What's in your coffee? Chaga or NeuroFactor®?

What's in your coffee? Chaga or NeuroFactor®?

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The Differences Between NeuroFactor® and Chaga

 what's in your coffee?

Photo by Elina Sazonova from Pexels

 

NeuroFactor® is an all-natural, patented extract derived from the coffee fruit. Chaga is a mushroom from Siberia and parts of Asia. Both have health benefits; let's dive into what those are.   

 

What does NeuroFactor® do? 

Our beloved coffee comes from a plant; certain Coffea species of plants are responsible for the morning ritual that maintains our sanity.

coffee plant

Photo by Livier Garcia from Pexels 

 

The coffee berries on the plant are harvested. This happens when the berries turn from green to a bright red. After being picked, they get processed and dried.

 

At his point in the process, the seeds are taken out. These seeds are what we lovingly call coffee beans. They then get roasted; there are a plethora of methods. That's where the story usually ends.

 coffee seed coffee bean

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels

 

But it doesn't! Ever wonder about the coffee fruit itself?

 coffee fruit husk skin

The sad truth is that the fruit from the coffee berries was simply discarded for a long time. It was tossed by the coffee farmers as waste.

 

 It took a while, but people finally figured out that coffee fruit concentrate has many great health benefits.

 

Scientists took a good, hard look at the coffee fruit. They discovered an abundant amount of powerful antioxidants with their clinical study.

 

These antioxidants are on the frontline in your body's cells fighting free radicals against oxidative stress. Free radicals are waste products from chemical reactions in the cell. Too many free radicals can be hazardous to all parts of a cell and can play a role in developing cancer cells.

 

But wait! There's more!

 

BDNF Benefits

The BDNF protein (brain-derived neurotrophic factor – no, it's not a kinky fetish) can be found in the coffee fruit. BDNF is essential for learning memory.

 

This marvelous protein repairs neurons in the brain and creates new ones that help shape how we learn, what we can remember, and our moods. This is referred to as neuroplasticity.  

 

 bdnf brain-derived neurotrophic factor synaptic plasticity

 

The fact that NeuroFactor® can increase your BDNF levels by 143% is incredible!  

 

BDNF is also an active participant in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Those neurons BDNF loves also allows for information to be transmitted throughout the body.

 

Some studies indicate that BDNF can help with weight loss. It was found that a powerful uncoupling protein known as UCP1 can be induced by BDNF. This creates brown fat, which is burned by the body for fuel.

 

Insulin resistance has also been improved, which can lead to a healthier weight.

 

Side Effects of NeuroFactor®

Long-term research is still limited when it comes to coffee fruit and the NeuroFactor® derived from it. The consensus is, however, that it is safe to consume in moderation. So don't go overdoing it! 

 

Remember that it contains caffeine, but the amount is less than you would find in a regular coffee cup.

 

What does Chaga do?

Chaga mushroom (medicinal mushroom Inonotus obliquus) is a type of fungus. It grows in the northern hemisphere on birch trees. The growth produced is woody and looks like burnt charcoal.

 chaga Inonotus obliquus

 

This mushroom has been used medicinally for a while throughout Russia and other Northern European areas. It is mostly used for boosting the immune system.

 

Chaga has also been found to positively impact diabetes by reducing blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. It is used in certain anti-cancer treatments and can aid against heart disease.

 

Potential Health Benefits of Chaga 

According to a 2015 study in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms,  a water-based extract of Chaga protected biopsied liver tissue from the oxidative effects of a chemical known to cause liver damage.

 

This could potentially lead to treatments against liver disease.

 

According to research, Chaga can impact immunity by fighting harmful bacteria and viruses. This mushroom helps to form beneficial Cytokines, which are specialized proteins that regulate the immune system.

 

Studies have also found that Chaga can stop the creation of harmful cytokines that can trigger inflammation. These unhealthy cytokines are also associated with heart disease.

 

Cholesterol levels have lowered in some studies related to the mushroom as well. It was found that the "bad" LDL cholesterol was reduced while the "good" HDL cholesterol increased.

 

Side Effects of Chaga Mushroom

When it comes to this mushroom, no clinical trials have been performed assessing its safety at the time of this writing. That means there is a lack of information regarding proper dosage and possible side effects.

 

A few things are known.

 

If you are taking blood-thinning medications, Chaga may interfere with that medication.

 

If you are taking diabetic medications, Chaga's impact on lowering blood sugar may interfere with that medication.

 

Chaga may cause kidney problems in some individuals, so it has been recommended that you do not take it if you have kidney disease.

 

Since it is high in oxalates (helps create kidney stones), it can stop certain nutrients from being absorbed and be potentially toxic in high doses.

 

Coffee with NeuroFactor® or Chaga?

When it comes to specialty coffee drinks, I like to look for beverages that give me a boost health-wise and taste good.

 

There is a Chaga blend of coffee out there, but the mushroom's taste isn’t that great, if I’m being honest. So if you don't like mushrooms, then Chaga coffee probably isn’t for you.

 

That said, Strong Coffee Company has it all. We're looking at instant lattes that provide you with outstanding taste, a ton of health benefits, including organic NeuroFactor, and it is incredibly easy to prepare.

 

 strong coffee instant latte start strong

 

If you want a coffee drink that gives you more, then STRONG is the way to go.