What A Strong Immune System? Mushrooms To The Rescue!

I'm still working on a regular study routine---I admit it's still pretty random at present, but I'm getting it done. Maybe my study routine is just supposed to stay in the random quadrant for now. I look forward to the time I have each day to move ahead in my classes--pretty nerdy, I know--but someone's gotta love it, right? :o)

I think many of us are now aware that mushrooms aren't just for pizza or steaks anymore...they have amazing health properties. Once again, from my current textbook, Healthy Healing, by Page---here's a brief overview of Medicinal Mushrooms:

*Maitake mushrooms are the strongest tumor growth inhibitors of all mushrooms. Considered highly effective against hormone-driven cancers like breast & prostate--& even lung, liver, pancreatic & brain cancer. It also has a synergistic effect with chemo, with reports of a lessening of the side effects (nausea, poor appetite...).

*Reishi mushrooms are the most famous mushrooms (being they used to be reserved for the royal Chinese families). It is known for promoting longevity (that's why they kept it for the royal families!), great antioxidant activity, helpful in normalizing high blood pressure & relieving allergy symptoms, also beneficial in lowering cholesterol & triglycerides & increasing resistance to infections. That's the short list---now you know why the royal families wanted it!

*Shiitake mushrooms can protect the body from cancer risk, showing strong anti-tumor powers. Like the reishi, it is helpful in lowering cholesterol levels & reducing high blood pressure. It fights viruses & bacteria & is helpful with candida yeast overgrowth. A certain component in the shiitake is proving to be more effective in preventing the spread of the HIV virus in the body than AZT---imagine a SAFE option! Once again, that's the 'short list'---moving on...

*Agaricus or Royal Agaricus is the richest source of Beta Glucan, which make T-cells function at top level, kicking the immune system into maximum efficiency. It is also helpful in regulating blood sugar and lowering high blood pressure & cholesterol. Rainforest researchers in Brazil found that the natives who lived where Agaricus grew were much healthier then the rest of the population & had especially low cancer rates.

*Tremella mushrooms enhance calcium absorption & provides vitamin D (Hello, Osteoporosis!) It's commonly used in Chinese medicine in herbal cough syrups for asthma & coughs. It ALSO helps with lowering cholesterol, balancing blood sugar & has anti-tumor activity. Anti-tumor activity means reducing your cancer risk--HUGE!

*Cordyceps mushrooms provide dramatic oxygenation & energy---that's why the Chinese runners broke 9 world records in 1993! Increased lung capacity & stamina and shorter recovery times make it a huge support to athletes. Cordyceps also increases immunity by increasing activity of the good immune worker cells.

My family & I have been taking a 'Medicinal Mushroom' whole food product, appropriately named 'Immunity'---it includes a few more mushrooms:

*Phellinus Linteus--anti-tumor
*Trametes Versicolor--anti-cancer drug in Japan
*Hericum Erinaceus--helps with digestion & boosts energy
*Pleurotus Tuber-regium--anti-tumor with beta glucans
*Oyster--anti-tumor & cholesterol lowering
*Chaga--immune modulator (helps keep immune system on track)
*Lepiota Procera--powerful beta glucans
*Enoki--anti-tumor

The astragalus, shiitake & reishi mushrooms are all considered herbal antioxidants (antioxidants are crucial in our fight against free radicals which can lead to cancer and accelerated aging).

Mushrooms are naturally probiotic in nature--yet another wonderful benefit of these powerful, sometimes quite homely looking fungi!

I honestly meant for this to be a shorter post---but there's so much good info to share--thanks for hanging in there!

May you be blessed with great health...
Sana

Mushrooms...Not Just For Dinner Any More!

Who would have thought that mushrooms would be good for more than making a good steak great---or adding that extra goodness to a tossed salad? Hmmm....the Chinese (for the last 4000 years), for starters!

Mushrooms are probiotic in nature (probiotic means “for life." They are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts, provide a beneficial health effect). They help our bodies keep strong and fight off illnesses. Mushrooms tend to have pretty cool, hard to pronounce names as well: Agaricus Blazei, Phellinus Linteus, Lepiota Procera...to name a few!

When I was first introduced to the concept of mushrooms for health, I looked up the mushrooms listed in the 'whole food' preparation of the 14 mushroom blend I was checking out. Look at the functions of these mushrooms:

MAITAKE--Stimulate T-cells 2000-3000%
AGARICUS BLAZEI--Stimulate NK cells 5000-6000% REISHI---Longevity—Tonic for Cholesterol/Liver
CORDYCEPS SINESIS---Strength—Endurance—Oxygenation
SHIITAKE---Licensed as anti-cancer drug by Japanese FDA—Anti-viral
PHELLINUS LINTEUS---Anti-tumor
TRAMETES VERSICOLOR---Used as anti-cancer drug in Japan
HERICUM ERIANCEUS---Digestive Tonic—Energy boosting
TREMELLA MESENTERICA---Anti-tumor
PLEUROTUS TUBER-REGIUM---Anti-tumor—Beta Glucans (anti-cancer/anti-tumor)
OYSTER---Anti-tumor—Cholesterol lowering
CHAGA---Immune system modulator
LEPIOTA PROCERA---Beta Glucans
ENOKI---Anti-tumor

Whole-food mushroom blends are designed to 'feed' our immune systems to keep them strong. My family & I take this blend every day---to help keep our immune systems as strong as possible AND to build prevention of disease into our daily lives.

Something so simple...so safe...with potential to make such a difference in our lives and in the lives of those we love. Reply/Comment back if you have questions---That's what I'm here for!

Stay well & enjoy your summer...

Sana