“Superfoods” are all the rage right now, with different fruits and vegetables being claimed as the new wonder supplement. The latest in this craze? Chaga. This superfood is actually a mushroom that has been used by the Siberian people for centuries. It is thought to be full of antioxidants that can help stave off the effects of aging. Researchers are also looking into chaga’s role in preventing cancer in those who eat it on a regular basis. Chaga can be taken in pill form, or the mushrooms can be ground and made into a tea.
Key Takeaways:
- In Russia, Eastern Europe and Northern Canada, it has a long use as a traditional cancer cure. Eastern Europeans also prize it for its ability to cure respiratory diseases.
- This immune-regulating function may account for chaga’s effectiveness at treating ulcers, which are caused by bacteria, and tumors, which can also sometimes be cleared by the immune system.
- To heal the skin and protect it from aging, you can make a cream from chaga, raw beeswax and spice oils.
“Chaga is also rich in lanosterol and inotodiols, which have been shown to directly hamper cancer cells in laboratory studies. Lanosterol may also help kill viruses.”