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Chaga: Dive into One of the Best Mushrooms in the World

Chaga: Dive into One of the Best Mushrooms in the World

Mar 25, 2023

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Andrey Kono

When you talk about functional mushrooms and their role in ancient medicine, it doesn't get any better than chaga mushrooms. The powerful health benefits and applications of the chaga mushroom have been used in various eastern medications for more than 1,000 years. Today, functional mushroom trends are on the rise as many opt for chaga supplements to enjoy their numerous health-boosting effects.

Once you fully understand the exciting and scientifically-backed advantages of chaga mushrooms, you may very well start to think to yourself – why is the modern catching up to the trend now?

While there's no right answer for that, we should still be thankful that someone identified and documented the various potential medicinal properties of chaga mushrooms. Today, you can buy quality and 100% plant-based chaga mushroom supplements and/or powder and make the functional mushroom a part of your daily nutritional intake. 

A Powerhouse of Vitamins and Minerals

The chaga mushroom is full of a variety of essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that may play an instrumental role in helping you combat and potentially steer clear of different acute and chronic health conditions. The chaga mushroom contains:

  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Manganese
  • Calcium
  • Vitamin D

In addition, the functional mushroom is also known as the king of mushrooms as it contains more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds than any other functional mushroom anywhere in the world. It is said that these enzymes and compounds may drastically help fight the oxidative stress and damage caused by free radical cells. Free radical cells are also associated with causing cancer.

In addition, some scientists also believe that chaga mushrooms may also be able to help combat symptoms associated with cancer. Although much research is still needed, what we currently know is that the mushroom may be able to slow down the spread of cancer.

Regions Around the World Where Chaga Can Be Found

This incredible functional mushroom is typically found in the world's colder regions. You can find chaga mushrooms growing on birch tree trunks in North America (Canada), the USA, Northern and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Korea.

 

Who Made the Discovery?

Human beings have been using the medicinal properties of chaga mushrooms for more than a millennium. This makes it impossible to track down who exactly discovered the mushroom or the events that led to the identification of the medicinal properties of the functional mushroom.

However, scientists have been able to diligently substantiate that the chaga mushroom was (at the earliest) used by the famous Otzi the Iceman (a well-preserved body of the earliest human) found in 1991.

What's interesting to note is, Otzi was using chaga mushrooms more than 5,200 years ago! The mummified remains of Otzi the Iceman were found in the Austrian mountains and lo and behold, it was discovered that he was carrying chaga mushrooms with him. 

The Numerous Medical Advantages of Chaga Mushrooms

While more comprehensive medical research is needed to get more in-depth and conclusive evidence of a diverse range of medicinal properties in chaga, here's what medical scientists have been able to discover thus far.

May Help Decrease Inflammation

Chaga mushrooms are known to be chock-full of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. According to medical scientists, these enzymes and compounds may very well be able to help us combat health conditions associated with acute inflammation.

According to one research, it was identified that chaga mushroom supplements may potentially help minimize the symptoms associated with inflammatory diseases and combat bacterial infections.

Blood Sugar Regulation

Plant-based or 100% organic chaga mushroom supplements may also be beneficial for individuals suffering from medical conditions such as Type-2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and polycystic syndrome.

How? Well, as per scientific research, it was identified that chaga mushrooms can help regulate and potentially lower your blood sugar levels. According to one report, it was seen that chaga extracts were able to reduce the overall blood sugar content in mice by up to 30%. But again, more conclusive evidence is needed. 

  

Did You Know These Fun Facts About Chaga Mushroom?

Here are some fun and incredible facts about chaga mushrooms.

  • Allowing pure chaga mushrooms to steep in hot water will gradually break down the mushroom's cell walls, allowing you to enjoy a variety of minerals and antioxidative compounds found in the mushroom.
  • People in Finland switched coffee with chaga tea more than 60 years ago.
  • Chaga was used as a primary medicinal compound in North European medicine 400+ years ago.
  • There are more than 200 phytonutrient compounds in chaga mushrooms.
  • Scientists discovered that human DNA closely resembles chaga mushroom DNA by up to 30%.
  • Russian medical scientists were able to manufacture a cream to help people ease their joint pain. The cream was made from pure chaga mushrooms. The scientists were able to design a microcapsule system that helped the nutrients and properties of chaga mushrooms to directly be absorbed into the bone, nipping the problem at the bud.
  • Chaga mushrooms are pretty similar to maca root in the sense that they are also considered as being nature's adaptogens. Chaga mushrooms help relieve stress and anxiety.
  • Chaga contains more than 25 different types of polysaccharides, which may make it a powerful fungus to combat illneses.

Bottom Line

So there you have it! An in-depth look into the history of chaga, some interesting facts, and all the reasons why it is time you incorporate chaga mushroom supplements into your diet.

 

References:

  • https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21660-inflammation
  • https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21501-type-2-diabetes
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4946216/
  • https://birchboys.com/blogs/about-our-chaga/a-short-history-of-chaga
  • https://tamimteas.com/pages/chaga-mushroom
  • https://www.annandachaga.com/pages/chaga-history

 

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