You may have a new reason to add mushrooms to your meals: A compound found in certain 'shrooms may help eliminate HPV from infected tissues, according to research presented at the Society of Gynecological Oncology's 45th Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer.
Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston treated cervical cancer cells with active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), an extract made from Basidiomycete mushrooms (which, if you're wondering, includes shiitake mushrooms). The researchers found that AHCC led to the eradication of HPV, as well as a slowing of tumor growth.
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Now, while AHCC is obviously pretty awesome, it isn't believed to directly fight HPV. Rather, researchers think it may boost the immune system so it can better fight the virus. Previous research has shown that AHCC increases the body's number and/or activity of Natural Killer cells, dendritic cells, and cytokines, all of which enable the body to respond to infections and block tumor growth.
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Scientists are psyched about the findings, and researchers have even begun to test the effects of AHCC on women with HPV. Pretty cool stuff, but the results won't be available for a while.
So for now, it can't hurt to get an extra serving of shiitake mushrooms, which are loaded with fiber and vitamin B6. Check out our recipe for baby bok choy with shiitake mushrooms and red bell peppers. Even if the dish doesn't help you fight HPV, it will help you get tons of nutrients and fill up without filling out.
MORE: Everything You Need to Know About HPV
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