Mushroom magic: discover the health and beauty advantages of medicinal mushrooms and you just might fall under their powerful spell.(PERSONAL CARE: INSIDE & OUT)

Far more than just a topping for pizza, mushrooms have been revered for centuries in Asia as powerful healing tonics. In the past several decades, hundreds of studies have supported the traditional uses of mushrooms for medicinal purposes.

Finding out about Fungus

Science has confirmed that mushrooms contain a variety of active compounds, including polysaccharides, glycoproteins, triterpenes and antibiotics. The most intensively researched compounds have been the polysaccharides, large, complex sugar molecules that enhance immune function by increasing the activity of macrophages--big white blood cells that engulf harmful microorganisms and damaged cells.

While immune-enhancing compounds have held center stage, other compounds in mushrooms have been identified, too, as having health-protective properties. Reishi contains triterpenes that decrease blood pressure, maitake contains a glycoprotein that helps regulate blood sugar levels, and lion's mane contains hericenones that may help stimulate the growth of nerve cells in the brain.

The following mushrooms are among the most promising when it comes to health and beauty:

Agaricus

Also known as "mushroom of the sun," agaricus grows in a mountainous area near Sao Paulo, Brazil. A delicious edible mushroom with a rich almond flavor, agaricus is packed with immune-enhancing compounds called beta-glucans. In Japan, agaricus is commonly used as a cancer therapy. In a 2004 study, 100 patients with gynecological cancers treated with an extract of agaricus had increased activity of natural killer cells (a type of white blood cell that kills infectious microorganisms and tumor cells) and improved quality of life.