Dracula had it wrong. You don’t have to eat human flesh to stay young and supple. He should have gone into the forest and looked for the nearest Birch tree to see if there are Chaga mushrooms growing on the top branches!
It may look like a piece of burnt wood or the end of a cigar– but whatever it looks like Chaga is the most miraculous yet overlooked natural beauty anti-oxidant!
Why is it Good for You?
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is well known for its immune-boosting properties and has been used for centuries in Asian medicine as a cure-all tonic. This powerful medicinal mushroom contains numerous bioactive compounds that help support the body’s natural defenses against illness and disease. It also contains potent antioxidants that help fight free radicals, reduce inflammation, and improve overall health and well-being.
When free radicals become too abundant in your body due to pollution, exposure or stress, your skin tends to suffer in many ways including the onset of aging.
The parasitic properties comprised in this mushroom do an awesome job of fighting these free radicals to help slow the aging process down. The antioxidants found in this mushroom essentially eliminate any oxidative stress that may be rampant in the skin and prevents the onset of wrinkles, discoloration, and acne.
The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) score for Chaga mushrooms is the highest among natural foods.
This test helps to determine the amount of antioxidant content in food which helps to put up a viable defense against the in-flux of free radicals as described above.
It’s a Parasite?
Chaga is a parasitic fungus that takes decades to grow. While Chaga can live for decades on a birch tree, it is technically a parasitic fungus that feeds on the tree and will eventually kill it.
Will Chaga keep me Awake?
Chaga does not have caffeine and will not keep you awake. It has adaptogenic properties and can help your body adapt to stress and calm down. It’s good to drink Chaga at any time of the day.
Chaga when Pregnant
Chaga is generally safe for consumption They may reduce blood cholesterol, have anti-ulcer properties, and improve immunity in the general population.
However, studies among pregnant women are lacking. More research is needed on their safety during pregnancy.
What about Reishi?
It depends on the action you want to happen in the body. Chaga, as anti-oxidant Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by giving up some of their own electrons. In making this sacrifice, they act as a natural “off” switch for the free radicals. This helps break a chain reaction that can affect other molecules in the cell and other cells in the body.
Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) on the other hand suppresses the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells. It also has anti-oxidant effects but not as much as this amazing mushroom.
How do you take Chaga?
You can make Chaga tea by putting a few pieces of dried mushroom into a cup of boiling water and letting it sit for 10 minutes or so before straining out the pieces with a strainer or cheesecloth. You can also buy powdered or fresh Chaga that you mix with hot water to make the tea.
Dracula is not the only one seeking immortality. We all want to live longer and healthier, let nature show us the way. Drink your Chaga and feel like a new person!
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31679287/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-antioxidants
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006291X17307623
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154321000326
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1430737987963/
