Shiitake mushrooms are now considered to be one of the most popular types of mushrooms in the world. People all over the globe now understand exactly why they are prized so much by East Asia cultures. In terms of their appearance, they have a very typical mushroom appearance with a brown color and caps that will grow to around 2 and 4 inches. Interestingly enough, it is a common misconception that Shiitake mushrooms are only grown in the Far East. The United States and Canada also produce this mushroom which has allowed it to become much more ubiquitous in the North American indoor farming community.

Issues With Growing Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms are considered to be a challenging mushroom to grow from scratch. This is due to the fact that they require a very specific set of conditions that need to be fulfilled in order to for them to grow at their maximum possible rate. This means that growing shiitake mushrooms is a challenge that can only really be mastered by people who have had years of experience growing these mushrooms and understand how even the smallest change in conditions can affect the growth of the mushrooms.

Advantages of Shiitake Mushrooms

Considering that nearly 83% of all Shiitake Mushrooms grow in Japan, one would not be wrong to say that this mushroom is certainly the mushroom of the East. Shiitake mushrooms are an integral part of Japanese cuisine as well, with a plethora of dishes containing this particular mushroom. So, in many ways, this mushroom also embodies Japanese culture and the sheer subtlety of it. Here are some advantages of Shiitake Mushrooms.

Heart Health

Heart diseases are the number one cause of death in the world. The heart quite literally works as the power generator of the entire body, making sure that all other organs also depend on it working efficiently. This is why when your heart starts to work at a less-than-optimum level, the most adverse effects on the working of the entire body can be seen. This is why Shiitake Mushrooms should spell good news for everyone. A study in mammals with high blood pressure showed that consumption of Shiitake mushrooms actually was able to stop the increase in the blood pressure to some extent.

Shiitake mushrooms are also known to be positively correlated with less fat deposits in the livers and artery walls. Also, they are known for their ability to lower your cholesterol as well. All in all, shiitake mushrooms can be a great way for you to improve your heart health which is going to prolong your life and also make sure that you always have the heart to get a little crazy sometimes.

Immune System

Studies have shown that consumption of shiitake mushroom can result in a decrease in the inflammation levels of the body. The polysaccharides in shiitake mushrooms are the reason for the decrease in inflammation. Interestingly enough, research in mammals have shown that shiitake mushrooms also can also contribute to the reversal of the age-related decline in your immune system. Essentially, if you feel that your immune system isn’t the same it was 20 years ago, shiitake mushrooms might just be able to bring some of your youth back.

Cancer

The same polysaccharides that we mentioned beforehand also have a destructive effect on cancerous cells. Polysaccharides are able to encourage the immune system to fight back against these tumors. Some research in this area has shown that leukemia cells react particularly badly to polysaccharides. In fact, in the Far East, polysaccharides are actually injected into the body of the people with cancer. Essentially, the legitimacy of this treatment can be estimated by the fact that doctors actually use this as part of the chemotherapy process in Japan and China.

Bone Strengthening

Feeling weak right in the core of your bones is a feeling that we all have experience one time or another. It is extremely unsettling as well, since it makes you feel that you cannot trust your own body, which is certainly a terrible feeling. We all know that Vitamin D is supposed to strengthen your bones. Shiitake mushrooms are a rich source of Vitamin D2, which makes them the perfect natural supplement that you can take in order to increase your bone density. The effects of greater bone density are simply amazing. You immediately feel confident in your self and are able to assert yourself physically as well as mentally.

Mushroom Growing Kits

Now, we previously mentioned that shiitake mushrooms are certainly a hard nut to crack when it comes to growing them from scratch in your home. However, mushroom growing kits provide for a solution that more and more indoor farmers are adopting by the minute across the United States. Essentially, mushroom grow kits allow you to simplify the entire process greatly. All you have to do is to take a mushroom grow kit such as a shiitake mushroom grow kit and then cut the packaging with a knife (x marks the spot). Regular misting is all you need for the mushroom grow kit to start bearing fruit in the first 7-10 days. We at Lone Star Mushrooms have a large variety of mushroom growing kits including blue oyster grow kits, pink oyster grow kits and lion’s mane grow kits as well.

If you are torn between 2 grow kits and can’t seem to decide which one to buy, you are always welcome to buy a bundle of both which we do offer. As the world moves towards a more organic diet, it is important that you keep the pace up as well and take advantage of our offerings of mushroom-related organic products.