SHIITAKE  MUSHROOMS
The shiitake mushroom is a brown to black fungus.
"There's a pharmacy in food," says Julie Daniluk (a registered holistic nutritionist) authur of Meals That Heal Inflammation, which includes reference charts and recipes. 

Some of her tips concerning the shiitake mushroom:
It fights the flu.
Shiitake mushrooms contain a compound called AHCC that boosts the immune responce after one has been exposed to the flu virus.
It slows aging.
When ones immune system is 'up to speed', Daniluk says, you slow the clock of aging.
It helps cancer patients.
Shiitake mushrooms contain polysacharides that can help ease the pain, nausea and hair loss associated with chemotherapy and radiation.

Two buying tips:
1 - The darker the mushroom the healthier.
2 - Don't fixate on fresh; dried shiitake mushrooms have the same nutrients as the fresh ones.

At The CURIOSITY Shop we carry dried black shiitake mushrooms - one pack are whole and the other is sliced.

Directions:
1. Soak shiitake in warm water for 25 minutes.
2. Drain.  Squeeze excess liquid from shiitake.
3. Use as desired.

Shiitake mushrooms have long been a symbol of longevity because of their healthy properties, and they have been medicinally used by the Chinese for more than 6000 years.
The shiitake mushrooms are as unique as they are delicious giving off a smoky taste.



If you are not a fan of mushrooms you might try Garlic, Squash, Pumkins, Papaya, or Seasame Seeds (which we carry) as they are also infection fighters.