Mushroom Spring Rolls

Spring roll

Not only is this dish is both beautiful and nutritious, but fresh and easy to take just about anywhere. 

Servings: 4 

Ingredients

2 Packages (200g) Maitake 
2 Packages (200g) Bunashimeji 
2 Asparagus stalks 
1 Bell pepper 
Green onion, 4 inches
8 large shrimp, peeled and deveined 
2 Tbsp Miso 
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
8 Rice wrappers 
Seven spice blend, optional 
White Sesame seeds

Continue reading “Mushroom Spring Rolls”

Colorful Mushroom and Egg Breakfast Sandwich

Mushroom Breakfast sandwich

Full of vegetables, and delicious mushrooms, this breakfast Sandwich gives you enough energy to keep you day moving. 

Serving Size: 4 

Ingredients

1/2 Package (50g)  Bunashimeji 
1/2 Package (50g) Bunapi
1 Package (100g) King Trumpet 
1/2 a Red Bell Pepper, julienned  
1 Medium Carrot, Finely Julianned and 2 inches in length  
2 leafs of Cabbage, finely chopped 
40g Ham chopped   
4 eggs, beaten 
1 Tbsp Grain Mustard 
1 Tbsp Olive Oil 
2 Tsp Butter
salt to taste 
4 slices of cheese
4 slices of Bread 

Directions

  1. Cut base off Bunashimeji and Bunapie  and divide into small sections. Next, cut The King trumpet mushrooms into 1/5 inch pieces vertically and then in half horizontally. 
  2. In a frying pan, add Mushrooms then salt and pepper and olive oil. Once the mushrooms have slightly browned  take out of pan as set aside. 
  3. Heat butter in the same pan, add half the ham (20g) then 2 beaten eggs, making sure to season with salt and pepper. Cook the egg like an omelet and fold it into a square shape. 
  4. Repeat step 3 again 
  5. Add salt and pepper to carrots (mix) , Grain Mustard, salt, and pepper to cabbage (mix). 
  6. Assembling the sandwich (in this order) : Bread – cheese – Red Bell Pepper – mushrooms – carrot- cabbage – cheese – Bread  
  7. Repeat step 4 again, and slice both sandwiches in half. 

Recipe adapted from www.hokto-kinoko.co.jp

Maitake Vegetable Stir fry

maitake vegetable Stir fry

Made with fresh ingredients, this Maitake vegetable stir fry can be combined with any dish. 

Ingredients

2 Packages (200g)  Maitake
12 mini tomatoes 
1 bundle ( 200g ) spinach
1 Medium onion  
1 Tsp Salt 
Pepper
2 Tbsp Olive Oil 

The Anti-allergic Effects of Maitake

A study based on a recent collaborative investigation with Professor Hirasawa of the, Tohoku University Graduate School for a pharmacy graduate course on lifestyle-related disease treatment, has shown that Maitake mushrooms may have the potential to reduce allergy symptoms.

 

Effect of the action of the mast cells and Maitake

When Antigens, such as pollen, invade the human body, via a mucous membrane, mast cells secrete histamines and cause an allergic reaction.

At the same time, mast cells secrete inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13, and activate immune cells surrounding it to promote inflammation.

In this study, it was revealed that Maitake mushrooms, in combination with the secretion of histamines from mast cells, control gene expression levels of IL-4 and IL-13. In other words, they have the potential to act as an anti-inflammatory agent.

 

Experimental method

In this experiment, we used a fat soluble ingredient which extracted the ethanoic extract of each mushroom in ethyl acetate.

We then added the extract of each mushroom to a rat-originated mast cell line (RBL-2H3) and performed antigen stimulation in a culture for 20 minutes.

For the experiment, we used DNP-HSA (dinitrophenyl – human serum albumin) as an antigen.

After 40 minutes of antigen stimulation, the Histamine density in the culture fluid was measured; 4 hours later, IL-4, which is an inflammatory cytokine, and IL-13 were measured to ascertain their expression level.

 

Experimental result

Mast cells given Maitake extract in advance significantly restrained the histamine secretion amount after antigen stimulation.

In addition, the gene expression level of IL-4 and IL-13 of inflammatory cytokine was significantly controlled.

Histamine secretion amount after antigen stimulationn=3, *There is a significant difference between the contrast.P<0.01

 

The above results show that Maitake mushroom extract can be expected to improve the symptoms of allergic reactions, such as hay fever.

 

The above results of the study were presented at the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 133th Annual Meeting (2013)

The Beneficial Effects of Eryngii on Constipation

We investigated the effects of bowel movements of women who have chronic constipation by  having them ingest cooked King Trumpet mushrooms (Eryngii). The ingestion of King Trumpet mushrooms might cause an increase of the frequency of defecation and improvements of bowel movement and character of stool. Women who have chronic constipation to the number of 15 (45.3 years of mean age) had a meal added 50g of cooked King Trumpet mushrooms for 30 consecutive days on breakfast and lunch time, respectively. Then, they filled out a questionnaire seeking information about changes of the frequency of defecation, bowel movement and character of stool.

Continue reading “The Beneficial Effects of Eryngii on Constipation”

The Role of Eryngii in Body Fat Reduction

An overview of obesity and metabolic syndrome

According to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), “Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke. The term “metabolic” refers to the biochemical processes involved in the body’s normal functioning. Risk factors are traits, conditions, or habits that increase your chance of developing a disease. Metabolic syndrome is becoming more common due to a rise in obesity rates among adults.”  – NHLBI / Metabolic Syndrome

Continue reading “The Role of Eryngii in Body Fat Reduction”

Vitamin B1

What is the role of Thiamine or vitamin B1?

Vitamin B1, the first member of the vitamin B complex family, is an essential nutrient for the body. 

Vitamin B1 is required by the body to establish ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is used by cells, in the body, to release energy.

Vitamin B1 aids in changing carbohydrates into glucose. In other words, it transforms foods consumed, into energy that the body requires. In addition, it also helps break down fats and protein.

Thiamine helps to promote a healthy and active nervous system, and also improves the functioning of the heart.

Also known as the “anti-stress” vitamin, vitamin B1 vitamins helps the body to withstand intense stress and helps to promote healthy hair, skin, mouth, liver, and eyes.

 

Lack of vitamin B1 may cause diseases such as:
  • You might suffer from both dry and wet varieties of Beriberi.
  • Alcoholics might experience severe brain abnormalities such as the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
  • Possibilities of Anorexia.
  • Heart failure and increased heart rate.
  • Congestion in the lungs.
  • Burning and prickling sensation in the feet and toes.
  • Abnormal development of nerves and muscles.
  • Frequent fatigue and psychological depression.
  • Nausea and headaches.
  • Discomfort in the abdomen.
  • Chances of developing cataracts.
  • An elevated possibility of getting Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Vitamin B1 might be created exclusively in fungi, bacteria, and plants despite all living creatures needing it. It is an important nutrient for humans because, like all other animals, they need to acquire it through their diet. While a deficiency in mammals leads to optic neuropathy, Korsakoff’s syndrome and Beriberi disease, which attacks the cardiovascular system and/or the peripheral nervous system, in birds, polyneuritis is far more common due to the lack of vitamin B1. If left untreated, a deficiency might even prove to be fatal. In cases which are not severe, there might be occurrences of weight loss, confusion, malaise, and irritability.

Thiamine mononitrate, which is non-hygroscopic, is the Vitamer which has been employed for food and flour fortification. Vitamin B1 is on the list of one of the most crucial medications required in a rudimentary health system, namely, the List of Essential Medicines of the World Health Organization.

When thiamine became the first water-soluble vitamin to be detected, many more such trace compounds necessary for the survival were gradually discovered.

A surgeon general who worked in the Japanese navy by the name of Kanehiro Takaki had refused the earlier germ theory attributed to beriberi and contemplated that it was caused due to deficiencies in the diet. He discovered that when he switched the diet of white rice to a diet consisting of bread, meat, barley, milk, and vegetables, he was able to reduce beriberi on a navy ship on a voyage. But having randomly added food products into the diet which was successful, he wrongly thought that the beriberi was cured due to the increased intake of nitrogen.

However, in 1905, anti-beriberi factor was found in brown barley rice and rice bran and Takaki’s efforts were appreciated finally. He was made a baron in the peerage system of Japan and Takaki was henceforth known as the ‘Barley Baron.’

 

Vitamin B1

(mg/100g)

0.15

0.075

0

0.12

Bunashimeji

0.10

Bunapi

0.06

King Trumpet

0.05

King Trumpet

0.08

White Mushrooms

0.07

lettuce

0.04

tomato

0.08

potato

Buna
shimeji

Bunapi

King Trumpet

Maitake

White
Mushroom

Lettuce

Tomato

Potato