in mice.
In this study, the Maitake mushroom extract was used along with the extract of other medicinal mushrooms. Further studies are required to establish the effectiveness of Maitake mushroom alone for the treatment of Colon cancer.
These researchers further discovered that the anticancer activity of mushrooms was due to the up-regulation and down-regulation of certain proteins that are required for important cellular functions.
Can you use Maitake Mushroom for Breast cancer treatment?
Studies performed in the laboratories and animals show that Maitake mushroom extract could be effective in the treatment of breast cancer.
A study published in 2018 shows that the Maitake mushroom has the potential for the treatment of breast cancer. In this study, researchers found that Maitake mushroom extract not only caused the death of breast cancer cells but also reduced the potential of cancer cells to spread to other organs.
In another study performed in mice, researchers found that Maitake mushroom extract was able to inhibit breast cancer development and cancer cell growth. The study further found that the treatment also increased the survival rate of the experimental animal.
Is there a recommended dosage of Maitake Mushroom dosage for cancer treatment?
In a recent research study, a dosage ranging from 40-150 mg of extract or 4-9 grams of Maitake dried mushrooms were administered to patients to test its anticancer activity.
However, the anticancer activities of Maitake mushroom are still under investigation, and no commercial drugs are yet developed, the dosage for actual treatment of cancer in patients is not suggested or prescribed yet.
What are the medicinal uses of Maitake Mushrooms?
Maitake mushrooms have the following medical uses
● Anti-diabetic (lowers blood glucose level)
● Anticancer (treatment of various types of cancer)
● Weight management
● Lowers cholesterol level
● Improves immunity
● To treat the side effects of chemotherapy
● Lowers blood pressure
● Anti-viral
● Reduces inflammation
How much Maitake Mushroom should I take?
Some recipes call for 8 ounces of Maitake mushroom while some just 2 mushrooms. For now, there are no guidelines as to how much Maitake Mushroom one should take or consume.
There is no finite amount of Maitake mushroom you can or can not take.
Maitake mushrooms as a whole are being used in various receipts in China, Japan, and other parts of the world for a long time. Even in current times, there are plenty of culinary receipts that make use of Maitake mushrooms to benefit from their medicinal properties.
Can Maitake Mushroom be used for weight loss?
Maitake mushrooms could be used to assist in the weight loss process. Maitake mushrooms have 37 calories per 100 grams which could be useful in a low-carb diet. It also has a decent amount of fiber, about 2.7%. So consuming a serving or two of Maitake mushrooms will help satisfy hunger without adding many calories.
People who are on a weight loss diet could certainly benefit from its low calorie, fiber, and nutrient-rich profile to aid in their weight loss.
Maitake mushrooms could be used in the preparation of salads, soups, omelets, etc.
Do Maitake Mushrooms have benefits for the skin?
Maitake mushrooms do offer a few benefits for the skin. Maitake mushrooms can help improve skin elasticity and stimulate collagen. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Maitake mushrooms can further help improve the health of the skin.
The moisture present in Maitake mushrooms improves hydration and avoids dryness of the skin. Antibacterial properties of the Maitake mushrooms can help avoid any bacterial skin infections and keep skin healthy.
Various cosmetics use extracts obtained from mushrooms as an ingredient to benefit from their medicinal properties.
Does Maitake Mushroom help you sleep?
Unfortunately, there are no studies or evidence to suggest that Maitake mushrooms could help improve sleep. Some of its medical properties that help improve and recover from stress may help improve sleep. But studies are needed to be performed to confirm the same.
Do Maitake Mushrooms are used in the treatment of Diabetes?
A few studies suggest that Maitake mushrooms can help in the treatment of Diabetes. A group of researchers reported a decrease in the glucose levels of diabetic patients when they were treated with Maitake mushrooms extract.
Few of the other studies performed on animals show that Maitake mushroom extract enhanced insulin sensitivity.
Another study performed in mice suggests that Maitake mushroom extract can help improve glucose control by activating certain pathways in the body.
Although these are a few studies that point towards possible antidiabetic and glucose-lowering properties of Maitake mushrooms, more evidence in terms of clinical trials and human studies is required.
Do Maitake Mushrooms treat blood pressure?
Maitake mushrooms could be useful for the maintenance of blood pressure. Studies performed on animals show that Maitake mushroom extracts lowered blood pressure. Maitake mushrooms show a similar mechanism of action as the medications used for the treatment of high blood pressure.
The study concluded that Maitake mushrooms could help in the treatment of age-related hypertension and can lead to a healthier, longer life span.
Maitake mushrooms could further assist in lowering blood pressure by improving fat metabolism, lipid profile, and metabolic health of the person.
Is Maitake Mushroom a blood thinner?
Maitake mushroom on its own is not a blood thinner, but a case was reported where a potentiation of blood-thinning effect was observed when the patient consumed Maitake mushrooms extract and blood-thinning medicine concurrently. The increased blood-thinning effect was possibly due to the interaction between anti-coagulant medications and bioactive components of the Maitake mushroom extracts.
Although, there are no independent studies establishing anti-coagulant or blood-thinning properties of Maitake mushrooms.
Does Maitake Mushroom have AHCC?
Maitake mushrooms do not have AHCC. AHCC or Active Hexose Correlated Compound is a chemical that can be produced by certain kinds of fungi. The AHCC is postulated to increases the activity of natural killer cells in people with cancer. Hence, products containing AHCC may exhibit anti-cancer activity.
Does Maitake Mushroom interact with medications?
Maitake mushrooms can interact with the following medicines.
- Anti-coagulant medicines: In this case, the doctors found that simultaneous consumption of Maitake mushroom by the patient while on anticoagulant therapy potentiated the blood-thinning effect of the medicine.
- Anti-hypertensive: Due to the blood pressure-lowering effect, the Maitake mushroom can further decrease the blood pressure of patients who are already on anti-hypertensive drugs. The interaction can cause hypotension or severe depression of blood pressure.
- Anti-diabetic: Due to the blood glucose level lowering effects of Maitake mushrooms, it can potentiate the effect of antidiabetic medicines and result in lowering of blood glucose level than expected.
Consult a physician before consuming Maitake mushrooms or Maitake mushroom extract if you are undergoing any treatment.
Do Maitake Mushrooms have any side effects?
When consumed orally as a whole or in the form of medicines, Maitake mushroom is safe for most people. Although some instances of nausea and vomiting have been reported.
There is not much information available about the side effects of Maitake mushrooms.
Consumption of Maitake mushrooms is not advised if the person is pregnant or breastfeeding.
Does Maitake Mushroom cause liver damage?
Although most of the food items including mushrooms are safe, more evidence and studies are required to make that claim. At the current time, no studies about liver toxicity or damage by Maitake mushrooms have been reported. On the contrary, a study performed in mice by a doctor suggests that consumption of Mitake mushroom extract may have a positive effect on liver function during treatment of Hepatitis.
Sources
This article makes use of information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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