Chicory - a plant product, is presented in the market in the form of syrup, powder or granules, is an excellent substitute for coffee and tea.
Despite the natural origin, chicory has not only useful properties, but also contraindications.
And it is worthwhile to understand in which cases the drink will positively affect the body, and in which it should not be consumed at all.
What is chicory?
The people - blue dandelion or roadside cornflower, officially - chicory. This is a plant of the aster family with a rigid vertical stem and a fairly long (up to one and a half meters) rod root. The leaves are oblong, can be with a narrowed or slightly rounded end. Chicory flowers are about 3-4 cm in diameter, from light blue to pinkish in color, arranged singly or double, triple inflorescences, both on the lateral and central stems. Petals are reed-shaped. Seeds of pentagonal shape.
A plant comes from the Mediterranean. Today, chicory can be found in many countries of the former Soviet Union.
The plant is also grown for industrial purposes. For this, two species are cultivated - ordinary and lettuce. From the first, a "coffee" drink is made, the root of the plant is used for this, the second is an addition to side dishes and salads.
Chicory soluble: beneficial properties and calorie content
The caloric content of chicory in different parts of the plant is significantly different.
• 100 g of fresh root contains almost 380 kcal, 57 g of carbohydrates and about 10 g of protein.
• For processed raw materials, these indicators vary: almost 265 kcal, 63 g of carbohydrates and about 2 g of protein.
• In the leaves of salad type plants, only 24 kcal, carbohydrates - 4.7 g, fiber - 4, water - 91, and 0.3 g of fat.
Chicory is rich in a whole vitamin complex: A, K, C, B-vitamin group, E, nicotinic acid. Of the trace elements it contains:
• potassium,
• calcium,
• phosphorus,
• magnesium
• zinc,
• sodium
• manganese,
• iron
• copper
• selenium.
In addition, the root contains tannins, organic acids, resins, pectin, phenol, coumarin, inulin. Part of the latter in the dried product is almost half.
Chicory soluble: beneficial properties in medical practice
Subject to the technology for obtaining raw materials and, directly in the preparation of soluble chicory, its beneficial properties will positively affect the following areas of the body:
• Immunity. Inulin contained in chicory is a plant prebiotic, it has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and maintains the balance of intestinal microflora, which affects the general condition of the immune system.
• Protection against neoplasms. Substances that prevent and fight cancer are phenolic resins. They actively remove free radicals from the body.
• The cardiovascular system. It is used as a prophylactic for hypertension, atherosclerosis - thanks to the drink, the amount of lipoproteins is reduced. Phenols also reduce the manifestations of arethmia.
• Joints and muscle tissue. The beneficial properties of soluble chicory are manifested in anesthesia, and the fight against inflammatory processes that occur in joints with arthritis or in muscles.
• Gall bladder problems. Chicory will be useful in the initial stages of cholelithiasis, it is able to dissolve small stones, and does not allow bile to stagnate.
• Blood sugar. Inulin, which is contained in the plant, is a kind of sweetener, so the drink was initially sweetened and does not require additional sugar, which allows people with type 2 diabetes to drink it.
• Against edema. The diuretic properties of chicory remove excess fluid from the body.
• Diseases of the oral cavity. Tannins are an excellent antiseptic that helps in the treatment of diseases of the throat and gums.
• No to constipation. The plant has a mild laxative effect, which contributes to the natural and mild excretion of feces.
• Chicory against stress. A cup of drink at night will help relax the nervous system and eliminate anxiety. Which in turn will affect the normalization of the hormonal system and will become a protection against premature aging.
• Vital tone. Chicory in the morning - it is cheerfulness, a positive mood, and the elimination of headaches.
• Fighting extra pounds. The use in combination with other weight loss agents helps to reduce weight by reducing hunger. This is facilitated by such components as inulin and oligofructose.
• Chicory during pregnancy. This is a great substitute for coffee lovers. Unlike the latter, it has a beneficial effect on the body not only of the mother, but also of the child. Chicory removes toxins, which reduces the manifestations of toxicosis, eliminate bowel problems, in particular constipation of pregnant women. With severe heartburn, a drink from this plant will also help eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
But women in position need to be careful with the amount of drink, excessive consumption can provoke a miscarriage or premature birth.
It is worth remembering. Chicory is more of a phytopreparation than a medicine. You can’t use it to cure any disease, but it is an excellent prophylactic. On sale, it can be found in pharmacies, as an additive in herbal teas, and in various types of stores in the departments of healthy nutrition.
Chicory soluble: contraindications
Like any herbal preparation, soluble chicory has a number of contraindications. You should refuse to take the plant in any form for the following health problems:
• Phlebeurysm;
• With large stones in the gallbladder, ingestion of the plant can provoke their excretion;
• With chronic cough, bronchitis;
• Allergic manifestations. Soluble chicory is contraindicated, even if there is an adverse reaction to daisies, marigolds, or ragweed.
• For children under 3 years of age, soluble chicory is also contraindicated.
Uncontrolled consumption of the drink should not be allowed, only a moderate amount of it will bring benefits.
Norms of consumption and method of preparation
During the day, it is recommended to drink no more than 3 cups of the drink, preferably not immediately after a meal. The amount that is used for a single dose is indicated on the package.
Making a drink is similar to making instant coffee. The only difference is that chicory is well soluble in hot or warm water or in milk, but not in boiling water. You can add cream to the cup with the drink. It must be remembered that chicory itself has a sweetish flavor, so sugar can be put less than in coffee or tea.
For lovers of cooking natural products with their own hands, the following instructions:
• Take 5 - 6 chicory roots
• Rinse, clean
• Dry in an oven at 100 degrees, or naturally in fresh air, in a place protected from direct sunlight. In the first case, it will take 5 hours, in the second it may take a week.
• Finely chopped dried roots
• Fry without adding fat in a pan until a golden brown tint
• Grind in any convenient way
• Store the powder in a dark place in a tightly sealed container for no more than 6 months.
Which of the following types of chicory to choose?
No matter how manufacturers try to promise that the best product will get on the table, you should be careful when choosing it.
There are three types of raw materials for making a drink:
• in the form of powder or granular,
• sublimated,
• in the form of syrup.
The first, when harvested, can be processed with hot air at temperatures up to 220 degrees and roasted to give the taste of coffee. With this method, most of the nutrients, especially vitamin components, are susceptible to destruction, respectively, lose their properties. The result is a seemingly tasty product, but with a minimal amount of useful ingredients.
Sublimated is a healthy food product. In its production, special technologies are used without exposure to high temperatures, which allows to preserve vitamins and trace elements from destruction.
A syrup is obtained by combining chicory powder, dried by hot drying, and sugar. This method also reduces the useful value of the product.
But in any case, the benefits of any of the options presented are much higher than that of traditional coffee. The main thing to remember is that excessive consumption of any healthy foods can cause a backlash.
