A major study on H7N9 avian influenza was published online on April 25th on the official website of The Lancet, a world-renowned medical journal. This research paper, completed by a team of scientists from China, warns for the first time in the world that H7N9 virus is developing in a direction suitable for infecting mammals, which makes it easier for the virus to infect people. According to a recent report by the Information Times, influenza occurs frequently in spring and summer, and eating more Flammulina velutipes helps to enhance resistance. Some experts pointed out that to ensure a balanced diet during the flu season, it is suggested to increase the intake of Flammulina velutipes and other mushrooms to enhance the body's immunity and antiviral ability.

The Information Times reported that many people stopped eating poultry because of the recent H7N9 avian influenza. Associate Professor Chen Chaogang, director of the Clinical Nutrition Department of Sun Yixian Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, pointed out that less meat intake will lead to insufficient intake of "essential amino acids", which can be supplemented by eating more mushrooms. He said that the protein content of fresh Flammulina velutipes is 2.4 grams, which is 2-3 times higher than that of green leafy vegetables, melons, tomatoes and other vegetables on the daily table. Moreover, there are more "essential amino acids" in mushroom protein, and the relative content and proportion structure of "essential amino acids" are closer to meat.

Dr. Gao Yihuai, the chief scientist of Royal New Zealand Academy of Sciences and an expert of China Association for Science and Technology's overseas think tank, believes that "the growth of mushrooms is a biosynthetic process without photosynthesis, so the special ingredients it naturally synthesizes, especially some medical nutrients, are more conducive to strengthening physical fitness."