5 Healthy Reasons to Eat Chaga Mushroom and Ways to Get Its Benefits

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Chaga mushroom or Inonotus obliquus, is a fungus that grows abundantly on birch trees. It is mostly found in northern regions, including the Northern U.S., Canada, Russia and part of Northern China. It has been used medicinally years and some of its health properties come from the birch tree itself.

5 Healthy Reasons to Eat Chaga Mushroom and Ways to Get Its Benefits

How it Looks & Taste

Chaga does not look like a typical mushroom at all. It has a black, hard, woody exterior, while its caramel brown interior is fibrous and dry. A small hatchet is needed to divide the large chunks of chaga into pieces, due to its solid form.

Chaga mushroom tea has a pleasant and slightly bitter taste, combine with a hint of vanilla. It is a blend between strong black tea and coffee without the caffeine or any other stimulants.

Health Benefits

1. Powerful Antioxidant
Chaga mushroom contains the highest concentration of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that repairs and protects cells from free radical damages.

It also has the highest ORAC score or the measure of antioxidant potency of any super-food.

2. Help Controls Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels
Chaga mushroom contains betulinic acid, which helps break down bad cholesterol in the bloodstream.

3. Boost Immune System
Chaga mushroom contains Beta-D-Glucans, that helps balance the response of the body’s immune system. It helps boosts the immune system when needed and slows it down when overactive.

4. Protects Against Infection
Chaga mushroom are rich in substances that prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, viruses, microbes and candida.

5. Skin Care

Chaga mushroom are added as exfoliants to skin scrubs and soaps. Chaga facial creams are also available in the market today, that contains antioxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

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Chaga Recipes

1. Chaga Tea

Ingredients:
1 quart water
Small chaga chunks
Maple syrup (optional)
Nut milk (optional)

Preparation:
1. Simmer the chaga chunks in 1 quart water for at least 10 minutes. If the color is that of light tea, simmer a little longer.
2. Strain and put nut milk and maple syrup if desired.

2. Chaga Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 cup cold chaga tea
1 cup berries. frozen
1/2 sliced banana, frozen
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Pinch of allspice (optional)

Preparation:
1. Combine all ingredients and add pinch of allspice and cinnamon.
2. Blend until smooth.

Note: You can add more chaga tea if consistency is too thick

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