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Shiitake mushrooms are often used to curb the effects of diseases like AIDS or cancer, as they stimulate the body's immune system. They are also recommended for people with heart problems, as they can lower cholesterol levels in the blood; at the same time, they are useful in diseases like hepatitis because they produce a group of natural proteins called interferon, which can stop the development of viruses.

Lentinan and beta-glucan, two of the compounds that these mushrooms contain, are capable of slowing down tumor growth, their activity, and the consequences of cancer treatments. This polysaccharide -a large molecule composed of smaller sucrose molecules- stimulates the immune system by creating a greater number of macrophages and T cells that attack cancer.

Shiitake mushrooms contain the eight essential amino acids for our body, vitamins A, B, B12, C, and D, iron, minerals (zinc, copper, potassium, manganese), and even have a compound that absorbs fat, which is also useful for people who want to lose those extra pounds.