Top 10 Best Mushrooms for Health

The first type of mushroom to mention is shiitake mushroom. Shiitake mushroom is always a fragrant and highly regarded food in every meal. In traditional medicine, shiitake mushroom is known as the 'queen of plants'. It is a favorite dish for many people. Besides its delicious taste, it also contains many nutrients and essential proteins for the body. Inside this mushroom, there are up to 9 types of amino acids, Egosterol, iron, vitamin B that can be converted into vitamin D. Shiitake mushroom helps with digestion, regulates metabolism, enhances the body's immune capacity, inhibits cancer cells, prevents gallstones and urinary stones, lowers blood pressure, reduces blood cholesterol... This is an ideal food for people with lipid disorders, iron deficiency anemia, diabetes, hypertension, and malnourished children.

Shiitake mushroom has 3 types commonly used in food processing: winter mushroom, shiitake mushroom, and mushroom flower. Mushroom flower has a light black top with patterns; winter mushroom has a black top, the rolled part also has a light yellow color, relatively thick meat; while shiitake mushroom has a umbrella shape, fat, thin meat, not very smooth, and not crispy. The best shiitake mushrooms are those with umbrella-shaped, small stems, thick bodies, shiny yellow color, dry to the touch, with white partitions arranged together underneath the mushroom. When soaked in water, the mushrooms expand evenly but remain firm, the soaking water has a yellow onion color and a mild aroma.

Porcini mushrooms have the effect of tonifying the spleen, aiding digestion, moisturizing the lungs, and resolving phlegm. This is a very suitable food for those who are tired of eating, tired due to weak spleen and stomach, breastfeeding mothers, people with chronic bronchitis, hepatitis, and even those suffering from leukopenia. Porcini mushrooms are very rich in protein, containing many essential amino acids. In daily meals, porcini mushrooms are prepared in various forms. However, to fully maximize their effectiveness and nutritional value, porcini mushrooms are often combined with other foods. According to the manuscript of the ancient medical text, porcini mushrooms have the effect of strengthening the stomach, resolving phlegm, and regulating qi.

According to introductory medical books, porcini mushrooms are believed to invigorate the spirit, stimulate digestion, arrest diarrhea, and stop vomiting. According to modern pharmacology, porcini mushrooms are very rich in protein, trace elements, and many valuable amino acids. They have the effect of inhibiting staphylococcus aureus, salmonella typhi, and escherichia coli. Japanese scientists have extracted PS-K from porcini mushrooms, which has anticancer properties and enhances the body's immune function. Clinical trials for breast cancer and skin cancer have shown promising results. In daily meals, porcini mushrooms are used in various forms. However, to maximize their effectiveness and create delicious flavors, they are often combined with a variety of other foods.

Morel mushrooms, also known as 'Black Morel,' are a type of mushroom with high nutritional content, beneficial for digestion and anti-aging. In medicine, it is considered a valuable medicine with the effects of improving circulation and reducing cholesterol. Therefore, this is a very good food for overweight people, obese people, helping to support effective weight loss. Particularly, with its blood-supplying and blood-activating properties, black morels are a very precious food-medicine with the effect of reducing cholesterol and improving blood circulation. Black morels, also known as black cat mushrooms or cat ear mushrooms because when fresh, they resemble cat ears. The outer surface of the mushroom is light brown, with fine hairs, and the inner veins are smooth dark brown. Originally, morels are a type of wild mushroom growing on woody stems. Recently, morels sold on the market are mainly cultivated and processed using industrial methods.

According to traditional medicine, black morels have a sweet taste, a neutral property, non-toxic, with the effects of supplying blood, activating blood circulation, detoxifying, benefiting qi, and nourishing yin. Based on ancient medical texts, Traditional Chinese Medicine has a tradition of using black morels in the form of dried or black powder to treat many bleeding disorders such as bleeding wounds, excessive menstruation, hemorrhoids bleeding, urinary bleeding, dysentery bleeding, and coughing up blood. Recently, scientists have particularly noted the very valuable value of black morels through their effects of improving blood vessels, reducing blood fat, preventing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and the process of preventing platelet aggregation in cardiovascular diseases. Black morels not only have the effect of enhancing immunity, containing many dietary fiber and plant gums to attract harmful substances but also may have some undefined active ingredients that can produce chemical reactions to dissolve foreign bodies or stones accumulated in the body.

Wood ear mushrooms are a rare delicacy, known for their sweet taste and distinctive aroma that no other mushroom can replace. The name of this mushroom is wood ear because it only appears in places where there are many termites. Termites here refer to ground termites, not those living on trees. Ground termites build large nests like dried coconuts, with each nest being a hollowed-out piece of soil, white or slightly yellowish. Termites take advantage of changing weather conditions - hot, humid, rainy - and soft soil, using their special ability to secrete enzymes to form a mushroom-like fungal coating around termite nests. From there, delicious and nutritious wood ear mushrooms grow, helping to boost immunity and prevent viruses.

Wood ear mushrooms belong to the Lyophyllaceae family and thrive due to a type of enzyme secreted by termites for growth. According to the experience of veteran farmers, wood ear mushrooms are found in places where ground termites live. Wood ear mushrooms especially appear in the Mekong Delta and only once a year, lasting for a month, from after the early season rains until the beginning of the 6th lunar month. Wood ear mushrooms have extremely high nutritional value and are beneficial for health, specifically: they are rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, protein, and other nutrients that are very good for health, especially for people with diabetes and beneficial for the sick and elderly. Moreover, according to traditional Chinese medicine, regularly eating wood ear mushrooms can improve immune function against cancer cells, anti-aging, and reduce blood sugar levels. In particular, wood ear mushrooms are also beneficial for women's menstruation.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, straw mushrooms are considered sweet in taste, cold in nature, and are believed to tonify the spleen, benefit qi, aid digestion, clear heat, boost immunity, and lower blood cholesterol levels. They are primarily used fresh for medicinal purposes. They are known to treat premature ejaculation, fatty liver, memory loss, and enhance overall health. In 100g of fresh straw mushrooms, there is 90% water, 3.6% protein, 0.3% fat, 3.2% carbohydrates, 1.1% fiber (cellulose), 0.8% ash, 28mg% calcium, 80mg% phosphorus, 1.2% iron, as well as vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, and PP. Every 100g of fresh straw mushrooms provides the body with 31 calories. With its nutritious composition, straw mushrooms are not only delicious food but can also be processed into various functional foods and medicinal dishes to support the treatment of diseases, especially endocrine and metabolic disorders such as obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and hypertension.

Previously, straw mushrooms used to grow naturally in rice paddies. However, due to high demand, the natural growth of straw mushrooms cannot meet market needs. Therefore, nowadays, people often cultivate straw mushrooms on a large scale in warehouses, storage rooms, or in controlled biological environments. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Bay (University Hospital of Traditional Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City), the main component of straw mushrooms is protein. Protein is essential for the body as it helps regenerate cells and participates in metabolism. The protein content in straw mushrooms is higher than that in beef, fish, and equivalent to that in tofu. Straw mushrooms can be cooked into various dishes such as stir-fried straw mushrooms with garlic, braised straw mushrooms, straw mushroom soup, hotpot, etc. These dishes with straw mushrooms have a naturally sweet and refreshing taste.

Chicken of the woods mushroom has a distinctive appearance, with the edges of the mushroom cap protruding upwards while the central part sinks down. It is called chicken of the woods because the overall color of the mushroom is either apricot yellow or the color of a hen's egg yolk. The stalk of the mushroom is whitish-yellow, with a sweet and nutritious taste. Moreover, chicken of the woods mushroom also possesses anti-cancer activity, inhibiting cancer cells in the body. It is a source of antioxidants. Extracts from chicken of the woods mushroom have been studied for their blood sugar-lowering properties, reducing blood sugar levels in diabetic mice.

Studies have also investigated them as a source of cholesterol-lowering medication. Additionally, chicken of the woods mushroom's close relative, the oyster mushroom, has been found to contain Lovastatin, which lowers cholesterol. Chicken of the woods mushroom has a mild, refreshing taste and is easily incorporated into daily meals. This mushroom provides a wealth of nutrients for consumers, with a protein content comparable to that of meat and fish. Furthermore, the fat content in chicken of the woods mushroom is very low, almost negligible. Chicken of the woods mushroom is a highly nutritious food that can be cooked into various delicious and nutritious dishes such as frying, stir-frying, and hotpot.

This is a type of mushroom with a very unique name. Golden Chanterelle mushrooms usually appear in late autumn and early spring. They are called golden chanterelle mushrooms because they have a somewhat small size and a long stem similar to a golden chanterelle. They prefer low temperatures and can even thrive in cold, snowy air. This is one of the most delicious edible mushrooms renowned since ancient times for its distinctive aroma. The nutritional value of this mushroom is undeniable, as it contains up to 8 types of amino acids that are very effective in cancer prevention.

Not only do they provide high nutritional value, but they are also famous for providing vitamins and minerals to enhance the immune system. Mushrooms are a favorite food for many people because they not only possess high nutritional value but also serve as ingredients for preparing attractive dishes. Golden chanterelle mushrooms have a fibrous form, with tender golden mushroom flesh containing many nutrients. This is also a type of mushroom that you often use in cooking. Golden chanterelle mushrooms become soft and tender when exposed to high temperatures, making them delicious. It is particularly important to distinguish and identify various types of mushrooms as it helps you avoid risks when selecting mushrooms for cooking in your family.

This is a type of mushroom with a uniquely crab-like flavor. Coral Mushroom has a refreshing crab-like taste and natural sweetness, containing many nutrients beneficial for health. In our country, Coral Mushroom is cultivated in provinces in the Central region such as Thua Thien - Hue, Phu Quoc, and Quang Binh. This mushroom contains lysine, dextran, arginine, which are substances that promote brain development, enhance immunity, and prevent liver fibrosis. Based on the color of the mushroom cap, Coral Mushroom is divided into 2 types: white Coral Mushroom and brown Coral Mushroom. Coral Mushroom has many medicinal properties such as improving memory, boosting immunity, and preventing liver fibrosis.

Coral Mushroom is an ingredient in many delicious dishes such as steamed chicken with mushrooms, jellyfish and coral mushroom salad... Coral Mushroom can be used fresh or dried. It contains many excellent nutrients such as arginine, lysine, dextran... Coral mushroom is considered both a medicine and a health booster. For those with poor memory, eating coral mushroom is essential to enhance memory. It is one of the 5 nutritious foods recommended by experts to eat regularly because it has a low calorie content. Coral mushroom is known as a food that effectively stimulates the immune system. Coral mushroom is also known as the 'royal delicacy', a nutritious food with high protein content...

This type of mushroom is bright white in color, named so because it tastes like seafood. In seafood mushrooms, there are many proteins and amino acids, enhancing immunity. Seafood mushrooms (shimeji mushrooms) are nutrient-rich foods, good for health, and can be processed into various delicious dishes without causing satiety. Seafood mushrooms are rich in fiber, helping to increase bile acid secretion and reduce insulin response. Therefore, shimeji mushroom powder not only helps reduce total cholesterol levels in serum but also limits the risk of higher atherosclerosis formation compared to other mushrooms.

Seafood mushrooms contain protease enzymes that have antibacterial effects on harmful disease-transmitting larvae. Additionally, this type of mushroom supports the body's internal antifungal defenses due to other beneficial compounds. Shimeji mushrooms are very rich in glycoprotein (HM-3A), marmorin, beta-(1-3)-glucan, hypsiziprenol, and hypsin. These compounds help inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cells such as leukemia, liver cancer, breast cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, and lung cancer. Experts have highly valued seafood mushrooms as a natural food with the potential to support cancer treatment and improvement. Seafood mushrooms contain quite a few polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. These compounds will inhibit inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress while protecting the body from respiratory failure. Therefore, shimeji mushrooms can be beneficial in stimulating the healing of inflammation and acting as a natural remedy against future respiratory failure conditions.

Reishi Mushroom, also known by many names such as Lingzhi, Longevity Mushroom, and Ten Thousand Years Velvet. It is a precious mushroom, used as a medicinal herb since ancient times. Reishi mushroom is a wild wood fungus that grows in high-altitude regions with cold air all year round. Reishi mushroom has a stem, and the mushroom stem is colored (each species has a different color such as red-orange, brown, and golden-red). The mushroom cap has many shapes, mainly kidney-shaped and round. Reishi Mushroom is a health-enhancing mushroom that benefits all ages, from youth to the elderly and even children and pregnant women. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, antiviral, reduces arterial stiffness, assists the heart, lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol. It also helps to relax the nervous system and relax muscles.

Reishi Mushroom has the effect of improving physical fitness, enhancing the body's adaptability, regulating physiological balance, enhancing antibacterial ability, and promoting health recovery, known as 'enhancing the body and eliminating evil.' In Oriental medicine, 'enhancing the body' means improving physical fitness, 'eliminating evil' means treating diseases, enhancing the body and eliminating evil means strengthening the body to prevent diseases. Currently, in the treatment of chronic diseases, people often mention the effect of improving physical fitness and the body's adaptability thanks to traditional medicine. Along with the precious Ginseng, Reishi is also widely known for its supportive role in disease treatment.