Shiitake Mushroom Skin Benefits & Tips for Youthful Appearance

When searching for ways to support skin health, we often turn to creams, serums, or change our diets. While there are thousands of beauty supplements on the market, it’s often difficult to know what to look for in an all-natural supplement. Mushrooms, however, have gained traction in the beauty world for their many benefits for not only skin health, but also for support for general health and wellness.^‡ 

Mushrooms are nutritious and high in antioxidant superfoods. And, certain species can contribute to better skin health.^‡ Shiitake mushrooms, while once only grown in the wild, are now widely cultivated indoors and transformed into an all-natural mushroom supplement that can provide a host of benefits for skin support and a youthful appearance.^‡ Read more below about shiitake mushroom skin benefits and learn how you can incorporate shiitake supplements into your daily health routine. 

A Brief History of Shiitake

Shiitake mushroom or Lentinus edodes grows naturally in the warm, humid climates of Southeast Asia, but has been cultivated in China and Japan for hundreds of years. It is known as “Xianggu” in China and “Shiitake” in Japan. Shiitake is one of the largest mushrooms cultivated and is the most popular edible mushroom in the world. Shiitake is brown with a curved cap that can grow anywhere between 5 to 25cm in diameter.

This species has been associated with providing support for immune, heart, and skin health for many years due to the naturally occurring bioactive polysaccharides, such as beta-glucans.^‡ Beta-glucans are natural cell wall polysaccharides that are found in fungi such as shiitake. This powerful component has made this rich and earthy mushroom gain popularity over the years for its healing properties, and now, can even provide support for skin health and youthfulness.^‡  

Shiitake Mushroom Skin Benefits

As one of the most cultivated mushrooms in the world, you may recognize shiitake as a popular ingredient in recipes. But this species is actually a great all-natural supplement for supporting the health of your skin.^‡ Shiitake mushrooms support:

Cellular Damage^‡

Shiitake contains a large number of antioxidants. Antioxidants are naturally occurring compounds that protect our cells from damage. They also help to keep the body in balance to maintain a safe amount of free radicals. A free radical is a chemical species possessing an unpaired electron. When free radicals become unstable, they can cause damage to our cells. Regarding skin health, if free radicals are not controlled, they can break down our skin’s collagen causing uneven pigmentation, premature wrinkles, and dark spots.  This can also be said about another ingredient found in shiitake which is selenium. Selenium also helps to combat free radical damage to help support better skin health. 

Collagen Production^‡

Shiitake mushrooms have one of the highest amounts of natural copper. Copper is an important component in collagen production which makes up a large percentage of skin composition. With age, collagen production slows down reducing skin firmness and causing wrinkles. Intake of a natural supplement such as shiitake can help your body receive the amount of copper it needs to maintain collagen in the skin.

Skin Radiance^‡

Certain bioactive compounds are very important for skin health. We sometimes lack the nutrients our bodies need, and this can often affect skin health. Bioactive compounds—such as Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), Riboflavin, Niacin, and Folate—can help bring balance to our bodies to restore skin health. These bioactive compounds are essential for skin health as they can help reduce redness, irritation, and help to support acne-prone or dry skin as well as support a radiant skin tone. Niacin particularly is essential in protecting skin cells from sun damage, a primary cause of premature aging, wrinkles, and dark spots. 

How To Incorporate Shiitake Supplements into Your Diet

When considering the many shiitake mushroom skin benefits, it is no wonder why this organic superfood has taken off as a natural beauty supplement. If you are looking to incorporate the benefits of shiitake into your diet, here are some simple tips to follow:

1. Incorporate shiitake into recipes. Mushrooms are milled into powders to create a convenient way to have your daily intake of a superfood. This makes it simple to add to any recipe. Soups, smoothies, and oatmeal pair great with shiitake mushroom powder as it can blend smoothly and provide all the nutrients you need without compromising your meal. Simply follow instructions on the proper dose of mushroom powder to add each day and enjoy!
2. Add a shiitake supplement to your coffee. If you are a coffee drinker, why not add a nutritious superfood to your daily cup of joe? The subtle flavor and powdered consistency will mix nicely and provide a convenient way to enjoy the shiitake mushroom skin benefits daily. 
3. Try adding mushroom broth to your next meal. Mushroom broth can provide a host of benefits and it is often curated with shiitake. Mushroom broth is a savory combination of water, herbs, and fresh or dried mushrooms. Mushroom broth pairs nicely in any soup or stew recipe as well as other recipes. 
4. Take shiitake mushroom capsules. If you prefer to get your daily intake of shiitake mushroom in a more convenient way, shiitake mushroom capsules are a great option. Follow instructions on how many capsules to take and be sure to drink plenty of water. 

Om Mushroom Shiitake Products for Skin Health

Om Mushroom offers an array of mushroom supplements with shiitake that help to support skin health and a youthful appearance.^‡ 

Beauty Blend Organic Mushroom Powder	This powerful mushroom powder blend contains a combination of chaga, cordyceps, king trumpet, maitake, and shiitake mushrooms. It supports lustrous hair, glowing skin, and strong nails.‡ Simply add one teaspoon (2 grams) daily to recipes, coffee, or smoothies.
Beauty+ Mushroom Drink Mix	Our Beauty+ Mushroom Drink Mix contains a combination of chaga, cordyceps, king trumpet, maitake, and shiitake mushrooms. Also within this mix is Marine Collagen, Biotin, and Vitamin E to support aging and antioxidants to prevent free radical damage.‡ Combine 1 tbs. of drink mix with 12oz of water. Shake well and enjoy.
Beauty-Full Mushroom Capsules	Our Beauty-full mushroom capsules contain antioxidants to prevent free radical damage and naturally occurring beta-glucans. These capsules support healthy hair, skin, and nails.‡ This supplement contains a combination of chaga, cordyceps, king trumpet, maitake, and shiitake mushrooms. Take three (3) capsules with water, daily.

The ingredients in shiitake offer numerous benefits for skin health and a youthful appearance.^‡ When considering a natural supplement for your beauty regimen, try shiitake supplements. 

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^‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Functional mushroom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.