Mushrooms are very effective in preventing breast and prostate cancer due to the significant presence of various polysaccharides, like BetaGlucans and conjugated Linoleic Acid, which both haveanticarcinogenic effects. Out of these two, linoleic acid is particularly helpful in suppressing the harmful effects of excess estrogen. This increase in estrogen is one of the prime causes for breast cancer in women after menopause. The BetaGlucans, on the other hand, inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in cases of prostate cancer, and numerous studies have shown the antitumor properties of mushrooms when applied medicinally.