Learn About Chaga Medicinal Mushroom Components
Chaga contains different components that contribute to Chaga’s uniqueness and efficacy. We already named several of Chaga’s components on our website. This page goes more in-depth to help you understand how certain components work and how these components can help you stay healthy.
Chaga Consumer Information
A plethora of information can be found on the Internet about Chaga, however, there is very little consumer information about how Chaga components work. We’d like to take this opportunity to explain the benefits of components like polysaccharides, phytonutrients (phytochemicals), polyphenols, betulinic acid, beta (1-3) glucans and Superoxide Dismutase.
Polysaccharides
A polysaccharide is a carbohydrate structure that produces a long chain of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen cells. Carbohydrates are often called the number one energy source for the human body, and that is correct. Without carbohydrates, one would often feel weak, dizzy, and have low blood sugar. Many diets proclaiming low-carb are blaming the wrong nutrient. People need carbohydrates to live and perform the essential duties of the body.
The polysaccharides are common in all medicinal mushrooms. Scientific research showed that polysaccharides have the power to balance and normalize our immune system. The process of how it’s done is still not fully understood by science.
Benefits of Polysaccharides:
- Enhances the mood by increasing the amount of feel-good chemicals in the brain, helping people feel happy.
- Boosts liver function.
- Melts fatigue away.
- Benefits the intestines
- Slows down digestion so that the energy is released slowly, stabilizing the blood sugar.
Looking at the combined benefits of polysaccharides, it’s evident that they are perfect supplement for people who are looking to prevent physical and environmental stress.
Polysaccharides help you get healthy and to stay healthy by stimulating and supporting the existing immune system and by other positive health effects.
Phytonutrients/Phytochemicals
The term "photo" originated from a Greek word meaning plant. There are more than a thousand known Phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are also known as phytochemicals – for consistency, we will refer to them as just Phytonutrients.
Phytonutrients are nonessential nutrients, meaning that they are not required for one’s survival.
How do Phytonutrients work?
There are many Phytonutrients, and each works differently. The list below includes some of the possible ways Phytonutrients work to reduce risk of disease.
- Serve as antioxidants
- Enhance your body’s immune response
- Enhance cell-to-cell communication
- Convert to vitamin A (beta-carotene is metabolized to vitamin A)
Common Phytonutrients: Polyphenols
Polyphenolic compounds are natural components of a wide variety of plants; they are also known as secondary plant metabolites.
Polyphenol Foods:
Food sources rich in polyphenols include: Chaga mushrooms, onions, apples, tea, red wine, red grapes, grape juice, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and certain nuts.
Research on the effects of dietary polyphenols on human health has developed considerably in the past several years. The antioxidant properties of polyphenols have been widely studied, but it is clear that the mechanisms of action of polyphenols go beyond the modulation of oxidative stress.
Research indicates that oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of age-related human diseases, and contributes dietary polyphenols to their prevention. The complex relationship between antioxidant status and disease is still not clearly understood and has been studied intensively.
For many years, polyphenols and other antioxidants were thought to protect cell constituents against oxidative damage through scavenging of free radicals. However, this concept now appears to be an oversimplified view of their mode of action. More likely, cells respond to polyphenols mainly through direct interactions with receptors or enzymes involved in signal transduction, which may result in modification of the redox status of the cell and may trigger a series of redox-dependent reactions. Both antioxidant and prooxidant effects of polyphenols have been described, with contrasting effects on cell physiologic processes. As antioxidants, polyphenols may improve cell survival; as prooxidants.
The current evidence for protective effects of polyphenols has generated new expectations for improvements in health, with great interest from the Food and Nutritional Supplement industry, related to development of polyphenol-rich products
Sayan Siberian Chaga Research – Total Phenolic Score
We submitted our Siberian Chaga extract powder at Brunswick laboratories for Total Phenolics (TP) test and the results which we got back proved Chaga’s very high antioxidant capacity
This test is an accurate test that measures antioxidant capacity of Chaga. The higher the Total Phenolic score is, the greater is the availability of the antioxidants in the product.
Total Phenolics is reported in mg per g of gallic acid equivalents using the FC method. Please see chart below for the comparison.
Siberian Chaga extract 14,953 mg /100 gram
Acai, fruit pulp/skin, powder 1,390 mg /100 gram
Figs, raw 960 mg /100 gram
Blackberries, raw 477 mg /100 gram
Raspberries, raw 414 mg /100 gram
Pomegranates, raw 338 mg /100 gram
Blueberries, raw 311 mg /100 gram
Betulinic Acid
The betulinic acid that Chaga derives from the birches on which it grows gives these mushrooms additional healing qualities. It helps to maintain normal cholesterol level. The effect is purely normalizing.
It's been recently discovered that betulinic acid has inhibition effect on topoisomerase. It is found in the bark of several species of plants, principally the white birch (Betula pubescens) from which it gets its name.
Add this property of betulinic acid to the immune balancing properties of the polysaccharides, and you have an exceptional potent agent. Chaga ts beneficial not only for promoting good health itself but it also can be used as a dietary supplement.
β-Glucans (beta-glucans)
β-Glucans (beta-glucans) are polysaccharides of D-glucose monomers. Chaga mushroom contains β (1-3) Glucans. β-glucans are known as "biological response modifiers" because of their ability to activate the immune system. Immunologists at the University of Louisville discovered that a receptor on the surface of innate immune cells called Complement Receptor 3 (CR3 or CD11b/CD18) is responsible for binding to beta-glucans, allowing the immune cells to recognize them as "non-self."
Superoxide Dismutase
Siberian Chaga extract contains an extraordinary amount of Superoxide dismutase (SOD). In the body, dangerous naturally occurring substances called free radicals pose a risk of harm to many tissues. The body deploys an “antioxidant defense system” to hold them in check. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is one of the most important elements of this system. It controls levels of a chemical named “superoxide.” The body manufactures superoxide to different uses, but excess levels of superoxide can injure healthy cells. SOD converts superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. As humans aged, the level of SOD decreases and our “antioxidant defense system” decreases as well. SOD level can also be decreased depending on genetic predisposition.
Studies have shown that SOD acts as an antioxidant in the body, neutralizing the free radicals that can lead to cells changes. Researchers are currently studying the potential of superoxide dismutase as an anti-aging treatment, since it is now known that SOD levels drop while free radical levels increase as we age.
We tested our Siberian Chaga extract at Brunswick laboratories, and the SORAC results which we got back were really high. SORAC results demonstrate performance against superoxide anion regardless of the actor - SOD or some other antioxidant source. Please see chart below.
Siberian Chaga extract 5,146.0 µmole TE/g
Dried acai powder 256.0 µmole TE/g
Blackberries 145.2 µmole TE/g
Blueberries 125.1 µmole TE/g
Pineapple 118.4 µmole TE/g
Strawberries 116.1 µmole TE/g
Broccoli 9.2 µmole TE/g
Siberian Chaga also had SOD values that are extraordinarily high in comparison to other medicinal mushrooms.
Chaga SOD Value per Gram Analysis and Study:
(Dept. of Health and Food Services Research Center - Tokyo, Japan)
Siberian Chaga 35,000 units/g
Linghzi / Reishi 1,400 units/g
Truffles 860 units/g
Agaricus 1,500 units/g
Phellintus Linteus 1,400 units/g
Grifola Frondosa 1,400 units/g
All information contained on this website is based on research and testing to date and is for informational and educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Only a licensed medical practitioner can offer medical advice.
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