Unexpected Health Benefits Of Chaga Mushroom

There are a lot of different factors that go into living healthily. If you are interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, then you may do a variety of things to keep yourself in good shape. Exercise, getting enough sunshine, a good social life, and even drinking enough water are important parts of your health and well-being. One of the most important parts of staying healthy and protecting against non-communicable diseases — such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease — is having a healthy diet (per World Health Organization). You might wonder what makes up a healthy diet.

According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, some of the most important parts of staying healthy revolve around healthy eating habits, consuming nutrient-dense foods and beverages, and limiting foods and beverages that contain excessive amounts of added sugars, sodium, saturated fat, and even alcohol. More specifically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that fruits, eggs, legumes, lean meats, nuts, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and whole grains help make up a well-balanced diet. Another type of food that can help boost your health is superfoods, which are usually packed with antioxidants (via Healthline). The chaga mushroom is one superfood that has some unexpected health benefits. Here's everything you need to know.

There's a reason that big-wave surfer, fitness extraordinaire, and wellness guru Laird Hamilton includes chaga mushrooms in his daily wellness routine (per Men's Journal). Chaga mushrooms may look like a pile of dark dirt, says MedicalNewsToday, but the superfood is rich in antioxidants and other nutritional compounds that may give you a host of health benefits. But before you go off and buy some chaga supplements or tea, it is important to know that chaga may not be a safe option for those that take blood-sugar medications.

Cleveland Clinic says that chaga mushrooms have four main potential health benefits. For starters, since chaga is considered an antioxidant, it may be able to reduce inflammation. Chaga may also help reduce the growth of cancer cells, especially in the breast, colon, liver, lung, and prostate. The mushroom may also lower blood sugar. Finally, chaga may reduce cholesterol levels and thus lower the risk of developing heart disease. Chaga mushrooms might be a good option to add to your diet if you are interested in trying a superfood. But you should still talk to your doctor before adding them to your diet.