Beta Glucan Has Anti-Cancer Properties in Three Medicinal Mushrooms

Beta Glucan Has Anti-Cancer Properties in Three Medicinal Mushrooms AUTHOR SHARON CORNET Three medicinal mushrooms have anti--cancer properties Beta-glucan, a fiber in mushrooms, has been found to have anti-cancer properties, including in shiitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms. There are two types of beta-glucan: soluble and insoluble fiber. Typically soluble beta-glucan, like what is found in oatmeal, helps reduce cholesterol, whereas insoluble beta-glucan, like is found in medicinal mushrooms, have immune-boosting properties when they pass through the intestines. Beta glucan also serves as an cancer-fighting agent. Beta glucan polysaccharides are known to help fight cancer as a natural agent. Beta glucans are also found in yeast and fungi (mushrooms). When it comes to anticancer agents, mushrooms often have more constituents compared to other regular edible foods. Additionally, medicinal mushrooms reishi, maitake, and shiitake, are particularly excellent in their naturally occurring anticancer properties. Betaglucan anti-cancer properties and nitric oxide E Jurczynska, J Saczko, et al., at the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Poland described just how the anti-cancer aspects relate to nitric oxide, saying, “beta-glucans participate in the processes of repair, metabolism and detoxification, and affect the overall health of the body counteract the pathological conditions of reactive oxygen and nitrogen and the processes in which they participate.” Nitrogen and reactive oxygen play a critical role in the pathogenesis of cancer, as well as a host of other human diseases. Beta-glucan acts as an anti-cancer agent, which reduces both nitrosative and oxidative stress. The researchers said that, “reactive oxygen and nitrogen react with proteins to cause impairment of their function [and] nitric oxide enhances the effect … and becomes a mediator of inflammation.” Inflammation is very often associated with the development of cancer according to many medical experts. Beta glucan in medicinal mushrooms and food Beta glucan, the anti-cancer agent in some foods, is found in shiitake, maitake, an reishi, as well as other fungi. Mushrooms in general, including common white mushrooms, crimini/portobello mushrooms also are high in beta glucan. The triple health benefit effects of mushrooms include the beta glucan fiber, which provide immune-boosting properties and anti-cancer as well as anti-tumor effects. Barley and oats, both of which provide dietary fiber and are good for the heart (promote cardiovascular health) also have beta glucan. Oats, in particular, have hypocholesterolemic effects. No one ingredient, even if it is beta-glucan, can cure cancer by itself. A healthy lifestyle is required to ward off disease and keep the human body healthy, but beta- glucan in medicinal mushrooms provide a huge immunity enhancement up to 10 times the normal rate of other foods. This makes mushrooms like reishi, shiitake, and maitake all excellent candidates for people who are fighting cancer, in cancer remission, preventing cancer, and would like to follow chemotherapy or supplement other cancer therapies. Please discuss the use of mushroom supplements with your doctor or physician before making any dietary or other changes in your health plan. Please go to this site to order Ganolife Gourmet Coffee enriched with Ganoderma, www.ganolifevo.com/wwammcafe.