Ayurveda may treat it as a “tamasic” food but benefits written below will speak for itself. It is considered as an all-in-one kind of a remedy in chaga mushroom. And it’s important to understand that it could take about three weeks of daily use to establish its benefits.

Chaga Mushroom

Chaga has the highest antioxidant content of almost any plant or fungi on earth. With its robust concentration of nutrients, it has been popularly used in Russia and Eastern Europe, Japan and North America as a folk medicine. Chaga has over 200 phyto-nutrients, essential vitamins and minerals that protect our DNA.

Nutrient Profile:

Chaga mushrooms contains natural prebiotic fibers, sterols, amino acids, alpha glucans, Vitamin D, B-complex vitamins including Biotin (hair and beauty) and minerals such as selenium which provides additional immune support. 

Benefits:

1. Recent research shows that Chaga can restore the body’s defense mechanism against inflammation and fortify the immune system.
2. Chaga contains higher levels of antioxidants compared to blueberries and acai. Antioxidants identified are – glutathione, ergothioneine, polyphenols, flavonoids and superoxide dismutase.
3. Chaga reduces the body’s oxidative stress that is caused by free radicals due to it high antioxidant levels.
4. Chaga protects the liver from any serious damage.
5. Change is also an anti-aging mushroom.
6. Change also keeps the blood pressure in check along with a healthy diet and lifestyle.
7. Chaga stabilizes blood sugar.
8. Chaga has shown topromote the formation of cytokines — the proteins that regulate the immune system by stimulating the body’s white blood cells.
9. Due to its antioxidant content as well as melanin and a hispidin analogue, chaga mushrooms may help to even pigment and reduce the signs of aging.
10. Chaga mushrooms – may strengthen hair and nails.

Chaga mushroom may have benefits but it also has side effects.

• Chaga mushrooms contains oxalate which is a chemical which can damage the kidneys when taken in high doses for a very long time.
• There isn’t any enough reliable data to know if chaga is safe to use when pregnant or even during breast-feeding. So, always stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• Chaga might increase the risk of bleeding and might also affect blood sugar control during and after surgery, therefore, it is advised to stop using chaga at least 2 weeks before a scheduling surgery.
• Because of the above reason, don’t use chaga if you have a bleeding disorder.