Shiitake

HEALTH The shiitake mushroom is one of the most highly prized foods in Oriental cuisine, lending its rich, caramel-like flavor to seasonings, sauces, soups, and even carbonated drinks and candies. Yet few aficionados of this gourmet delicacy are aware of its high nutritional value or of its uses in traditional Chinese medicine and in the modern search for botanical remedies. Traditionally classified as a food that activates the blood, shiitake has been used as a folk treatment for colds, measles, and bronchial inflammations. More recent studies have indicated its usefulness in lowering blood cholesterol levels and preventing heart disease. Another exciting area of research suggests that shiitake is valuable in bolstering the immune system to increase the body's ability to ward off cancerous tumors, viral infections, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Shiitake: The Healing Mushroom takes the reader on a lively tour of the healing properties of one of the world's most delicious foods. KENNETH JONES is the author of Pau d'Arco: Immune Power from the Rain Forest and Reishi: Ancient Herb for Modern Times.