Shiitake mushrooms contain about twice as much protein as most vegetables and also are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates called polysaccharides, which are believed to boost the immune system. They contain iron, minerals, and vitamins with relatively high amounts of niacin and riboflavin. The shiitake mushroom can be an important source of protein and minerals for vegetarians and has only four calories per ounce. Kim said that one of the latest and most exciting developments concerning the shiitake mushroom is the study of its anti-viral elements. He said researchers have been noticing something different occurring with field mice in the shiitake mushroom fields in Japan.
Field mice can get the flu just like humans do.
However, researchers noticed the field mice that inhabited the shiitake mushroom fields were not contracting the virus. On a trip last month to Japan, Kim visited a colleague working on the anti-viral element in the shiitake. His colleague told him he has succeeded in isolating the anti-viral element, but the research is considered top secret by the Japanese company. Kim said that the medical benefits could be extremely valuable to patients suffering from viruses, like the flu or common cold. The shiitake mushroom is lauded as also having cancer-resisting elements.