Chaga mushrooms are one of the latest supplement trends on the internet. A quick Google search will give you tons of options for buying and a brief overview of the benefits of the mushrooms. But what exactly are they, and do they live up to any of their promises?
What are Chaga Mushrooms?
Chaga mushrooms are grown in the northern hemisphere and have been used medicinally for centuries throughout Asia[1]Fordjour, E., Manful, C. F., Javed, R., Galagedara, L. W., Cuss, C. W., Cheema, M., & Thomas, R. (2023). Chaga mushroom: A super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential. Frontiers in … Continue reading[2]Wang, J., Wang, C., Li, S., Li, W., Yuan, G., Pan, Y., & Chen, H. (2017). Anti-diabetic effects of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic mice and potential … Continue reading. They have been used to treat a variety of conditions, from toothaches and healing wounds to treating liver and heart disease[3]Fordjour, E., Manful, C. F., Javed, R., Galagedara, L. W., Cuss, C. W., Cheema, M., & Thomas, R. (2023). Chaga mushroom: A super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential. Frontiers in … Continue reading. In particular, these mushrooms are believed to boost immunity and improve overall health.
Nutritional Value of Chaga
The potential benefits of Chaga mushrooms stem from their nutritional value. They are rich in beneficial bioactive compounds including antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavins.
Chaga is also rich in many important micronutrients, including potassium, calcium, phosphorous, sodium and iron, zinc, selenium and vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, vitamins A and K.
Benefits of Blood Sugar Management
Early studies suggest that Chaga mushrooms may help improve insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes[4]Wang, J., Wang, C., Li, S., Li, W., Yuan, G., Pan, Y., & Chen, H. (2017). Anti-diabetic effects of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic mice and potential … Continue reading. Antioxidants and polysaccharides found in the mushrooms are associated with decreased insulin resistance and improved transport of glucose (sugar) from the blood into cells[5]Phoebe Tee Yon Ern, Tang Yin Quan, Fung Shin Yee & Adeline Chia Yoke Yin (2023) Therapeutic properties of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom): a review, Mycology, DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2023.2260408. Unfortunately, there are no studies available (yet!), that examine the impact of the mushroom blood glucose levels or A1c.
Other Health Benefits
The potential health benefits of Chaga mushrooms extend beyond blood sugar management.
Heart Health
Chaga mushrooms are rich in nutrients, such as antioxidants, that can help lower cholesterol levels. Animal studies have found that Chaga supplementation led to a reduction in total cholesterol and LDL (or bad) cholesterol[6]Zhang, Z., Liang, X., Tong, L., Lv, Y., Yi, H., Gong, P., Tian, X., Cui, Q., Liu, T., & Zhang, L. (2021). Effect of Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pilat extract on the regulation of glycolipid … Continue reading. However, these hopeful findings have not been replicated in human studies yet.
Cancer
Chaga may also have some benefits in the treatment of cancer[7]Lu, Y., Jia, Y., Xue, Z., Li, N., Liu, J., & Chen, H. (2021). Recent Developments in Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) Polysaccharides: Isolation, Structural Characteristics, Biological … Continue reading. One animal study showed that supplementation with Chaga mushrooms can slow the growth of cancer cells, while another study in humans showed reduced growth in liver cancer. Despite these promising studies, there are currently no recommendations for Chaga supplementation for cancer treatment.
Takeaway
Chaga mushrooms are a rich source of many essential nutrients and beneficial plant-based compounds. But despite their nutritional value, there is a limited number of studies on their effectiveness in promoting our health. As new studies are published over the next few years, we may see more research supporting Chaga supplements in treating specific conditions and promoting our overall health.
Whether it is Chaga, or another compound, it’s important to chat with your doctor or dietitian before starting new supplements to ensure they won’t interact with any of your medications.
You can find more articles on the diabetes-friendly foods from the blog.
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References
| 1, 3 | Fordjour, E., Manful, C. F., Javed, R., Galagedara, L. W., Cuss, C. W., Cheema, M., & Thomas, R. (2023). Chaga mushroom: A super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1273786 |
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| 2, 4 | Wang, J., Wang, C., Li, S., Li, W., Yuan, G., Pan, Y., & Chen, H. (2017). Anti-diabetic effects of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic mice and potential mechanism via PI3K-Akt signal pathway. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 95, 1669-1677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.09.104 |
| 5 | Phoebe Tee Yon Ern, Tang Yin Quan, Fung Shin Yee & Adeline Chia Yoke Yin (2023) Therapeutic properties of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom): a review, Mycology, DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2023.2260408 |
| 6 | Zhang, Z., Liang, X., Tong, L., Lv, Y., Yi, H., Gong, P., Tian, X., Cui, Q., Liu, T., & Zhang, L. (2021). Effect of Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pilat extract on the regulation of glycolipid metabolism via PI3K/Akt and AMPK/ACC pathways in mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 273, 113963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.113963 |
| 7 | Lu, Y., Jia, Y., Xue, Z., Li, N., Liu, J., & Chen, H. (2021). Recent Developments in Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) Polysaccharides: Isolation, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activities and Application. Polymers, 13(9), 1441. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13091441 |