Shiitake: What effect does the alleged medicinal mushroom really have?

Shiitake is said to have a strong effect on our health. Among other things, the mushrooms are said to lower cholesterol and strengthen our immune system. You can find out here whether this is actually the case and what side effects the mushrooms can have.

Shiitake are edible mushrooms native to Japan and China. Accordingly, they play a major culinary role, especially in these countries. You can find the spicy-aromatic yeast mushrooms, for example, as a soup ingredient or as part of vegetable pans and sauces. You can now buy the mushrooms fresh or dried in Germany in Asian shops or other well-stocked grocery stores.

You can also get them online in the form of tablets, capsules and powders as an alleged remedy. They are then usually referred to as so-called medicinal mushrooms sold. Shiitake should have a strong effect on our body. Some online shops claim that mushrooms can cure and prevent cancer, lower our cholesterol levels or act as an alternative to a flu shot. Many of these effects have not been scientifically proven. For some there are vague clues. However, the corresponding studies often only have a low informative value, since they only refer to a small number of participants, for example. Mushrooms can also have dangerous side effects.

Shiitake: Effect on the skin

According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), shiitake mushrooms can, in rare cases, lead to skin reactions. It is usually a streak-like reddening that occurs on the arms, legs, neck and other places. According to the German Cancer Research Center, these can last up to eight weeks. Researchers also speak of shiitake dermatitis. It occurs after consumption, but also after brief skin contact with the mushrooms. So far, this disease has only rarely occurred in Germany.

Scientists therefore assume that a few people are particularly susceptible to the skin reaction. The trigger for the redness is probably the substance lentinan, which is contained in shiitake. For a long time, researchers assumed that it was not heat-resistant. Therefore, the recommendation was to only cook the mushrooms sufficiently to render the substance harmless. However, it is now known that lentinan can also withstand higher temperatures.

It is still unclear why some people are more susceptible to shiitake dermatitis than others. The BfR can therefore not precisely assess the risk for consumers, but assumes that it will be rather low. Nevertheless, consumers should be better informed about the possible skin reaction.

How Healthy Are Shiitake Mushrooms?

That shiitake works against cancer or AIDS or the lower blood pressure is usually no more than a marketing strategy and not a scientific fact. Nevertheless, you can eat shiitake as a healthy food as part of a balanced diet consume. So the mushrooms are low in calories and have little fat. With around 2.2 grams of protein per 100 grams, they are relatively high in protein for a vegetable. In addition, they are rich in Vitamin B5copper and Vitamin D.

If you do not react to shiitake with dermatitis and eat the mushrooms in moderation and not as a high-dose powder, they can contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Farmers are now also cultivating the yeast fungi in Europe. Therefore, when buying, pay attention to regional goods and avoid shiitake from Asia or the USA. Because these have to cover long transport routes to Germany and ensure correspondingly high costs CO2 emissions. Also, use organic mushrooms whenever possible. These contain no chemical-synthetic pesticides.

You can buy the mushrooms either fresh or dried. You should soak dried shiitake and let it swell for a few minutes before using it. Then you can sauté, cook, fry or boil them like fresh mushrooms.

Shiitake: Effect as a remedy

In traditional Japanese and Chinese folk medicine Shiitake have played an important role for a long time. They are said to help with headaches, inflammation or stomach problems, among other things. Western medicine research is also currently more concerned with Asian yeast fungi and is investigating whether they could possibly be used to treat various diseases such as cancer or AIDS.

According to the German Cancer Research Center, the effect of shiitake on cancer has not yet been sufficiently scientifically proven. Therefore, the research center generally advises against ordering shiitake preparations from the Internet. Because these are not controlled medicinal products. Therefore, the quality of the ingredients and, accordingly, the safety of the consumer is not guaranteed. For example, the capsules can be contaminated with toxins. Often you cannot see exactly which ingredients are contained in a preparation.

Shiitake extracts may soon be available as medicines – but only after researchers have carefully examined all effects and side effects.

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