Maitake

Other Names: Champignon Dansant, Champignon des Fous Dansants, Champignon Maitake, Dancing Mushroom, Grifola, Grifola frondosa, Hen of the Woods, Hongo Maitake, King of Mushrooms, Maitake, Monkey's Bench, Mushroom, Roi des Champignons, Shelf Fungi. Maitake (grifola frondosa) is a polypore mushroom that is native to Japan. It grows in clusters at the base of trees, particularly oaks, and has been prized for its medicinal properties for centuries. It is commonly known as Hen of the Woods, Ram’s Head and Sheep’s Head, and its Japanese name, maitake, literally means “dancing mushroom,” a term derived from Japanese folk medicine.

Special Precautions of Maitake

• Surgery: Maitake mushroom might affect blood sugar levels, making blood sugar control difficult during and after surgery. Stop using maitake mushroom at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
• Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with MAITAKE MUSHROOM

The benefits of Maitake are

Maitake is a type of edible mushroom that has been used for thousands of years in Asian countries in order to treat diseases.

• Cancer-fighting properties  : Maitake extract has been found by studies primarily conducted in Japan to have benefits in fighting cancer. It is a rich source of beta glucan which has been known to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Maitake extract, therefore, is better effective in reducing cancer risk. In 2009, a phase I/II human trial was conducted by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and it showed that maitake extract stimulates the immune systems of breast cancer patients. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology.Other laboratory studies involving Maitake D-Fraction (MDF), a standardized form of maitake mushroom containing grifolan — an important beta-glucan polysaccharide, show evidence of MDF’s therapeutic value. It exhibits anti-cancer activity, has the ability to block the growth of cancer tumors and boost the immune function of mice with cancer.
• Immune-boosting properties - Maitake contain polysaccharide fibers called beta-glucans that stimulate the production of neutrophils, T-cells, and macrophages (white blood cells). These cells help our immune system to combat illnesses in a rapid and efficient manner, remove cellular debris, and hasten our recovery from tissue damage.
• Anti-Diabetic – People with Type 2 Diabetes have been found to benefit from maitake mushrooms. Maitake has the ability to lower blood sugar because it naturally contains an alpha glucosidase inhibitor. A specific, high-molecular polysaccharide called the X-fraction appears to be the active compound with anti-diabetic properties.
• Anti-Hepatitis – In clinical trials with 32 chronic hepatitis B patients, there was a 72% recovery rate in the group that was administered maitake, as compared to 57% in the control group.
• Anti-Hyperlipid – Many doctors in Japan use maitake mushrooms to: 1) lower serum and liver lipids (such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids); and 2) regulate blood pressure — two key risk factors in heart disease.
• Reduces blood pressure - A 2002 study by researchers at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington D.C. showed that hypertensive rats that were fed maitake mushroom powder experienced a considerable decrease in blood pressure compared to the control group. A similar result was seen in a separate study, whereby maitake lowered the blood pressure of rats from 200 to 115 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) in just four hours.
• Weight loss properties - One 100-gram serving of raw maitake contains a mere 37 calories and virtually no fat. The same amount also contains 2.7 grams of dietary fiber, which is 11 percent of an adult's recommended daily intake. Fiber is a plant food that can absorb water from the large intestine, which induces a feeling of fullness and prevents us from overeating. For this reason, individuals who are trying to lose weight should always favor fiber-rich foods like maitake.
• Lowers cholesterol - A 2001 study by researchers at the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in Japan showed that rats that were fed powdered maitake and shiitake experienced a noticeable drop in cholesterol compared to the control group. They attributed this decrease to properties in the mushrooms that increase fecal cholesterol excretion.
• Rich in trace nutrients - 100 grams of raw maitake also contains 1.9 grams of protein (four percent of our RDI), various B-vitamins (which are needed for cellular metabolism), 2 percent of our RDI of magnesium and iron, 3 percent of our RDI of manganese and selenium, and between 5 and 7 percent of our RDI of zinc, potassium, and phosphorous. The same amount also contains an impressive 0.3 milligrams of copper (13 percent of our RDI), and small amounts of omega-6 fatty acids, which are needed for brain function.
• Source of Beta glucan