Every Friday, I break down the latest scientific findings on mushrooms and fungi in our weekly newsletter.
Here, I’ve compiled all of the latest research on maitake (Grifola frondosa) that’s making waves in research labs worldwide. From cancer studies to traditional medicine discoveries, here’s what science has uncovered about chaga, starting with our most recent findings.
Epilepsy breakthrough 💜 A 10-year-old girl with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy experienced a 99% reduction in seizures after starting daily supplementation with Naturealm Sacred 7 Mushroom Extract Powder, containing chaga (Inonotus obliquus), cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris), lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), maitake (Grifola frondosa), reishi (Ganoderma lingzhi), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and turkey tail (Trametes versicolor). Once having up to 50 seizures a day, she now experiences a drastic reduction, no adverse effects, and remarkable cognitive progress. (Newsletter published: 1/31/25)
Promising colon cancer results 🐁 A mixture of shiitake, reishi, maitake, turkey tail, brazilian, giant polypore, oyster, tinder, meshima, and matsutake mushrooms, known as Agarikon Plus, offers new hope for colorectcal cancer patients when combined with conventional chemotherapy. This 10-mushroom extract was combined with the chemotherapy drug 5-fluoroauracil and achieved a remarkable 87.5% survival rate in lab mice, particularly promising given that untreated control groups had a 0% survival rate. Source note: Two of the study authors work for Myko San. (Newsletter published: 11/8/24)
The anti-cancer answer 🥳 Researchers at Canada’s University of Windsor found that, in early trials, maitake mushroom extract killed 70% of cancer cells, proving more effective than chemotherapy drugs. Supported by a $60,000 grant, the team will investigate the extract’s potential further. (Newsletter published: 8/28/24)
Cholesterol, meet your mushroom match
Probiotics vs. prebiotics🩺 Both are necessary for good gut health, but we rarely talk the difference. Probiotics are foods that contain live bacteria, like yogurt. Prebiotics are bacteria that act as food for probiotics. Mushrooms are a known prebiotic with a good track record of keeping cholesterol levels low in quite a few studies.
- Regulators: Low-density lipoprotein (“bad” cholesterol) leads to fatty acid buildup in the arteries, while high-density lipoprotein (“good cholesterol) helps remove bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. Our gut bacteria works to break down cholesterol, influence its creation, and convert that cholesterol into a less absorbable form.
- Mushroom magic: Medicinal mushrooms like reishi, maitake, lion’s mane, and shiitake contain unique compounds that act as prebiotics. Eating mushrooms regularly can help prevent dysbiosis — an imbalance in the gut microbiota linked to high cholesterol.
- All that and then some: Mushrooms are also rich in antioxidants, triglycerides, phenolics, and anti-inflammatory agents, which lower cholesterol levels and help prevent heart disease. These compounds stop the intestine from absorbing as much cholesterol, which is then excreted. 👉️ Read more here. (Newsletter published: 5/28/24)
🍔 Dom Dom Burger, Japan’s oldest hamburger chain, has introduced a unique “Konya wa Maitake Burger” featuring 200 grams of maitake mushrooms in each burger. The burger blends the rich, earthy flavors with a teriyaki glaze and a beef patty. Would you try it? (Newsletter published: 12/27/23)
👥 Functional mushrooms in your body: A new study investigated the effects of yogurts fortified with various adaptogenic ingredients on leaky gut syndrome. The results showed that yogurts with maitake mushrooms had higher resistance values, suggesting that it may be an effective treatment for leaky gut syndrome. (Newsletter published: 11/29/23)
A fall foraging favorite
Currently in the running for the most delicious mushroom. Hen of the woods mushrooms, also known as maitake, start appearing in late summer and early autumn. These mushrooms are one of the few mushrooms foragers can find east of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S., and few things in life are better than those crispy bits fresh off the campfire, thanks to the unfurling fan shape.
You can’t go wrong with these three basic steps.
🍳 Maitake on the stove
- Melt unsalted butter in a saucepan on medium heat.
- Add garlic, salt, and pepper. Add anything else here!
- Add fresh maitake mushrooms and cook until the edges are crisp to your liking, usually around 6 or 7 minutes.
🔥 Maitake on the grill
- Coat maitake generously in olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and anything else.
- Grill over really low or indirect heat for about 5 minutes.
- Continue to cook at 1-minute intervals to your liking.
💨 Maitake in the air fryer
- Coat maitake in olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and anything else.
- Cook maitake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes
- Continue to cook at 1-minute intervals to your liking, shaking in between to release steam.
Read more about hen of the woods mushrooms. (Newsletter published: 10/4/23)
What are maitake mushrooms?
Maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa), also known as “hen of the woods” due to their feathery, layered appearance, are a prized edible fungus celebrated for both their culinary and medicinal qualities. They are widely appreciated for their health-promoting properties.
Maitake mushrooms grow at the base of trees, particularly oaks, in clumps that can weigh several pounds. The part we use and consume is the fruiting body, which is rich in nutrients, beta-glucans, and other bioactive compounds.
These mushrooms are especially esteemed in traditional medicine for their ability to support immune system health. They have been studied for their potential to modulate blood sugar levels, improve cholesterol profiles, and even exert anti-tumor effects.
