Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a fungus that grows primarily in birch trees in Northern Europe, Asia, Canada, and the Northeastern United States. Despite its ugly appearance, Chaga mushroom is becoming popular in the Western world because of its potential health benefits. Chaga is known by many names around the world. Most interestingly, it’s called kreftkjuke in Norway, which literally means “cancer fungus” due to its purported health properties. For hundreds of years, Chaga has been wildly used by people in Northern Europe and Russia and is often used as a tea. In addition, hard-textured mushrooms can be dried, ground into a powder, extracted, or distilled. Less common, the powder is packaged into capsules for use as a dietary supplement.
1. The active ingredient in Chaga Mushrooms
- Chaga is rich in fiber and essential nutrients, including vitamin D, iron, magnesium, potassium, manganese, and calcium.
- Chaga’s high melanin content has led some to believe that it can enhance the natural melanin in the skin.
- The fungus also contains polysaccharides, namely a type called beta-glucans, that have been studied to support immune health and overall health, as well as normal healthy cell growth.
2. Top 5 benefits of Chaga mushroom
2.1 Benefits of Chaga mushroom: Enhance immunity, fight inflammation
✅ Inflammation is a natural reaction of your immune system that can protect against disease. However, long-term inflammation is associated with conditions like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Chaga mushroom has the ability to enhance human immunity very effectively, thanks to its abundance of natural polysaccharides. The polysaccharide is the most powerful immune stimulant ever known, very powerful prevention of benign and malignant tumors, lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, regulating blood sugar, healing wounds, rejuvenating skin and there are many other benefits. When using Polysaccharide, immune cells become more active, stronger, effective in attacking and destroying viruses, harmful bacteria entering the body. In addition, by promoting the formation of beneficial cytokines – specialized proteins that help regulate the immune system. Chaga stimulates white blood cells, essential for fighting harmful bacteria or viruses.
2.2 Benefits of Chaga mushroom: Control diabetes
✅ Chaga can help control or prevent diabetes, according to a 2014 study in complementary and evidence-based alternative medicine. This hypothesis is based on the beneficial effects that plant-derived polysaccharides have on blood sugar. The ones found in some mushrooms, such as Chaga, are thought to be particularly strong. According to the study, the rats with chemical-induced diabetes achieved nearly normal blood sugar levels after being fed Chaga-derived polysaccharide solution for six weeks. Investigators believe this solution reduces inflammation of the damaged pancreatic cells, allowing insulin-producing organs to function more properly.
2.3 Benefits of Chaga mushroom: Preventing and destroying cancer cells
✅ Many studies show that Chaga Mushrooms has the ability to prevent and slow the growth of cancer cells. Chaga is rich in antioxidants (antioxidants) – substances that help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals or oxidants. When the body is unable to produce enough antioxidants, oxidative stress occurs, leading to cancer and a host of other health problems. Chaga will add antioxidants in time to keep your body healthy for every cell, according to Healthline. In particular, Chaga contains antioxidants triterpene. Test-tube studies have shown that a highly concentrated triterpene extract can help kill cancer cells.
✅ In a test-tube study, Chaga extract helped prevent the growth of cancer in human liver cells. Similar results were observed for lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells.
2.4 Benefits of Chaga mushroom: Liver detoxification
✅ Chaga can help prevent or slow the progression of some liver problems. The Korean team reported that a Chaga extract in the water could protect the biopsied liver tissue from the oxidative effects of a chemical (tertbutyl hydroperoxide) known to cause liver damage. It can also help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress that cause chronic liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
2.5 Benefits of Chaga mushroom: Against aging
✅ Dubbed “superfood”, Chaga is extremely effective in improving health, reducing fatigue, aches and pains, fighting stress, regulating energy, assisting digestion, breathing, helping the body to function effectively. In addition, Chaga’s high melanin content helps protect the skin from sun damage, skin cancer, wrinkles, or aging. Melanin is also a strong antioxidant and has one of the highest oxygen-absorbing (ORAC) points of any food. (ORAC is a method developed by scientists at the National Institutes of Health to measure the antioxidant capacity of various foods.) (According to verywellhealth.com)
3. Notes when using Chaga Mushrooms
When using products containing Chaga Mushroom ingredients such as extracts or supplements, the following should be noted:
- The oxalate in Chaga interferes with the absorption of other nutrients and can quickly bind to calcium to cause kidney stones. Therefore, Chaga should never be used in people with kidney disease, who have a history of kidney stones or are at risk of kidney stones.
- Because Chaga can affect blood sugar levels, care should be taken when taking anti-diabetic drugs, including insulin, to avoid dangerous blood sugar.
- Chaga may interfere with blood clotting. Therefore, it should be avoided in people with bleeding disorders and with caution when given to people taking blood thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) and Aspirin.
- Pregnant and lactating women should consult a physician before use.
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🎁 Om Organic Mushroom Nutrition Supplement, Chaga: Sacred Antioxidants, Anti Aging
✅ OM is the leading producer of the highest quality certified organic functional mushroom powders that contribute to optimal health. Contains 1 jar (200g) of Om Mushroom Chaga Superfood Powder. High levels of antioxidants. Promote anti-aging and youthfulness. Balance metabolic system, natural adaptogen.
🎁 Buddha Teas Chaga Mushroom
✅ Buddha Teas is the leading organic tea company for single herb teas. All teas are certified organic and they only use bleach-free tea bags.
✅ Chaga Tea has many health benefits we are not allowed to mention here. This delicious tea is crafted with 100% organic Chaga mushrooms without added flavorings, or GMOs, using bleach-free tea bags so you can feel great about enjoying a cup of tea any time of day! To make a perfect cup of Chaga Tea, heat water to about 180 F, then let the tea bag steep for 5-10 minutes to extract the full flavor and optimum benefits. Cover the cup while it steeps, remove the teabag, and enjoy!
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