Table of contents:
- The myriad of benefits offered by enoki mushrooms
- 1. Help prevent cancer
- 2. Boosts the immune system
- 3. Good for digestion
- Balances bowel movements
- Maintain intestinal health
- Helps get the ideal body weight
- 4. Helps maintain heart health
- 5. Can neutralize the dangers of free radicals
Flammulina velutipes or commonly referred to as enoki mushroom is a type of mushroom that is often used in traditional Chinese medicine. The shape is similar to this white bean sprouts, making enoki mushrooms have many benefits that can be obtained for your health. Come on, get to know what features this Japanese mushroom has to offer.
The myriad of benefits offered by enoki mushrooms
Enoki mushroom is a type of mushroom that grows in winter, precisely near coniferous trees. Not only growing on trees, many Japanese farmers cultivate enoki mushrooms from fallen trees, such as plums, maples, and birch trees.
Several studies have found out what are the benefits of this enoki mushroom. It turns out, this usually white mushroom contains a myriad of important nutrients and makes your cooking more nutritious.
What goodness can you get from this enoki mushroom?
1. Help prevent cancer
One of the benefits that you can get from this enoki mushroom is that it contains vitamins and nutrients that can prevent the growth of cancer cells.
A 1989 study from Research Institute of National Cancer became the initial group that had investigated the nutrition of enoki mushrooms to reduce cancer risk. The results of the study found that the number of causes of death from cancer was less in the Nagano region, Japan than in other regions.
Dr. Tetsuke Ikekawa, an epidemiologist from Tokyo as well as the head of this research, suspects this condition is because the Nagano area is the center of enoki mushroom cultivation. This means that people in Nagano may consume quite a lot of enoki mushrooms.
In fact, studies involving experimental animals also found that enoki mushrooms can reduce the activity of tumor growth and liver cancer cells.
In other studies from Oncology Reports also shows that enoki mushrooms are thought to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
However, further research is needed to see the benefits of enoki mushrooms for preventing cancer development in humans.
2. Boosts the immune system
Not only useful for preventing the growth of cancer cells, enoki mushrooms can also boost the immune system through its protein content.
According to a study from frontiers in Pharmacology, the protein content in enoki mushrooms is comparable to green leafy vegetables, which is 1.7 grams. This protein is used as a component that is useful for increasing the immune system of living things.
This was also proven through a study involving mice whose immune function was increased when given enoki mushrooms.
3. Good for digestion
One serving of enoki mushrooms usually contains 1.8 grams of fiber which is good for your body. As reported by the Mayo Clinic, there are several benefits that you can get from high-fiber foods, such as this enoki mushroom, namely:
Balances bowel movements
This is because fiber helps soften stool so that it is easier to pass through the intestines.
Maintain intestinal health
Foods high in fiber help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and other bowel disorders.
Helps get the ideal body weight
Fiber helps keep a person full for longer. Therefore, the desire to eat frequently can be reduced so that weight is maintained.
4. Helps maintain heart health
It is no longer a secret, mushrooms have good benefits for people with cardiovascular disease. The high fiber in mushrooms, including enoki, helps metabolic processes and is able to absorb more cholesterol.
In addition, there are studies that have found that enoki mushrooms contain polysaccharide and mycosterol compounds which have a cholesterol-lowering effect.
This has also been proven through trials using hamsters consuming enoki mushroom extract. From these trials it was seen that these hamsters had lower levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol.
These three components are factors that can increase heart risk. Therefore, it can be concluded that consumption of enoki mushrooms has important benefits for your heart health.
5. Can neutralize the dangers of free radicals
As previously explained, enoki mushrooms are rich in nutrients and vitamins that have considerable benefits for your health. In fact, enoki is a mushroom with high antioxidant content which is good for the body.
Antioxidants are compounds that can help neutralize free radicals so that you are protected from chronic diseases. In enoki mushrooms, there are quercetin, catechins, gallic acid, and caffeic acid as antioxidants.
Enoki mushrooms do have many benefits for the health of the human body. However, if you have an allergy to certain molds, it's best to consult with your doctor before eating enoki mushrooms.
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