For a long time, wood ear mushrooms have become an ingredient in many familiar dishes in daily life. In traditional Eastern medicine, wood ear mushrooms are also a precious medicinal ingredient with many uses for treating diseases, helping to enhance resistance, the immune system, helping to detoxify, and slow down the aging process. Read the article below to understand the effects of eating wood ear mushrooms are.
1. What is a wood ear mushroom?
Wood ear mushroom, also known as cat ear mushroom, is a type of fungus that grows on the trunks of many different types of woody plants. Wood ear is used as both a food and a medicinal product with many effects such as nourishing blood, improving circulation, stopping bleeding, and improving the condition of asthenia. Wood ear mushrooms are known by many other names, including cat ear mushroom, black fungus, tree ear mushrooms, auricularia, black wood ear, cloud ear.
Wood ear mushroom has a smooth upper surface and a lower surface covered with a layer of brown fur. The fungal tissue contains a sticky substance, and the reproductive surface is smooth or wrinkled, covered with a white powder due to the spores released when the fungus matures.
The reproductive organ of most types of wood ear is a multicellular basidium, shaped like a club, located deep inside the sticky substance. A wood ear mushroom contains a spore with a small stalk, growing below and extending through the mucous layer and to the surface of the fruiting body. On each small stalk is a basidiospore. The flesh of the wood ear is usually about 1-3 mm thick. The fruiting body of the wood ear is used as a medicinal material. Its scientific name is Auricularia.
Wood ear mushroom is widely distributed in temperate and subtropical regions around the world. They are also found in Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. In our country (Vietnam), the wood ear is grown for harvest as medicine and used as medicinal material. Wood ear mushrooms are believed to have the best quality when cultivated and allowed to grow on the trunks of trees such as Chinese scholar tree, paper mulberry, Streblus asper, cassava, Sesbania, Albizia, fig, jackfruit, and others…In addition to natural harvesting, the wood ear is also grown on jackfruit, cassava, and so đũa tree trunks for harvesting as medicinal materials. Wood ear is usually harvested in the summer and autumn. After harvesting, they are washed, the dirty parts attached to the substrate are removed, and then they are dried.
Unused wood ear mushrooms need to be sun-dried or dehydrated and stored in plastic bags or airtight containers to prevent air from entering. Place the wood ear mushrooms in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place, avoiding high humidity to prevent them from becoming moldy. Regarding nutrition, 100g of dried wood ear mushrooms contain some nutrients in specific amounts as follows:
- Energy 293.1 kcal
- Protein 10.6 g
- Fat 0.2 g
- Sugar 65 g
- Iron 185 mg
- Calcium 375 mg
- Phosphorus 201 mg
- Carotene 0.03% mg
- Fiber 5.8 g
2. What are the effects of wood ear mushrooms and black fungus?
Black fungus is a type within the wood ear family. They are a type of edible wild mushroom. Black fungus is mainly found in China, but it also thrives in tropical climates such as the Pacific Islands, Nigeria, Hawaii, and India. They often grow on tree trunks and decaying logs in nature but can also be intentionally cultivated for harvest as medicinal materials.
Both wood ear mushrooms and black fungus are known for their unique jelly-like texture and distinct chewiness compared to other foods. They have also become a popular culinary ingredient in a variety of Asian dishes. Additionally, they have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for hundreds of years. So, what are the effects of wood ear and black fungus? And is it good to eat wood ear mushrooms?
Although wood ear mushrooms have many uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine, scientific research on them is still in its early stages, and there is nothing certain about their health benefits. Many believe that this type of fungus has been noted for its ability to boost immunity and its antibacterial properties. The scientifically proven benefits of wood ear mushrooms include.
Contains many powerful antioxidants: Mushrooms, including Auricularia species, are generally high in antioxidants. These beneficial plant compounds help fight oxidative stress in the body, which is linked to inflammation and a variety of different pathologies. Furthermore, mushrooms often contain powerful polyphenol antioxidants. Diets rich in polyphenols have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer and chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic diseases.
May support gut health and the immune system: Similar to other mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms boast a high content of prebiotics - mainly in the form of beta-glucan. Prebiotics are a type of fiber that provides the body with a healthy gut microbiome and increases the proportion of friendly bacteria in our gut. These substances promote digestive health and maintain regular bowel movements. Interestingly, the gut microbiome is closely linked to immune health. Prebiotics like those in the wood ear are thought to enhance your immune response to unfriendly pathogens that can make you sick.
May lower blood cholesterol levels: The polyphenols in mushrooms may help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. In turn, lower LDL cholesterol levels can reduce the risk of heart disease. A study on rabbits fed wood ear mushrooms showed that both total and LDL (bad) cholesterol were significantly reduced. However, researchers are still unsure exactly how the mushrooms exert this effect, and a single animal study on wood ear does not necessarily apply to people who eat wood ear mushrooms.
May promote brain health: Mushrooms in general are thought to maintain healthy brain function. An in vitro study showed that wood ear mushrooms and other mushrooms inhibit the activity of beta secretase, an enzyme that releases amyloid beta proteins. These proteins are toxic to the brain and are linked to degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. While these findings are promising, human research is still needed before conclusions can be drawn.
May protect your liver: Wood ear mushrooms may protect your liver from the harmful effects of certain substances. In a study on mice, an aqueous solution and wood ear powder helped reverse and protect the liver from damage caused by an overdose of acetaminophen, commonly marketed as Tylenol in the United States. Researchers linked this effect to the strong antioxidant properties of the fungus. However, human studies – as mentioned, are still needed.
Caution When Using
Generally, wood ear mushrooms are benign food with little risk of causing health problems. However, since most wood ear mushrooms are sold in dried form, it is important to always soak them before use due to their density and crispness.
Furthermore, wood ear mushrooms must always be cooked thoroughly to kill bacteria and remove debris. Studies show that boiling can even increase its antioxidant activity.
However, picking and processing it yourself, as well as eating raw wood ear mushrooms, is generally not recommended due to the risk of confusing it with poisonous mushrooms or contamination. Wild mushrooms not only absorb pollutants from their environment but mistakenly eating poisonous mushrooms can cause poisoning or even death.
Instead, you should buy wood ear mushrooms from reputable sources. Wood ear mushrooms are an edible fungus, a popular ingredient in both Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. It is usually sold dried and needs to be soaked before processing to achieve its crisp texture. Recent research indicates that wood ear offers many benefits, such as protecting the liver, lowering cholesterol, and improving gut health. It is also rich in fiber and antioxidants. Wood ear mushrooms have long been used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine. However, in modern medicine, more research is still needed to prove the effects of this fungus.
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