Chaga mushroom and its benefits
Inonotus obliquus or Chaga is highly valued for its powerful effects. It has been used for centuries in different parts of the world and has now changed the world of health, as it is used in powdered and capsule dietary supplements that give the body a tremendous boost. Functional mushrooms like chaga are readily available and make great natural dietary supplements that can be incorporated into your daily routine.
Chaga is rich in antioxidants and has powerful immunity boosting properties that can even help with stress, which can have serious effects on the body if left untreated.
About functional mushrooms
Functional mushrooms have a plethora of benefits that are even more important and relevant in our increasingly stressful modern lives. We are inundated with physical, emotional and environmental stressors that can weaken our immune systems and accelerate aging.
These mushroom species help support the immune system due to their powerful antioxidant and immunomodulatory compounds, among other things.
History of the chaga mushroom
Chaga is a carbon-coloured mushroom that grows in the wild mostly in the cool taiga forests of Russia, Scandinavia, Korea, Japan, the USA and Canada. At first glance, it may appear that the fungus lives parasitically off the trunk of birch trees and a few other temperate trees on which it thrives, but this is not the case - instead, it shares a relationship with the tree, with which it can live for years while the chaga grows along its trunk and branches.
Indigenous people living near the Ural Mountains in Russia were among the first to benefit from the health benefits of the chaga mushroom. Now, thanks to patented cultivation methods that capture the mushroom's naturally occurring bioactive compounds while making it available outside of its limited occurrence in the wild, the miraculous effects of chaga are available to a much wider range of people.
Benefits
In this article, we will look at the potential health benefits of the chaga mushroom and the research behind these claims.
1. A superfood high in nutrients
Chaga mushrooms contain a wide range of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, including:
- B vitamins
- vitamin D
- potassium
- rubidium
- caesium
- amino acids
- fibre
- copper
- selenium
- zinc
- iron
- manganese
- magnesium
- calcium
2. Slowing down the aging process
Oxidative stress causes physical signs of aging such as wrinkles, sagging skin and gray hair. Exposure to the sun, pollution and other sources of damage creates too many free radicals that the body cannot neutralize, accelerating the aging process.
In theory, supplying the body with more antioxidants could slow the aging process or even reverse the visible signs of aging.
Although no research has clearly linked chaga to anti-aging effects, its effectiveness in fighting other forms of oxidative stress suggests that it could also fight aging.
3. Lowering cholesterol levels
Chaga mushrooms contain many antioxidants that may lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the so-called bad cholesterol.
High cholesterol is a significant risk factor for heart disease, so chaga mushrooms could be useful in the fight against cardiovascular disease.
4. Preventing and fighting cancer
Some studies suggest that chaga mushrooms may slow the growth of some cancer cells.
Scientists are increasingly taking seriously the possibility that chaga mushrooms may be able to prevent cancer and slow its growth.
Chaga is rich in antioxidants, which are chemicals that help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals or oxidants. When the body is unable to produce enough antioxidants to prevent this damage, oxidative stress occurs. Oxidative stress can cause cancer and a host of other health problems.
A 2010 study found that chaga can slow the growth of lung, breast and cervical cancer cells in a petri dish. The same study also found that chaga slows the growth of tumors in mice.
A 2009Trusted Source study found that triterpenes, compounds found in chaga and some other mushrooms, cause self-destruction of cancer cells. Unlike other cancer treatments, however, chaga does not appear to harm healthy cellsTrusted Source.
Although other studies have found similarly promising results, all have been conducted in animals or in the laboratory. In order to conclusively prove the anti-cancer effects of chaga, scientists will need to conduct large-scale studies in humans.
5. Lowering blood pressure
Research suggests that oxidative stress is a contributing factor to high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are more susceptible to heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular health problems.
The antioxidants in chaga could play a potential role in lowering blood pressure and preventing poor cardiovascular health.
6. Immune system support
Cytokines are the chemical messengers of the immune system. They are proteins that play an important role in stimulating white blood cells, which are the immune system's first line of defence against a range of diseases.
Some research. A credible source on mice suggest that chaga may help regulate cytokine production and support the immune system by helping cells communicate with each other. This could help fight infections, from mild colds to life-threatening illnesses.
7. Fight inflammation
When the body fights disease, inflammation supports this fight. Sometimes, however, inflammation goes from a short-term attack to a chronic health problem.
Some diseases, especially chronic ones like rheumatoid arthritis, are associated with inflammation. Recent research. A credible source suggests that some conditions that are not considered inflammatory, including depression, may be caused in part by chronic inflammation.
The role of chaga in regulating cytokine production may also help control inflammation. This points to a role for chaga in combating autoimmune conditions and possibly some other diseases.
8. Lowering blood sugar levels
Chaga may also play a role in the fight against diabetes.
A 2006 study found that chaga mushrooms can lower blood sugar levels in rats. The rodents were genetically modified to have diabetes and be obese. After consuming chaga mushrooms for eight weeks, their blood sugar levels were lower.
Although no research has been done on humans yet, this suggests that chaga could contribute to alternative treatments for diabetes in the future.
Risks
As with other dietary supplements and medications, there are some risks with chaga. It can cause side effects and can interact dangerously with certain medications.
Because chaga lowers blood sugar levels, it can be dangerous for people taking insulin and other blood sugar-lowering medications.
To reduce the risks associated with taking chaga mushrooms, a person should consider the following:
Continue taking all prescribed medications, as chaga is not a substitute for traditional medicine.
Keep the doctor informed of all medications being taken. As with other medications and dietary supplements, chaga can alter the effectiveness of various medications.
Write down any side effects of taking chaga. Although rare, chaga can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Difficulty breathing, heart rhythm changes, and loss of consciousness are medical emergencies.
Avoid taking other herbal supplements while taking chaga unless otherwise advised by your doctor.