Enokitake

Enoki Mushrooms also known as Enokitake or Flammulina Velutipes are a mushroom that is long and very thin with small caps at the end. They are native to China, Japan and Korea.

These mushrooms grow in small groups and are traditionally eaten lightly cooked or raw. Enoki Mushrooms are a low calorie source of protein and contain complex carbohydrates.

Mushrooms generally contain high concentrations of Vitamin B. Enoki’s are rich in niacin, which contains 23 percent of the recommended value in a 1 cup serving. Because Enoki mushrooms are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidant compounds it is a highly beneficial to the body.

Benefits of Enokitake

Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant – A study conducted in 2014 wanted to test the antioxidant effects on hamsters. What they found was the following:

• Flammulina velutipes is rich in polysaccharides and can be used in health food and cosmetic products for its biological activity.
• The antioxidant activity test shows that FVE is displayed to be as high as 99.7%, which could prevent free radical and oxygen attacks. It also showed a metal chelating ability.
• F. velutipes contains rich dietary fiber, which accelerates the decomposition of cholesterol and hence can reduce TG, TC, and LDL level in the blood and TG, TC, and phospholipid in the liver.
• Mycosterol has the ability to reduce total cholesterol and LDL in the blood. Taiwan has a high yield of Flammulina velutipes all year round which has been developed into nutritional supplementary foods, and it is becoming an attractive research subject in the 21st century. (Article)

Immune System Boosting Effects – Enoki mushrooms were long valued in Eastern Medicine because of the immune boosting properties. As the treatment of various cancers continues to evolve, mushrooms should be considered as an adjunct therapy. As with any phytochemical, the dose, concentration, absorption, and extraction methods play a role in the pharmacological effects, and these factors will be important in future studies. With more research and a better understanding of how different mushrooms elicit varied effects, it will be increasingly important that integrative clinicians work with oncologists to determine the appropriate treatment for each individual. Research into underlying mechanisms of mushrooms will continue to help in devising new strategies for treating cancer, preventing its long-term complications, and increasing survival. (Article)

Ergothioneine – The most unusual amino acid which contains substantial antioxidant efficacy is Ergotioneine. This assists in protection from oxidative stress and free radical damage.(Article)

Lower Cancer Risks – A study showed a reduction of 39% in cancer in areas of japan where Enoki mushrooms were farmed. An increasing awareness of the potential side effects of synthetic therapeutic agents and nutraceuticals has led to increased efforts to seek out natural products with beneficial effects on health. Studies have shown that F. velutipes, an easily available mushroom, has excellent nutritional value and also remarkable potential applications for medicinal purposes. Nutritionally, F. velutipes is a good source for carbohydrates, proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, many valuable micronutrients and dietary fiber which are highly comparable to vegetables. Although the nutritional values and culinary uses of F. velutipes are well documented, its medicinal qualities have yet to be. Bioactive polysaccharides extracted from F. velutipes have been demonstrated to possess a wide variety of bioactivities, particularly anticancer, immunomodulatory and anti-neurodegenerative effects. In conclusion, F. velutipes has great potential as a nutraceutical and functional food, as well as potentially representing a valuable source for bioactive compounds therapeutic use and pharmaceutical application. The information presented in this review may also form the basis of providing adequate knowledge for future studies and developments as well as commercial exploitation of this fascinating mushroom. (Article)

Anti-Atherosclerotic Properties – Many studies were able to discover compounds within enoki mushrooms that prevent oxidation of LDL Cholesterol. Because of this it is protiective against atherosclerosis . As LDL oxidation is the initiating step in atherosclerotic pathogenesis, intervention at this level sounds imperative in halting the onset of atherosclerosis. Polyphenolic compounds present in the F. velutipes impart this mushroom’s antiatherosclerotic pursuance under the aegis of antioxidative panoply. These findings, novel in case of this mushroom species, would pave a new vista for functional food-based therapeutic intervention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases and thus be of monumental importance to the humanity. (Article)

Cholesterol – Lowering Effects – A study conducted on rats to test the mushroom fibers on cholesterol related diets. They concluded that the results of this study demonstrate Enokitake lowered the serum total cholesterol level by enhancement of fecal cholesterol excretion, and in particular, by enhancement of hepatic LDL receptor mRNA in EF group. (Article)