In rare instances, some people are sensitive to raw shiitake mushrooms due to the lentinan compound they contain. This compound, which provides many of the mushroom’s health benefits, can cause an allergic reaction with skin dermatitis.

Research by the CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences, Victoria, Australia suggests that shiitake mushrooms have anti-tumor properties that help prevent the development of breast cancer. [7] There is an incredible amount of antioxidant compounds in shiitake mushrooms that provide an excellent defense against free radicals and oxidative stress throughout the body. These help in protecting the skin from signs of aging such as wrinkles, while also reducing the appearance of scars and blemishes and promoting a healthy glow to the skin. With a good amount of selenium, these mushrooms have also been called a natural acne treatment, as deficiencies in this mineral are often linked to acne symptoms. [3] Help in Weight LossTo make these delicious crisps, I start by selecting fresh shiitake mushrooms from my homegrown harvest. I then carefully clean and slice the mushrooms into thin, uniform pieces. Next, I lightly toss them in olive oil and season them with a pinch of salt and a sprinkle of garlic powder. The seasoned mushroom slices are then arranged on a baking sheet and placed in the oven to bake at a low temperature until they turn golden brown and crispy. Unique Flavor Profile Shiitake mushrooms are extremely versatile and can be added to soups, stews, salads, vegetable dishes, ragouts, meat dishes, omelets, and stir-fries. The flavor is typically described as woody or earthy, which limitstheir use in culinary applications but savory dishes can often benefit from the mushroom’s hearty texture. Shiitake mushrooms have one of the highest amounts of natural copper, a mineral that supports healthy blood vessels, bones, and immune support. In fact, 1/2 cup of shiitake mushrooms gives you 72 percent of your daily recommended intake (DRI) of this mineral. The mushrooms are also a rich source of selenium, providing 33 percent of your DRI. Not only have the active compounds in shiitake mushrooms been linked to inhibiting tumor growth in multiple types of cancer butthey may also induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancerous cells without damaging the healthy cells around it. This is because of the presence of a polysaccharide called lentinan in them. [8] Improve Digestion

Lentinula edodes is native to the mountain regions of Japan, Korea, and China, where it grows on fallen logs. This species has a long history of use all throughout East Asia, with people collecting wild shiitake for both food and traditional medicine. People in China first began cultivating shiitake mushrooms about 1,000 to 1,200 years ago, where they knew the species as dongo or shanku. I think we don’t give all the credit that mushrooms deserve, and the truth is that they are an essential source of minerals and an excellent source of vitamin B. So we should eat them pretty often because they are delicious. Today, shiitake mushrooms are popular around the world for their taste and their handy ability to grow on either natural fallen logs or artificial substrate. You can find them grown commercially in China, Japan, the United States, Korea, and Brazil, with China producing about 80 to 90 percent of all shiitake worldwide. Health BenefitsWhen you buy fresh shiitake mushrooms, the flavor can be quite mild, but drying the mushrooms before cooking with them can enhance the flavor notably, making them an ideal burst of flavor and nutrition in your next stew. Side Effects of Shiitake Mushrooms If you can, start with a batch of shiitakes that are consistently sized — or cut larger caps into halves or quarters before roasting so they cook a little more evenly.