2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Did you know that over 100 species of mushrooms are being studied for their health benefits? Some mushrooms seem to contain very strong bioactive compounds that boost immunity. For this reason, health experts believe that mushrooms can one day be useful in preventing and treating many diseases.
In recent years, the exotic fungus Chaga, which grows almost entirely on birch and looks like a large growth of burnt bark, has been carefully studied for its high nutritional and antioxidant properties. In fact, its popularity is growing to such an extent that now you can even buy healthy tea made from chaga mushrooms.
What we know as "Chaga" is actually a dense black mass of mycelium that appears on the outside of birches, infected with non-toxic parasitic fungi Inonotus Obliquus.
The hard and cracked black layer, which looks like burnt charcoal, is called Sclerotium (plural sclerotia). This layer is soft and has a rusty yellow-brown color, which can be seen when removed from the birch tree and broken into pieces.
In general, chaga mushrooms are found mostly in very cold habitats and grow mainly on birches. In particular, the Chaga fungus grows freely in the birch forests of Russia, Korea, Eastern and Northern Europe, the northern regions of the United States and Canada.
These mushrooms should only be collected from live trees and should be taken very carefully so as not to damage the tree and the crop.
After harvesting, the chaga is dried and then divided into small pieces ground into a powder to make tea. When prepared at home, the pieces are usually boiled immersed in hot water to make medicinal Chaga tea, or mixed with alcohol and left to mature into a powerful tincture.
Raw powder can be added to shakes, soups, stews, etc., thus increasing the nutritional value of everyday food.
There are several ways to consume mushrooms, but extraction with hot water - chaga tea, is the most common and easiest way to use. However, the double extract is of better quality and is the only way to extract all the healthy bioactive ingredients that are locked in the sponge itself. This method usually combines the two methods of hot extraction of water and alcohol, but may vary depending on the recipes.
Although research is still ongoing, credible research has shown that the Chaga mushroom can provide several health benefits, including:
- Stimulates and regulates the immune system;
- Nutritional support in the fight against cancer;
- Reduction of inflammation in the body;
- Delays aging;
- For ulcers and gastritis;
- Maintains normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Chaga is used as a cleanser, as well as to treat stomach ailments, liver and heart problems. Despite the many benefits and health effects, it is important to consult a doctor or specialist before using chaga tea or chaga tincture.
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