In a world where pollution and unhealthy foods are everywhere, it’s not easy to keep up a healthy lifestyle. Plus, stress factors seep from every nook and cranny, bringing us closer to a depressive state.
Thankfully, you can rely on the adaptogenic properties of the Chaga mushroom powder to potentially reduce stress and fatigue. Chaga has been around for centuries, proving its worth in natural folk medicine practices. Let’s go explore what Chaga has to offer.
What Is Chaga?
Inonotus obliquus, or what is commonly known as Chaga, is a charcoal-black mushroom from the Hymenochaetaceae family. This fungus species typically thrives on a birch tree.
Chaga may not look appealing due to its cork-like, dark appearance (like burnt charcoal), but this functional mushroom offers many medicinal benefits.
History Of Organic Chaga Mushrooms
The earliest documentation of the existence of Chaga was discovered in the Austrian Alps in 1991, where a 5,300 years old well-preserved mummy was found buried with Chaga.
Additionally, Scandinavians and Russians have known about the medicinal benefits of Chaga for centuries.
The name of this fungus actually came from an old Russian word that means “mushroom,” from a Komi-Permyak language. It is said that the Siberian Khanty people and Russian natives were the first humans to utilize Chaga for medicinal purposes.
In the course of the 16th and 17th centuries, medical texts started to mention Chaga and its health benefits, particularly in books from Northern Europe and Russia.
In the 1950s, Chaga gained more popularity when Russian Nobel laureate and author Alexander Solzhenitsyn included Chaga in his research for the book Cancer Ward. Since then, around 1600 studies have been conducted about the black mushroom.
What Is Chaga Mushroom Powder?
Powdered Chaga supplement is a dried and grounded mushroom fruiting body and mycelium of the black fungus. Consuming the mushroom powder takes time and preparation, but your effort is worth making, especially since you’ll receive enormous nutritional compounds from Chaga.
The mushroom powder can be made into a mushroom tea or tonic, mixed with coffee grounds, blended with recipe dishes, and added to drinks.
What Does Chaga Powder Taste Like?
Chaga has an earthy, slightly bitter taste. The good news is that the powdered supplement does not taste mushroomy and blends well with foods and drinks.
Potential Benefits Of Chaga: What Is Chaga Good For?
Chaga is good for many things, and we’ll explore the potential medicinal benefits of the Chaga mushroom powder.
Rich In Antioxidants
The antioxidant properties in Chaga may keep you healthier since they fight off oxidative stress and free radicals. Consuming the mushroom powder may also help with retaining youthfulness.
May Offer Anti-Inflammation Support
Powdered Chaga may promote a healthy inflammation response. The charcoal-black mushroom has anti-inflammatory effects that may reduce swelling, alleviate aches & sores, soothe joint tension, and ease discomforts.
May Promote Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
Hot water extracts of Chaga have polysaccharide complexes, melanin, and polyphenol. Combined, they can potentially promote a healthier blood sugar level. Hot water extracted mushroom keeps the product gluten-free.
Regular intake of the mushroom powder supplement may improve the body’s insulin resistance. But of course, the Chaga supplement is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diabetes or other chronic diseases.
May Support Liver Health
The charcoal-black mushroom may help combat the damaging effects of tetra-butyl hydroperoxide. This chemical causes damage to the liver tissues, and Chaga may help protect your liver in the long run.
How Is Chaga Mushroom Powder Made?
A powdered Chaga supplement is just what the name suggests. It’s finely grounded powder from the fruiting bodies and mycelium of the black fungus. The main idea of creating a powder supplement is to dry and grind the materials.
Can Any Other Ingredients Be Included Aside From Chaga?
Yes, other ingredients can be included in mushroom powders too. In fact, many nutrition brands add multiple mushroom extracts to the formulation, as well as powerful herbs like Ashwagandha, Bacopa monnieri, and Turmeric curcumin. In particular, Golden Bloom uses super-added ingredients to their mushroom supplements.
Ingredients To Avoid In Powdered Chaga?
When you search for the best powdered Chaga supplement on the market, avoid products that contain starch, fillers, additives, or other synthetic ingredients. Always look for a mushroom powder that is formulated from pure Chaga and other organic components.
Can I Take Chaga Powder Everyday?
You should take Chaga powder (and other mushroom herbal products) daily for the best results. There’s a need to give the bioactive compounds of the mushroom to gather and perform their jobs.
Can I Take Chaga On An Empty Stomach?
Yes, Chaga is well-tolerated even on an empty stomach. It’s actually best to take the mushroom supplements before eating meals for better results. But, if you feel stomach discomfort, you should eat first next time.
How Long Does It Take For Chaga To Work?
Chaga-based powders take at least one week to start working on the body. It takes some time to see the results, but it’s all worth it.
Who Should Avoid Taking Chaga Supplements?
Chaga-based supplements are well-tolerated, and normally there are no adverse effects from taking the mushroom powder. However, certain people should not consume Chaga supplements.
Avoid taking this dietary supplement if you have kidney conditions, osteoporosis, are taking blood-thinning medications, and are diabetic. In addition, individuals with any autoimmune diseases or pregnant and lactating women should avoid it.
Dosing Recommendations & Suggested Use
With Chaga-based powders, the dosage recommendation is 2,000 milligrams daily. For first-time users, starting with a low dose of around 500 mg is best to gauge your tolerance.
This mushroom supplement is well-tolerated, but not everyone has the same reaction to it. So start with a microdose and work your dosage up. It is not a proven treatment for a disease or health condition.
In taking the mushroom powder, you may enjoy two to three servings by dividing the daily dose. You may mix the powder into drinks, baked goods, soups, stews, and other recipes.
It’s good to take the Chaga-based powder religiously for months, but take a break for a week every six months. The break allows your body to rest.
What Other Types Of Chaga Supplements Are There?
The health and wellness industry offers a wide variety of mushroom supplements, such as Chaga coffee, tea, tinctures, gummies, and capsules. Let’s check out the most popular mushroom supplements from Golden Bloom Mushrooms aside from the powder.
Chaga Mushroom Tinctures
A tincture supplement concocted using a full-spectrum Chaga extract is super potent and effective. The delivery method is sublingual, meaning you should drop 1 ml of Chaga tincture under your tongue for a minute and then swallow. Tinctures contain isolated, essential compounds of the charcoal-black mushroom, so they’re a lot more efficient and potent.
Chaga Mushrooms Capsules
Mushroom capsules made from Chaga are the world’s most convenient and seamless supplements. The vegan capsules are filled with Chaga fine powder, and each tiny pill carries a plethora of medicinal compounds.
Complex Mushroom Blends Containing Chaga
Mushroom supplements that contain multiple fungi extracts, including Chaga, are called complex mushroom supplements or mushroom blends.
For example, the complex mushroom blend gummies and tinctures from Golden Bloom are made from 14 functional mushrooms. The involved fungi are Chaga, Lion’s Mane, Maitake, Suehirotake, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, Poria, True Tinder Polypore, Reishi, Shiitake, Blazei, Mesima, Oyster mushroom, and Agarikon.
Final Thoughts: Chaga Powder
Chaga powder is no doubt super beneficial for the overall health of humans. The powder supplement may do a whole lot of good to your immune system and overall health.
Besides, centuries of natural folk medicine have shown great testament and promise of Chaga as a powerful mushroom for the optimum health of humans.
Add the organic Chaga powder to make your own cup of Chaga tea or coffee. You can even add it to your meals and smoothies. Regardless of how you take it, Chaga is one of the medicinal mushrooms that may offer many health benefits. It’s definitely worth adding to your daily routine.
