Wow! This is a beautiful mushroom! Maitake is a mushroom that belongs to the medicinal mushroom family. You could call it a champ. Maitake mushroom is a nutritional powerhouse, unlike the common button cap mushrooms. Miatakes are packed with protein, B vitamins, Vitamin C, Niacin and Selenium. They have a delicious flavor with a texture that is meaty. The perfect complement to any menu is this mushroom side dish, cooked to perfection. See https://www.dosetherapy.org/ to get more info.

Maitake is a mushroom that originates from the mountains in Japan. The dark, rounded fronds at their edges are what makes them easy to identify. The dark, frond-like leaves that look like the tail feathers from a chicken are the reason for their nicknames: “dancing Butterfly” and “hen in the woods”. Now, Maitake mushrooms can be found growing in temperate northern forests on deciduous hard woods. Maitake mushroom cultivation is now a specialty of many companies. The goal is to retain the rich and nutritious nutritional properties of this mushroom.

It is no surprise that the natural properties found in maitake mushroom are gaining popularity. In other countries, this mushroom is said to be used for tumor suppression, the treatment of high cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure problems, as well immune system stimulation. Maitake’s medicinally active ingredients are present in both the fruit and the mycelium. In the US, due to its medicinal value in other nations, US-based laboratories and speciality producers have specialized in cultivating active ingredients found in Maitake mushroom for nutraceutical use. You can buy medicinal extracts made from this mushroom in health food shops and offices that specialize in holistic medicine across the US.

This mushroom is high in Beta 1,3,1,6 Glucans, a specialized molecule. The immune system is thought to be boosted by these naturally occurring and complex molecules. According to research, immune system cells, such as macrophages T-cells and interleukin-1 cells, appear more active and aggressive when Maitake compounds in their oral form are consumed. Research has shown that other naturally occurring chemicals in maitake plants, independent of Beta compounds, may have cancer fighting properties as well.

Research into the Maitake mushroom is relatively new, but there are already enough preliminary findings to indicate that additional research regarding the inherent health benefits should be conducted. There has been a rise in interest for Maitake mushrooms, as well as other members of medicinal mushroom families. Interest in the whole medicinal mushroom family has seen a significant increase in US over the past 20 years. Harriet Benfield (acupuncturist and writer) says, “The movement was started by healthy food back in the 1960s.” “Now it is health medicine.”
Although the Maitake is a relatively new addition to US cuisine, there’s no doubt that it can be a useful and nutritious part of your diet. Extracts naturally found in the Maitake can also be used as a part of an effective supplement program. You’ve had your Maitake today, right?