If you are looking for a completely natural way to reduce your blood pressure, then you might want to consider adding chaga mushrooms to your diet. Chaga mushrooms are incredibly effective for lowering blood pressure, and they have various other health benefits as well.
So, what is the link between chaga and blood pressure? This in-depth guide helps you learn about the benefits of Chaga for those suffering from hypertension. Keep reading for more information on Chaga, blood pressure, and why the mushroom is such an effective natural remedy.
Does Chaga Mushroom Lower Blood Pressure?
Yes, chaga mushroom can help lower blood pressure due to the polysaccharides and phenols present in chaga that have been shown to help reduce blood pressure and reduce risk for hypertension.
Elevated blood pressure, or hypertension, is common and has a number of long-term consequences, including heart disease. According to studies, common factors leading to high blood pressure are diets high in salt and fats (cholesterol), family history, and chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Changing your diet and living an active lifestyle are some of the natural ways that your doctor will recommend you take steps to reduce your blood pressure. However, sometimes controlling your salt intake and exercising might not have the desired impact on your blood pressure. Before you are about to start taking an anti-hypertensive drug, you might want to be sure to investigate all other natural options.
Several food mushrooms are known for their blood pressure-lowering effects. Bioactive compounds found in chaga mushrooms, particularly the ones grown on Birch Trees, have been used as therapy in alternative and complementary medicine as treatment for hypertension.
Chaga mushrooms are a superfood packed with nutrients. It is high in antioxidants, having a value of more than 146,700 ORAC. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity defines a foods overall antioxidant power, and Chaga is an antioxidant powerhouse.
Oxidative stress is the disruption in balance between reactive oxygen species (or free radicals) and the ability of the body to detoxify those reactive products. Superoxide dismutase is one of those enzymes, which makes up the body’s antioxidant defense system. The pathogenesis of high blood pressure is associated with oxidative stress. Regarding the link between chaga and blood pressure, the chaga’s ability to combat oxidative stress is part of why these mushrooms are so effective at combating hypertension. Studies report that those who are newly diagnosed with high blood pressure frequently have decreased levels of superoxide dismutase.
Alternative medicine has shown an intense interest in the identification of naturally occurring antioxidants to prevent and treat hypertension.
This suggests Chaga may prove to be an effective solution.
How Does Chaga Mushroom Lower Blood Pressure?
Chaga’s effect of decreasing blood pressure has been used in folk medicine. Chaga mushrooms have anti-oxidative effects on the molecular mechanisms involved in the oxidative status and function of blood vessels. The polysaccharides and phenols found in chaga may aid in blood pressure reduction and lower risk of high blood pressure.
Inflammation and hypertension are closely linked. Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) are highly associated with high blood pressure. Numerous clinical trials demonstrate a relationship between elevated levels of CRP and high blood pressure. Many individuals who suffer from hypertension also have high levels of cytokines.
This essential pro-inflammatory protein regulates the immune system, but in the process can cause inflammation. One of the benefits of Chaga mushroom blood pressure is inhibition of cytokine production. Chagas anti-inflammatory properties may also help lower blood pressure. This suggests that restoring your blood pressure back to a normal level, and lowering the risk of heart disease, becomes a possibility when you regularly consume chaga tea.
Does Chaga Mushroom Lower Cholesterol?
Hypertension is also linked with elevated levels of cholesterol in your blood. High cholesterol levels cause the blood vessels within them to accumulate layers of fat. The cholesterol levels also damage the vessels endothelial lining. This process causes hardening of blood vessels lumen, which increases the blood pressure levels.
Chaga extract has been shown to have a cholesterol-lowering effect. The mushrooms are effective in blood lipid metabolism. Chaga also contributes to weight loss, further balancing cholesterol levels.
To demonstrate the cholesterol-lowering power of Chaga as one of its health benefits, researchers conducted human studies. An eight-week study was conducted using extracts from the Chaga mushrooms in test subjects, and the study proved Chaga can lower total cholesterol, low-grade cholesterol (or LDL), and triglycerides.
Learn more: Does chaga help with rheumatoid arthritis?
The same Chaga mushroom study also reported increased levels of antioxidants. Another study observed that the Chaga mushrooms also increased good cholesterol levels and decreased bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein). By making sure that your cholesterol levels are not elevated, the mushroom helps you to avoid a number of health conditions associated with high cholesterol levels.
Does Chaga Mushroom Increase Nitric Oxide in The Body?
For instance, Chagas effects on blood pressure relief are also linked with nitric oxide (NO). The polysaccharide in birch nut mushrooms increases NO production.
This molecule is produced by many cells in the body, and is highly essential to the health of the vascular system. The nitric oxide produced by enjoying chaga tea relaxes blood vessel muscles, causing vessels to expand. This simple process increases the blood flow and reduces the blood pressure.
It is important to note that drinking chaga tea helps to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics and people who are awaiting their diagnosis of diabetes. High blood sugar levels are linked to developing high blood pressure. A study published in 2018 noted that diabetic patients have increased peripheral arterial resistance caused by remodeling of blood vessels, as well as increased volume in body fluids associated with insulin resistance-induced hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia.
The study noted these mechanisms are associated with elevated blood pressure. Chaga mushrooms can help diabetics manage their elevated blood sugar levels as an alternative medicine, decreasing their risk for high blood pressure. Blood clot problems may lead to hypertension. A study published in 2016 showed the link between high blood pressure and blood clotting. Chaga, however, may be capable of fighting both hypertension and blood clots.
How Does Chaga Interact with Blood Thinners?
Chagas effects in combination with blood thinners are not completely understood, but the two may have synergistic effects. Chaga is rich in anti-inflammatory substances, like polysaccharides and minerals, which thin blood and exert positive effects on circulation. In particular, chaga is effective in reducing “bad” cholesterol, which may accumulate in blood vessels and lead to decreased blood flow, heart attacks, and strokes. However, the anti-aggressive properties of chaga present an issue when it comes to blood clots. Due to the blood thinning properties of chaga, using it can result in cuts and scratches healing slower because of bloods reduced ability to clot the wound.
Learn more: Can Chaga mushroom reduce inflammation?
While using aspirin occasionally may alleviate this problem, frequent users of blood-thinning medications can suffer from longer-term problems if combined with chaga. Because of this, you should talk to your physician before using chaga if you are already prescribed blood thinners. While there is no conclusive scientific evidence for a synergistic effect of using chaga with blood thinners, it is best to stay on the safe side, especially if you have a chronic health issue that requires the use of medications. In addition to that, you should stop using chaga at least two weeks prior to any surgical medical procedure, in order to avoid any potential issues from its blood thinning side effects.
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While chaga is a general benefit for human health, each persons situation is different, and there are likely factors within your own health situation that could make eating chaga risky. Blood thinners are one potential hazard to people who are interested in using chaga. If you are dependent on medication to reduce your blood thinner, you should talk to your health care provider before starting to use chaga.
