In its native China and Japan, the Shiitake mushroom has enjoyed a long-standing reputation as a remedy for exhaustion, colds, worms, poor circulation, and liver problems.
Modern research reveals that one of the mushroom's ingredients--a compound called lentinan--does in fact have unique medicinal properties.
It stimulates the body's T-lymphocytes, specialized white blood cells that play a key role in the immune system's constant battle against invading germs and mutated cells.
Although the immunity-boosting action of lentinan appears to be responsible for most of Shiitake's beneficial effects, the mushroom does contain other medicinal compounds as well, including cortinelin, an antibacterial agent that kills a variety of disease-causing germs.
Still other ingredients appear to have cholesterol-lowering properties.