For thousands of years, shiitake has been renowned as both a food and medicine in the Far East. King Wen of Changsha wrote that shiitake “accelerates vital energy, wards off hunger, cures colds, and defeats body fluid energy.”
Science shows that shiitake is rich in macronutrients, B vitamins, and minerals like selenium, copper, and manganese. Shiitake also contains naturally occurring bioactive polysaccharides, associated with improved immunity, cardiovascular wellness, and healthy skin.