The Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) is originally from Brazil. It is also known as himematsutake, Mushroom of God, and Mushroom of the Sun. It is an important part of local daily diets in Piedade, a small town in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Those who live in Piedade have uncommonly good healthand experience a lower frequency of cancer and geriatric disease than the general population in the area.
Exceptionally Rich in a Wide Variety of Polysaccharides.
Scientists think this lower frequency of disease may be attributable to the rich store of polysaccharides in the ABM mushroom. Mushroom Polysaccharides:
- Beta-1,3 D-glucan
- Beta-1,6 D-glucan
- FI1-a-beta
- FIII2-beta
- FA-1a-beta(hetero-beta-glucan)
- FA-2b-beta(RNA)
- FV-1 (insoluble beta-glucan)
- ATOM (glucomannan-protein)
- AB-FP(mannan-protein)
Powerful Ally in the Fight against Cancer
The ABM mushroom is rich in the polysaccharides beta-1, 3 D-glucan and beta-1,6 D-glucan. These polysaccharides can aid production of T cells, interferon, and interleukin to help prevent reproduction, spread, and relapse of cancer cells as well as virus-infected cells. Research by the National Cancer Center Laboratory and Tokyo College of Pharmacy showed the elimination of cancerous tumors in 90% of lab animals fed with ABM mushrooms while polysaccharides found in most fungi can only affect certain solid tumors, those in ABM mushrooms are reportedly effective against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, sigmoid colon cancer,
ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and most solid tumors.
Strengthens the Immune System
Research at King Drew Medical Center of UCLA found that the ABM mushroom increases the total number of immune cells throughout the body. Furthermore, research has shown that ABM mushroom not only increases the number of natural killer (NK) cells, but also makes each individual NK cell more powerful.
Antioxidant Effects
Exopolysaccharide AbEXP-la extracted from ABM mushroom displays anti- oxidation activity and can eliminate free radicals.
Antiviral Protection
ABM mushroom is also cited as a powerful antiviral agent, preventing viruses and harmful agents from entering delicate tissue.
Wholesome Source of Iron
One hundred grams of ABM mushroom contain 9.65 mg of iron-one of the highest percentages of iron found in plant foods-that is easily absorbed by the human body. The ABM mushroom provides the human body with a wholesome source of iron with no side effects.
Enhances Absorption of Calcium
ABM mushroom contains ergosterol, which converts into vitamin D 2 . This vitamin promotes the absorption and use of calcium in the body. Ergosterol and vitamin D 2 combine to protect and strengthen bone health, and they even help prevent diseases like osteoporosis.
A Perfect Combination of Nutrients
The ABM mushroom is high in protein as well as vitamins B 1 , B 2 , and minerals needed by the body (such as calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus and iron), thus providing multiple health benefits to the body.
