Edible Boletus Mushroom (© Danijelm | Dreamstime.com)

Mushroom-loving cooks will be pleased to learn that the versatile ingredient might do more than just enhance the blend of flavors in a meal, they might improve your health.

Researchers from Arizona State University and Pennsylvania State University have concluded that whole mushroom extracts are “…predicted to be beneficial for boosting anti-tumor immunity.” The humble white button mushroom was found to be more effective than some of its pricier cousins. The researchers published their results in the journal, BMC Immunology.

Traditional Chinese medicine has used mushrooms for thousands of years. Japanese and Chinese practitioners have long recommended Shitake mushrooms in particular for enhancing immunity. Mushroom extracts sold as dietary supplements around the world have been valued at $5 billion annually.

If you’d like to read the BMC Immunology article cited above go to: The effects of whole mushrooms during inflammation