6 Chaga Mushroom Benefits for Wellness
Mushrooms are a delicious addition to many meals but they aren’t only touted for flavor. Chaga mushroom has been used for centuries in Russia, Northern Europe, and Asia to help improve wellness. The dark, woody-appearing fungus is mostly found on the back of birch bark in cold-climates. Typically ground in powder and consumed as a tea or in capsules, chaga has been growing in popularity in Western culture especially among health-conscious consumers.
Rich in antioxidants, chaga is considered a nutrient-dense superfood with many unique properties. What are some of the top chaga mushroom benefits? Read on to find out.
Chaga Boosts Immune System Function
With more people concerned about spreading viruses than ever before, chaga has become an important tool for many with regards to increasing immunity. Chaga has the ability to promote the creation of beneficial cytokines within white blood cells, which are essential for battling infection. As the first line of defense against illness, increasing their presence is a great way to stay healthy. Chaga is also chock full of antioxidants known to promote immune system function.
Chaga Could Help Fight Inflammation
In addition to assisting with the growth of “good” cytokines, chaga also helps stop production of harmful cytokines that cause inflammation. This is thanks to the compounds betulinic acid, inotodial, and estrogel peroxide all found within chaga. By regulating cytokines within the body, the mushroom is often recommended for people struggling with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disorders.
Chaga May Lower Cholesterol
Cardiovascular disease continues to be a serious and widespread condition, especially in the United States. Fortunately, research suggests that chaga may assist in battling both. One eight-week study saw chaga reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol as well as overall cholesterol and triglycerides in mice. Subsequent research suggested the mushroom could also increase “good” cholesterol levels. Scientists theorize the presence of antioxidants are behind the mushroom’s effects on these levels.
Chaga Also Helps Reduce Blood Sugar
Chaga has also shown promise in fighting diabetes. In a study involving obese mice, the mushroom had more success in lowering blood sugar and insulin resistance compared with mice who did not receive the compound. Another study showed a chaga leading to a 31% decrease in blood sugar over a three-week period in mice. While further testing needs to be completed to determine chaga’s efficacy in helping humans with diabetes, the preliminary results are promising.
Chaga May Prevent and Treat Cancer
There are many anti-cancer compounds found in the natural world. This mushroom has long been considered a powerful tool against tumor activity, so much so that it’s referred to as “kreftkjuke” in Norway, which literally translates to “cancer fungus.” There has been a decent amount of research into chaga’s abilities in this realm, at least in mice. One such study saw chaga supplements reduce tumor size by 60%. Test tube studies have revealed similar results in human cells, preventing the growth of cancer in several types of human tissue.
Chaga Promotes Liver Function
Chaga has also shown promise as a treatment for certain liver conditions. A 2015 Korean study published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms revealed an extract made from the fungus protects liver tissue from damage caused by oxidation particularly from alcohol or certain drugs. Additionally, the outer layer of chaga contains high amounts of sclerotium, an antioxidant praised for its liver-protectant abilities.
Chaga Health Benefits — Something for Everyone
As more attention is paid to the multitude of wellness abilities of mushrooms, there will certainly be more research conducted into how they interact with the human body. While current studies remain somewhat limited, the results are indeed fascinating especially as society shifts toward an increased demand for natural alternatives to Western medicine.
Chaga specifically has long been used for wellness purposes in Northern Europe and parts of Asia but has only recently grown in popularity in North America. Touted for its potential benefits throughout the body (from boosting immune system function to fighting cancer), this fungus is rich in free radical preventing antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals perfect for meeting a variety of health goals. While the mushroom has been trusted by homeopathic professionals for centuries, it’s always a good idea to discuss its use with a primary care physician prior to beginning a regimen. If given the clear, chaga could become an integral part of your daily health practice.
Convinced it’s time to try Chaga? We’ve got one of the best Chaga extracts on the market!
Chaga+ Liquid Double Extract 60ml
“Diamond of the forest”, “nature’s gold”, “the gift from god”… just a few of the names Chaga goes by and for good reason. Chaga is one of the most highly regarded fungi and has been used as a folk remedy in Russia, Poland and many baltic countries for hundreds of years [1-2].
All of our liquid extracts are:
Non GMO
Vegan friendly
Gluten free
60ml bottle (30 day supply – 2ml per day)
Includes Australian wild harvested Kakadu Plum, known to possess the highest vitamin C content of any fruit in the world, amplifying the benefits of the mushroom
The Benefits of Chaga mushroom
Chaga is thought to have the highest antioxidant capacity of any mushroom. It contains the highest concentration of superoxide dismutase (SOD), which is a potent antioxidant [1].
Chaga has also demonstrated powerful immunostimulatory activities, as well as potentially playing a significant role in alleviating fatigue. [1-3]
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The company offers a money-back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied within the first 7 days of receiving it. Customers need to send the full product back to our address at the customer’s cost.
Understanding Lion's Mane Effects on the Brain
Understanding Lion’s Mane Effects on the Brain
Lion’s Mane or Hericium erinaceus mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine to treat, cure, or prevent digestive issues. However, recent research into the fungi’s bioactive compounds is demonstrating great potential for preventing and treating brain and nerve health-related issues. While this early research is still very limited, it’s making the popular culinary mushroom with seafood-like flavor a strong candidate in promoting positive brain and nerve health-related activities.
Does Lion’s Mane Effect the Brain?
Lion’s Mane is believed to affect the brain’s nerve cells through its ability to induce the nerve growth factor (NFG). As the name implies, NFG plays a role in the growth, maintenance, proliferation, and survival of nerve cells or neurons — and your brain has approximately 80 billion nerve cells.
In fact, Lion’s Mane mushrooms and extracts have demonstrated the ability to reduce symptoms of memory loss in animal studies as well as prevent the neural damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques, which are known to accumulate in the brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2009, researchers investigated the brain health of Japanese men and women with ages ranging from 50-80 who’ve been diagnosed with mild cognitive impartment. Half of the 30 participants were given four 250 mg tablets containing 96 percent Lion’s Mane mushroom dry powder three times a day for 16 weeks and observed for four more weeks. The published study found that the Lion’s Mane group showed significantly increased scores on the cognitive function scale compared with the placebo group, with no adverse side effects. The findings of this relatively small study show that Lion’s Mane was effective in improving mild cognitive impairment.
To date, most of our research has been limited to animal studies and test tubes in laboratory settings. While the findings are promising, we certainly need more research before we definitely claim that Hericium erinaceus is an appropriate treatment for brain health-related issues.
What Makes Lion’s Mane Unique?
To understand how Hericium erinaceus may be used as a preventative measure or to help treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, researchers have been focusing on the fungi’s unique biologically active compounds, specifically, hericenones and erinacines — two natural substances isolated from Hericium erinaceus. To date, only erinacine A has confirmed pharmacological actions in the central nervous system in rats, but it has been shown potent stimulating activity of nerve growth factor synthesis in laboratory settings.
In a study published in 2014, researchers investigated whether Hericium erinaceus and isolated Erinacine A could function as an anti-inflammatory with neuroprotective properties for stroke victims. High doses of Lion’s Mane extract were given to rats immediately after a stroke, successfully reducing the inflammation and size of their stroke-related brain injuries by 44 percent. The study was able to conclude that the treatment does offer neuroprotective effects after ischemic brain injury, scavenge free radicals, and inhibit inflammation. These findings paint Lion’s Mane as a promising agent to help with neuroprotection, which may reduce ischemic brain damage.
Potential Side Effects
While there are no human studies that have examined the side effects of Lion’s Mane mushrooms or extracts, they are available for sale in their natural form at many grocery stores for cooking or health food retailers in dietary supplement form. If you’re sensitive or allergic to other mushrooms, you should avoid Lion’s Mane, as there have been documented cases of breathing difficulty and skin rashes after exposure to the product — both of which are likely related to an allergic reaction.
In a 2016 animal study using rats to evaluate the potentially toxic effects of the extract when orally administered, researchers concluded that “ that oral administration of HEAE is safe up to 1000mg/kg and H. erinaceus consumption is relatively non-toxic.”
Lion’s Mane Benefits — Final Thoughts
Hgh-quality clinical studies to investigate how Lion’s Mane mushrooms, Hericium erinaceus extracts, or isolated compounds such as erinacine A may affect the human brain are still needed, but the published results from limited animal studies and in vitro experiments are very promising. As with any changes to your diet or wellness regimen, it’s always a good idea to seek advice from a licensed medical provider. But for aging patients whose brains struggle to maintain or form new connections, the future may one day become much better thanks to the natural ingredients contained in this fascinating fungi.
Lion's Mane Benefits for Digestive Health
Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat digestive health issues related to inflammation of the lining of the stomach, such as chronic superficial gastritis. People may choose to eat raw mushrooms or opt for extracts, powders, or dietary supplements.
In small laboratory and animal studies, researchers exploring digestive health have demonstrated Lion Mane’s potential to protect against ulcerative colitis, prevent the growth of H pylori, promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, and improve the host’s immune system. However, these studies are limited in their scope, and robust clinical trials are still needed to support their findings. Read on to learn more about the current research into Lion’s Mane’s benefits for digestive health.
Preventing H pylori and Ulcers
As many as 4.6 million Americans suffer from painful stomach ulcers each year, often affecting the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. Many of these sores occur as a result of stomach acid damaging the mucous lining of the digestive tract, which is typically caused by bacteria or over-the-counter pain relievers including aspirin.
The spiral bacterium H pylori are responsible for approximately 70-90 percent of gastric ulcers and 90 percent of all duodenal ulcers. This bacterium is believed to have evolved in order to penetrate the stomach’s mucous lining where it is able to establish an infection. While the infection does not always have symptoms, it has been known to cause gastritis (stomach inflammation) and ulcers in the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. The infection is also associated with the development of certain cancers occurring in less than 20 percent of cases.
In a 2013 study published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences evaluated the effects of extracts prepared from the fruiting bodies Lion’s Mane mushroom against H pylori infections. Their published findings suggest that Hericium erinaceus is able to inhibit the growth of H. pylori in vitro (test tube) settings. In the same experiment, researchers were also able to show that Hericium erinaceus inhibits Staphylococcus aureus or staph infections. However, further research is still needed to identify the pharmaceutical mechanism of these mushrooms.
Promoting beneficial gut bacteria
According to Harvard researchers, as many as 100 trillion bacteria, both beneficial and harmful, live inside your digestive system. “This is a new frontier of medicine, and many are looking at the gut microbiota as an additional organ system,” says Dr. Elizabeth Hohmann, a staff physician in the infectious diseases division at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
In an animal study published in 2017, researchers investigated whether Lion’s Mane is clinically effective in alleviating inflammatory bowel disease (IBS) through the regulation of gut bacteria. Using rats as subjects, they reported that the structure of gut microbiota of the H. erinaceus extracts-treated groups “changed significantly” when compared with the control group. The researchers concluded that the extracts could work to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, showing clinical potential in relieving IBS by regulating gut microbiota.
Improving Immunity
A 2017 study published in the journal Food & Function investigated the immunomodulating activity of Hericium erinaceus in mice. Researchers were able to show that Lion’s Mane mushroom-derived polysaccharides were able to improve immune function by enhancing cell-mediated and humoral immunity, or the activity of the intestinal immune system. This improved activity works to better protect the body from pathogens that enter the digestive tract through the nose and mouth.
A separate animal study published in 2017 in the journal Frontier in Immunology suggested that small-molecule proteins extracted from the fruiting body of Lion’s Mane could be useful for immunotherapy. Researchers noted that the protein treatment could improve the immune system in a prebiotic role — regulating the composition of gut bacteria and stimulating a vital immune process that is essential for T cell immune response triggering.
Finally, a 2012 animal study demonstrated that Lion’s Mane extracts taken daily were able to nearly quadruple the lifespan of mice injected with a lethal dose of salmonella bacteria. According to researchers, the extract-treated cells showed greater activity against the bacteria than the control group’s cells. The results from this limited study suggest that the mushroom extract activities against bacterial infection may occur through the activation of the subject’s innate immune cells, another compelling argument for its consumption.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, high-quality clinical trials on the efficacy of Lion’s Mane to prevent and treat health issues related to the human digestive tract are still lacking, but the published findings from the limited in vitro and animal studies warrant further research. If you’re suffering from any digestive-related issues and are considering Lion’s Mane, always seek medical advice from a licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regime.
Best Mushrooms For Brain Health
Mushrooms are fascinating organisms that have existed on this planet since the beginning of time. Used both in the culinary and wellness realms for almost as long, fungi run the gamut of both flavor and effect. In terms of medicinal mushrooms, the compounds have been touted for their perceived abilities for everything from digestive health to immune system function.
Certain fungi may also have a dramatic effect on cognitive function. But which are the best mushrooms for brain health? Read on to find out.
Mushrooms for Brain Health – A Brief Overview
There are thousands of varieties of mushrooms in the natural world, with several unique species represented. Research on which specific mushrooms boost brain health remains somewhat limited but typically focuses on three types: reishi, cordyceps, and lion’s mane (more on them later). However, it turns out even commonly used culinary mushrooms like oyster and shiitake could bode well for our brains.
Researchers at the University of Singapore recently found increased mushroom consumption may protect the brain from decline. The six-year study followed 663 Chinese adults over the age of 60, revealing those who ate mushrooms as part of their regular diet twice a week performed better on cognitive function tests and processed information faster than those who only had one serving per week or less. The correlation is surprising and encouraging, with scientists eager to continue exploring how the unique antioxidants in mushrooms could impact efforts to prevent conditions like dementia.
Now let’s explore how the three mushrooms mentioned earlier (reishi, cordyceps, and lion’s mane) may boost brain health.
Reishi — The “Mushroom of Immortality”
Ganoderma mushrooms, typically referred to by their Japanese name reishi, was nicknamed “the mushroom of immortality” thanks to its multitude of perceived benefits. One of the most interesting abilities lies in its neuroprotective properties. A 2012 study published in the journal Neuropharmacology found reishi extract promotes the production of nerve growth factor, an important protein for peak neurological performance. While this research was conducted on mice, it can be deduced the compound would serve a similar purpose in humans.
Cordyceps — A Rare and Powerful Fungus
Cordyceps is not technically a mushroom, but it is a fungus. Typically found on certain types of caterpillars in Himalayan mountains (making it exceedingly hard to come by), most commercial cordyceps are synthesized in labs at scale. Highly desired for its myriad of potential health benefits, this compound has revealed itself to be an excellent aid for cognitive function. A 2018 Chinese study suggests cordyceps improved learning and memory in mice by destroying oxygen free radicals and thus preventing oxidative damage.
Another study published in the Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences showed the compound helps protect the brain’s hippocampus and may be a beneficial treatment for certain neuroinflammatory conditions. These studies have encouraged researchers to continue to examine the possibilities cordyceps may have in preventing and treating such issues.
Lion’s Mane — The Brain’s Best Friend
If there’s one mushroom that seems to be most impactful on neurological health, it’s lion mane. This superhero fungi has been shown time and time again to boost brain function and help protect the organ from future damage. In mice, the compound has decreased memory loss and prevented the build-up of amyloid-beta plaques known to lead to Alzheimer’s, according to research.
In humans, lion’s mane has also indicated promise. A survey of older adults with mild cognitive impairment showed those who took three grams of powdered lion’s mane mushroom daily for four months had increased mental function. Scientists believe lion’s mane abilities come from the presence of hericenones and erinacines, two compounds known to stimulate brain cell growth.
Mushrooms For Brain Health — Final Thoughts
Mushrooms are a fantastic dietary source of a wide range of compounds known to have a positive impact on brain health. Many of these, such as lion’s mane, cordyceps, and reishi, may also have an effect on cognitive decline, helping prevent devastating conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. While more research is needed to cement these findings, the current research is indeed promising. Beginning a mushroom regimen may help boost brain function, but always consult with your primary care provider for medical advice prior to starting.