What are Chaga mushrooms?
If you were to look at a Chaga mushroom or see it in the wild, you’ll most likely come across it growing on birch trees, typically in colder climates like Russia, Canada, and Northern European countries.
And while this may not be what you’d assume to be an elixir for anti-aging and beauty, believe us, the real beauty of Chaga lies on the inside.
Chaga is made up of beneficial polysaccharides that are responsible for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, while its higher levels of vitamin d and copper are thought to do wonders for skin, hair, and nails.
Why do we age?
Simply put, as we age, our cells gradually become less efficient at repairing damage and producing energy. This leads to the formation of wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of aging.
The reality is that aging is a part of life, but we can do things to slow down this process.
The earlier you start in life, the better.
Chaga, especially, can help protect cells from damage and may promote cell degeneration thanks to its high antioxidant profile. Plus, they contain compounds that have been shown to boost collagen production and fight inflammation. In other words, Chaga mushrooms could help you keep your youthful glow for longer!
How Chaga can help with aging skin
The primary reason chaga can help with anti-aging comes down to something called oxidative stress. But there are many benefits to taking Chaga for your skin.
1. Chaga can reduce oxidative stress
Oxidative stress is when your body is “out of balance” when it comes to free radicals and antioxidants. Our body creates free radicals and then naturally produces antioxidants to help counter them.
Simply put: free radicals cause aging and antioxidants can help counter that process.
When there are far more free radicals and our bodies can’t produce enough antioxidants, those are high times of oxidative stress.
When this happens, it can lead to damaged cells and even some more severe health conditions.
2. Chaga may help suppress UV damage from the sun
A study found that Chaga “suppressed UV-induced skin changes.”
We also know that our collagen production may greatly impact the appearance of our hair, skin, and nails…3 trigger points for anyone concerned with aging.
The study stated that Chaga “increased collagen synthesis” which is another check mark on its potential as an anti-aging, beauty-boosting supplement.
The main assumption for these benefits is because of the high antioxidant properties of Chaga, but its anti-aging potential doesn’t stop there.
3. Chaga is rich in beta-glucans
Chaga is rich in polysaccharides. Fungal beta-glucans have some extensive research for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Inflammation in the body can lower the defence of our skin. When we have an abundance of inflammation, our collagen amount decreases as well as the elasticity of our skin, meaning we are more prone to age spots, wrinkles, and the dreaded “saggy skin” we all associate with aging.
It was reported that, “numerous studies have demonstrated that polysaccharides extracted from mushrooms exhibited beneficial therapeutic properties, including immunostimulation, anti-infection, antitumor, wound-healing, and other therapeutic aspects.”
4. Chaga is rich in inotodiol, a compound ideal for beauty applications
Inotodiol, a compound from Chaga mushrooms, and its effects on aging and inflammation under oxidative steess have been studied.
Researchers prepared a lanostane triterpenoids-rich concentrate from Chaga, containing inotodiol, and tested its anti-inflammatory activities on human skin cells (HaCaT cells) under various stress conditions, including UVB irradiation and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α stimulation.
The study found that inotodiol significantly reduced inflammatory gene expression and promoted collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis, suggesting its potential in anti-aging and therapeutic applications for skin health.
5. Chaga helps build beauty from the inside-out
It’s more than just trying to help solve the issues of brittle nails, thinning hair, and aging skin. When we focus on what we’re putting into our bodies, we simultaneously can address what we see on the outside.
However, while research has been done, it’s important to understand that we’re still in the early stages of understanding the full beauty-boosting and anti-aging potential of Chaga.
While it has been used for thousands of years, it has become more adopted recently as research has continued and consumers are looking for better, natural remedies to help fight the aging process.
How to take Chaga for your skin
There are two main ways to use Chaga for your skin.
You can use topical products with chaga in them
You can consume chaga extract as a functional supplement for anti-aging and skin benefits
I use high quality Chaga extract in my products, which the antioxidants are absorbed internally, helping to neutralize free radicals throughout the body, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases and supporting overall cellular health.
Internally, it can help reduce systemic inflammation, offering benefits like reduced pain in conditions such as arthritis, and possibly improving heart health by reducing inflammation in the cardiovascular system.
By consuming Chaga extract, you can support your immune system's efficiency, potentially improving your body's ability to fight off infections and diseases.
Consuming Chaga can provide phytonutrients that support skin health from the inside out, possibly improving skin hydration, elasticity, and overall complexion by enhancing nutrition to the skin cells.
When ingested, Chaga can support the liver and kidneys in detoxifying the blood, potentially leading to improved energy levels, clearer skin, and better overall health by removing toxins from the body.
Chaga powdered extract for skin
Extract of chaga mushrooms is the ideal form of supplement. The top products have typically gone through a dual extraction of hot water and alcohol. This allows the beneficial compounds, like polysaccharides and terpenes, to be made bioavailable to us. Without that extraction, our bodies cannot break down the tough cell walls of mushrooms, like chaga, and reap all the benefits. Of course, from a nutritional standpoint, eating raw chaga mushrooms is still good for you, but as a supplement, look for ones that are offering an extract.
Powder will likely come in a bag or tin and a small ½ teaspoon or so will often deliver your daily needs. You can easily add this to coffee or another drink of your choosing!
Right now I have available my best seller my Peppermint Mocha Chaga anti-aging face scrub and mask, which is a creamy mask that you can scrub your face with as well as leaving it on to absorb all the health benefits of the product. Added castor oil, argan oil and cocoa powder are very beneficial for the skin!
I also have available a creamy whipped Chaga lip balm, and I also will be making a Chaga body butter that can be slathered on your whole body!
Keep an eye out for new Boho Mama products that contain the amazing Chaga!
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