Beta-glucan is a common nutrient found in a variety of grains, such as oats, barley, wheat, and rice, as well as in most types of mushrooms. Certain mushrooms, including Cauliflower, Meshima, Chaga, and Reishi, contain exceptionally high levels of beta-glucan. With the increased awareness of the importance of immune health following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing interest in betaglucan. Beta-glucan is a type of dietary fiber found abundantly in the cell walls of yeast and fungi. It's a complex carbohydrate formed by the linkage of sugar molecules. Beta-glucan aids in the activation and proliferation of immune cells. It is also beneficial for reducing cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.

In addition, beta-glucan inhibits fat absorption in the intestine and helps regulate blood lipid levels, making it
beneficial for weight management. Its long-term effect in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, stroke and fatty liver is attributed to its cholesterol-lowering properties. Betaglucan also promotes active intestinal peristalsis, ensuring smooth bowel movements. Due to its potent antioxidant properties, it is effective in preventing the onset of diseases such as cancer, hypertension, and diabetes.

Now, let's explore how we can incorporate this health-promoting beta-glucan into our daily lives. First, let's identify foods that are naturally rich in betaglucan. These foods include oats, barley, rice, wheat, legumes, mushrooms, mung beans, and various fruits and vegetables. Oats are readily available and can be consumed by chewing or prepared as oatmeal in broth or milk. In Korea, barley was traditionally eaten as porridge or bread. While barley rice was once commonly eaten, it is now less common. Brown rice, rich in beta-glucan, is consumed in modern households as part of a health-conscious diet. Wheat, which is rich in beta-glucan, can be found in a variety of foods, including pasta. Legume dishes often include bean flour in several recipes. Mung beans make foods such as mung bean rice cakes or fermented mung bean paste. Beta-glucan is also found in small amounts in fruits and vegetables.

Known for their high beta-glucan content, mushrooms can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes or as a stand-alone ingredient. To make a chilled enoki mushroom salad, you'll need 150g of mushrooms, half a cucumber,
5cm of green onion and dressing. For enoki mushroom soup, use chili peppers, green onions, and carrots. For each 150 grams of enoki mushrooms, add one chili pepper, 5 centimeters of green onion, and 1/5 of a carrot. For Matsutake mushroom rolls, use 15 chives and a quarter of a carrot for two Matsutake mushrooms. Pumpkin leaf soup calls for 60 grams of pumpkin leaves and 50 grams of shiitake mushrooms.

Mushrooms can also be combined with other vegetables to create new dishes. For a chilled eggplant salad, use one eggplant, 1/2 each green and red pepper, two shiitake mushrooms, and 20 grams of carrots.

For stir-fried bok choy mushrooms, use 100 grams of bok choy and three shiitake mushrooms. For stir-fried
shiitake asparagus, use 5-6 shiitake mushrooms, five asparagus stems, and 1/4 green, red, and yellow bell
peppers. For the Eggplant Mushroom Miso Rice Bowl, add one eggplant and two medium mushrooms. For
the Grilled Tofu Mushroom Rice Bowl, add 1/2 head of tofu and 80 grams of maitake mushrooms. For the
Vegetable Seasoned Tofu Pockets Rice Bowl, add 1/3 carrot, eight garlic cloves, 60 grams lotus root and two
stalks of green onion. 

One of the leading agricultural companies in Korea, Byeonsan Mushroom Farm, has been cultivating Meshima mushrooms, Ganoderma ludicum, shiitake mushrooms, and other functional mushrooms since 2019. They grow high-quality Meshima mushrooms through consistent cultivation, including inoculation, sterilization, and cultivation. With mushroom substrate production facilities, including mixing equipment, inoculation rooms, and sterilization rooms, all processes from substrate production to inoculation are carried out on the farm. Initially focused on the sale of raw mushrooms, the company expanded to meet customer demand for various products such as mushroom tea bags and Meshima mushroom juice.