Due to the negative impact on the body, many people decide to give up coffee and drink healthier drinks. One of them is chicory. Others are deciding to combine these drinks and make coffee safer. The mixture of coffee and chicory has an unusual chocolate-caramel taste. Chicory reduces the dangerous effects of caffeine, makes the drink softer and helps improve health.
Useful properties of chicory
The benefits of chicory for the body are primarily related to its composition. For example, its significant content of inulin (50-70%), used as a sweetener , makes it possible for people with diabetes to drink chicory drink without harm to their health. On the one hand, it is naturally sweet, and on the other, it does not increase blood glucose levels. In addition, inulin helps normalize the gastrointestinal tract and reduce cholesterol levels.
Chicory root is often used as a coffee substitute , as they are similar in taste and color. But there is no caffeine in it, so a drink from this plant can be used by people with cardiovascular diseases.
Eating chicory has undoubted benefits for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system: it helps dilate blood vessels, relieve attacks of tachycardia, and lower blood pressure.
The positive effect of chicory decoctions and tinctures in the treatment of skin diseases, inflammation, and wound healing is also known. The drink is rich in vitamins B, C, microelements (iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium). Thanks to this, the positive effects of chicory include a calming effect on the nervous system, increasing vitality and mood, and preventing anemia.
Chicory helps normalize liver function, remove gallstones and toxins from the blood.
To strengthen the muscular system of the eyes, a unique cocktail consisting of carrot, parsley and chicory juice is useful.
Let's take a closer look at the benefits of chicory.
- It can act as a substitute for coffee because of its taste, it also invigorates, like caffeinated drinks, improves body tone and mood, while chicory does not contain caffeine.
- Saturates with B vitamins, therefore it is very useful for the nervous system and calms.
- Has an antimicrobial effect.
- It has an anti-inflammatory, slight diuretic, choleretic effect.
- Reduces blood sugar, which is useful for diabetics.
- Chicory can reduce sweating.
- Treats inflammatory diseases of the stomach.
- Good for the cardiovascular system: helps with tachycardia, reduces cholesterol. Indicated for hypertension, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease.
- Chicory expels parasites from the body.
- Necessary for anemia, chicory is rich in iron.
- Natural chicory is of great importance for the immune system due to the content of chicoric acid and inulin, which helps cleanse the body of toxins, resulting in improved absorption of vitamins and minerals. The same inulin is extremely beneficial for the intestinal microflora, so consuming chicory is a good prevention of dysbiosis, constipation and other gastrointestinal problems.
- Capable of removing heavy metals and radioactive substances.
- Helps to lose excess weight.
- Good for hair: the tincture can be rubbed into the roots, this will promote their growth. You can also rinse your hair with chicory infusion after washing, its structure improves, your hair becomes fuller and healthier.
- Taking chicory also has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin: cleanses it, makes it more elastic and smooth. Chicory contains a lot of vitamins (B, PP, C, E, A), minerals (Mg, K, Ca), which are necessary for our skin. It is very good to wipe your face with a cotton pad soaked in chicory tincture.
Recipes
- For a cold. Take an equal amount of ground chicory root and motherwort herb, brew it like tea at the rate of 1 spoon per glass of boiling water, let it brew. Drink half a glass at a time.
- From neurasthenia. A teaspoon of chopped chicory root is poured into a glass of boiling water. Boil for 8 minutes, let it brew. Take this decoction one tablespoon after meals.
- From radiculitis. Wash the fresh chicory root, cut it into pieces, put it in a saucepan, and pour boiling water over it. Heat in a water bath for approximately 20-22 minutes. Soak the gauze with the resulting infusion, squeezing it lightly, place it on the sore spot, and cover with a woolen cloth on top. This compress can be kept on all night.
- For hair. 3 tablespoons of chicory are poured into a glass of boiling water, the mixture is boiled for 15 minutes, then left to brew. This decoction should be intensively rubbed into the scalp, preferably before washing.
Chicory is indicated for:
- depression
- migraines
- diseases of the spleen
- rheumatism
- tuberculosis
- polyarthritis
- eczema.
It’s not difficult to prepare a chicory drink: you need to put a spoonful of liquid chicory or powder in a cup, pour boiling water over it, and stir. Sugar or honey is sometimes added for taste. Ground chicory, unlike instant chicory, must be left to steep for several minutes before use.
The healing properties of the drink are due to the beneficial properties of chicory root. It has a beneficial effect on almost the entire body: the cardiovascular system, the pancreas, the intestines, the kidneys, and the immune system, restoring their function. Helps cleanse the body of harmful substances coming from outside. Indicated for people with hypertension as an excellent remedy for dilating narrowed blood vessels. Reduces blood sugar, which is especially valuable for patients with diabetes. This drink helps dissolve and remove gallstones.
Some people prefer to drink chicory tea rather than pure chicory. To prepare, mix a teaspoon of chicory roots with 2 teaspoons of green tea, pour in 2.3 cups of boiling water, and bring to a boil. Next, leave for 1-2 hours, filter and drink. You can add a little honey. You should drink half a glass of this tea up to 3-4 times a day. It relieves arrhythmia, helps with diabetes, generally heals and restores the body, gives strength, invigorates. You can prepare it from the flowers of the plant: 2 spoons of chicory flowers are poured with boiling water like tea. You can simply add chicory flowers or powder to any tea before steeping it.
To prepare chicory coffee, a portion of the dried, crushed roots is roasted in the oven. Thus, the roots acquire a brown color and a specific aroma, so similar to regular coffee. At the same time, all beneficial properties are preserved. After roasting, the roots are ground into powder. 1-1.5 tablespoons of ground root are poured with boiling water (1 cup). You need to cook the broth for no more than 4-5 minutes, let it brew, strain and you can drink.
A drink made from roasted chicory perfectly quenches thirst, soothes, and relieves insomnia. A stronger decoction (1.5-2 tablespoons of root) is healthier, it is also more bitter, however, if you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract or high acidity, it is better not to drink rich coffee; it is preferable to prepare a drink from 1 spoon of ground root and a glass of boiling water. You can also sweeten the drink by adding honey, stevia or cream. It is almost no different from the coffee we are all used to, but at the same time it has the same advantages, without the disadvantages of regular caffeinated coffee.
If you boil chicory in milk, you can get a drink with a delicious nutty flavor.
Chicory coffee is extremely useful for women, as it slows down aging and helps maintain youth and beauty. It can be drunk by all people who strive for a healthy lifestyle and do not want to grow old. It not only treats, but also acts as a preventive measure for various diseases.
There is also a simplified recipe for chicory coffee from ready-made products: take a spoonful of powdered chicory, a spoonful of chopped barley root, put it in a cup, pour boiling water over it, stir. Leave for 12 minutes, add cream.
The most useful substances are in the liquid extract. Yes, and it is stored better, unlike powder. The extract is liquid chicory evaporated at a temperature of approximately 61 to 100 degrees, but not completely dried. If you drink it, you can get the maximum benefit from this plant.
Chicory will help you lose weight.
The pectin found in chicory prolongs the feeling of fullness after eating, and triterpenes, also included in the composition, accelerate metabolic processes. Many people report that losing weight is much easier and easier when taking chicory.
Harm of chicory to the body
There are no contraindications to the use of chicory as such, but it should be taken with caution by people suffering from:
- liver diseases,
- respiratory system (chronic bronchitis, cough, asthma),
- gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, ulcer),
- urolithiasis,
- allergies.
People with a history of varicose veins, vascular disease, hemorrhoids, thrombophlebitis, asthma, bronchitis, and chronic cough should be careful. Due to the high content of vitamin C, chicory can cause aggravation of allergies.
When used simultaneously with antibiotics, their absorption in the gastrointestinal tract may be reduced. Therefore, it is better not to combine them with each other.
Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the product. Thus, if the quality of raw materials is low, unscrupulous manufacturers can add apple pectin instead of inulin and artificially enrich the drink with vitamins.
Reviews on the use of chicory for weight loss:
“I tried every possible method to lose weight, which had been bothering me for many years. I added chicory to my diet, I felt more energetic, I began to get more done, and the most incredible thing is that my weight finally began to fall, minus 7 kg in the first month! There is very little left until my goal of 58 kg, I am sure that now I will definitely achieve the result.”
The main thing is not to overdo it; to lose weight, you should drink no more than 1-1.5 cups of chicory at a time; drinking 2-3 cups of this drink in a row can increase your appetite, which will negatively affect the weight loss process.
Chicory is useful:
For the liver
Stimulates the secretion of bile, increases blood flow, accelerates metabolic processes. Promotes cleansing of harmful substances, facilitates the functioning of the liver.
For hypertension
Reduces cholesterol, increases amplitude, normalizes heart rate, dilates blood vessels. The pressure decreases, the person begins to feel noticeably better. Vitamin C strengthens blood vessels. Just do not consume chicory with milk, as pressure surges and arrhythmia may begin. It is better to replace milk with its plant-based counterparts. Chicory with hawthorn is indicated for hypertension.
For diabetes
Chicorn root contains a high molecular weight polysaccharide - inulin. It helps reduce blood sugar levels, accelerates metabolism, improves digestion, all this has the best effect on patients with diabetes. Taking chicory can also act as a prevention of this terrible disease.
For pancreatitis
Chicory helps the pancreas and helps restore its functions after pancreatitis.
Drinks made from chicory
Most often, chicory root is used as food in one of three forms :
- liquid;
- soluble;
- ground fried.
Due to the peculiarities of production, liquid chicory retains a large amount of useful substances . In addition, it is in this form that it is most convenient to store it. How is liquid chicory made?
At the first stage of production, beneficial substances are extracted from the root of the plant, which, in fact, give the taste and aroma to the drink. This process is repeated several times. Each time, the extract obtained at the previous extraction stage is taken as the starting product. After several cycles, a large amount of water is obtained, which is not recycled, but is evaporated using a special evaporation unit. And only after all these manipulations are completed, liquid chicory extract is obtained.
The first stages of making soluble chicory are similar to the production of liquid chicory. First, the beneficial substances from the plant root are extracted, but instead of evaporating the remaining liquid, spray drying is performed. As a result, excess water disappears, and the dry residue is chicory powder.
It should be noted that soluble chicory is sensitive to storage conditions. At high humidity, it oxidizes with loss of beneficial properties and the formation of lumps. Therefore, preference should be given to vacuum packaging, which prevents the penetration of moisture.
Ground (or roasted) chicory is the most natural, healthy, tasty and aromatic of all types of chicory. As the name suggests, to make it, the root of the plant is crushed and fried. Actually, this is all the processing.
How will chicory combine with other products?
Chicory:
With milk
A delicious, incredibly healthy drink. Milk helps relieve stress at the end of the day, relaxes, and calms the nerves. Chicory has the same properties. Together they enhance each other's effect. In addition, chicory improves the absorption of calcium from milk. Chicory cooked in milk has an exceptionally beneficial effect on the skin; it becomes smooth, soft, and velvety. This chicory is useful for a child, it will calm him down and relax him;
With cinnamon
Cinnamon helps get rid of blood clots in blood vessels, lowers cholesterol, significantly reduces sensitivity to insulin, improves reaction, and promotes more active brain activity. Chicory and cinnamon complement each other wonderfully; both of these plants promote weight loss and speed up metabolism. This drink is very tasty, incredibly healthy and is especially recommended for those losing weight and diabetics;
With blueberries
Blueberries have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent effects. Improves visual acuity and reduces eye fatigue. Blueberries are an excellent regulator of gastrointestinal activity. It is indicated for stomach diseases, colitis, enteritis. Like chicory, blueberries lower blood sugar levels. It is useful for anemia, rheumatism, gout. The beneficial properties of chicory root in combination with blueberries are enhanced significantly;
With rosehip
Rosehip is a strong multivitamin; in terms of ascorbic acid content, rosehip fruits are many times superior to other plants; it also contains vitamins: P, K, F, B1, B2. It strengthens the immune system, helps with hypertension, vitamin deficiency, influenza, eliminates loss of strength, and restores the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. Together with chicory, you get a truly miraculous drink;
With ginseng
The adaptogen ginseng increases performance, restores strength, and promotes longevity. Together with chicory, its effect is enhanced. A drink made from chicory with ginseng is especially indicated for loss of strength, exhaustion, nervous diseases, after myocardial infarction, and with reduced hemoglobin.
Chicory with inulin:
- strengthens the immune system
- reduces blood sugar levels
- stimulates bone growth
- improves cardiac activity
- removes radionuclides and waste
- increases the absorption of calcium by the body.
Chicory with inulin is not indicated while taking antibiotics, as the absorption of the drug may be reduced. People with varicose veins and hemorrhoids should not take this chicory.
How to use chicory correctly?
Whatever type of drink you choose, its preparation is based on the brewing process. To do this, pour 1-3 teaspoons of chicory (depending on taste preferences) into 200 ml of boiling water and let it brew for 10 minutes.
Since a distinctive feature of chicory drinks is a characteristic bitterness, you can neutralize it with a spoon of sugar. But adding sweeteners is not at all necessary, since the drink itself is sweet (contains inulin).
You can add milk or cream to taste. But remember that this will add additional calories to the drink. Some fans add honey, lemon, and rose hips to the drink. All this only increases the benefits of the drink and gives an additional boost of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system.
If, for medical reasons, you are prohibited from drinking coffee and you would like to replace it with a drink made from chicory, at first you may be disappointed in the taste, which in the case of chicory is not so bright and rich. In order to get used to it, you can initially add coffee to chicory in a ratio of 5:1.
When choosing liquid chicory, read labels carefully. In addition to the root itself, it may contain many unnecessary additives.
You can drink 1-2 cups of chicory per day - this is a safe norm for the body.
Chicory coffee recipe
It will take about 7 minutes to prepare the drink. Adding chicory doesn't take much time. There is practically no manipulation with it.
Let's look at the recipe using a drip coffee maker. First, you need to set it up so that you can add water to the filter yourself. Place 1 tablespoon of coffee, ½ salt and chicory to taste in the brewing basket.
You can do without salt, but it will remove unnecessary bitterness. The water should be brought to a boil. Then add a little cold water to soften the coffee and chicory, as well as ½ cup of water into the filter. When the water starts dripping you need to add the other half.
Coffee with chicory should be served immediately, hot. Sugar is added to the cup, according to personal preference.
Features of using chicory
During pregnancy
A pregnant woman approaches the issue of eating food with special attention, often giving up her favorite foods for the sake of the baby’s health. But we will please you: chicory can be consumed during pregnancy. In this regard, it becomes an indispensable assistant for expectant mothers who are accustomed to coffee, since the taste of the drink is similar to coffee, but does not contain caffeine.
The beneficial properties of chicory, such as improving digestion, eliminating heartburn and constipation, calming the nervous system, accelerating the formation of red blood cells, and removing toxins from the body, make it an extremely useful drink for the expectant mother.
Just remember that there are some contraindications to consuming chicory during pregnancy : you can drink no more than two cups per day.
In childhood
Children can also be given a drink made from chicory (best from the age of three, but not earlier than one year). Although in some cases it can be prescribed as a prophylactic against diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, nervous system, as well as reduced body weight. Chicory helps regulate circadian rhythms in children.
A one-and-a-half-year-old child can be given no more than 100 ml of the drink per day; after two years, the dose can be increased to 200 ml.
When losing weight
Chicory root is also used for weight loss
. Drinking two cups of the drink a day will help improve metabolism, activate the growth of beneficial microflora in the intestines, increase the feeling of fullness, and reduce insulin levels in the blood.
Chicory: benefits and harm
chicory plant is a storehouse of benefits. Chicory roots contain chicorine, inulin, choline, proteins, fats, pectin, vitamins C, B1, E, fat, gum, essential oil, resin, tannins, mineral salts and a large number of trace elements. To some extent, chicory can be considered as a medicinal drink.
Natalya Balynina , editor of the “Health” section of the gastronom.ru : “Chicory contains the polysaccharide inulin - complex-action drugs are produced on its basis. Among the stated effects is the normalization of intestinal microflora: inulin is able to increase the number of lacto- and bifidobacteria necessary for healthy digestion, that is, it is a prebiotic. In addition, dietary supplements with inulin are recommended as absorbents for the body’s detoxification course.”
Sometimes they talk about the harm of chicory . The fact is that if you use it immoderately and every day, after a while you can get overly swollen blood vessels.
In addition, do not forget about the time of consumption of chicory .
In the morning, in small doses, it will be a tonic and invigorating remedy. And in the evening, chicory can help calm a nervous system that has been overexcited during the day.
Interesting facts about chicory
- Chicory was eaten in ancient Egypt and Rome, both in the form of salads and as a medicine. Thus, the Romans used chicory as a means of normalizing digestion, and the Egyptians used it as an antidote against the venom of snakes and spiders.
- In some countries they believe that chicory can make a person invisible.
- Chicory flowers are an excellent honey plant, as they contain a lot of pollen.
- Avicenna in his medical practice used chicory root to prepare medicines for diseases of the digestive organs, joints, and eyes.
What is chicory drink?
Chicory is a herbaceous plant that has a number of beneficial properties. It acts as a natural and safe coffee substitute. The root of the plant has long been used to brew a medicinal and aromatic drink that has virtually no harm.
Unlike coffee, the composition of the plant does not contain caffeine, however, they taste very similar. It, unlike coffee, has few contraindications, which is why it has so many fans.
Which chicory is healthier - ground or instant?
Today, market offers have formed 3 main types on sale:
- liquid;
- soluble;
- fried or ground.
How to decide what to buy - instant or ground chicory? It’s a matter of taste and choice for everyone – individual preference. The usefulness of the instant and ground product is the same - the processing method maximizes the healing properties, rich taste and full-fledged aroma. Freeze-dried is more convenient to prepare.
How to make a drink
Instant chicory is very easy to prepare; you just need to add hot water and stir. In order to diversify the taste, you can purchase a product with blueberries, ginseng or rose hips.
Instant chicory with milk
Despite the similarity in taste to coffee, not everyone likes chicory. The best option is to add milk or cream to the medicinal drink, this will help soften the taste. Pregnant and lactating women, people suffering from indigestion, or those with stomach ulcers should not add milk.
Instant chicory with rose hips
A “green drink” with rose hips is beneficial because it strengthens the immune system thanks to vitamin C. Rosehip has bactericidal agents and is good at removing toxins.
Instant chicory with blueberries
Chicory with blueberries is no less useful. The berry contains potassium, iron, phosphorus, iron and other micro- and macroelements. Chicory and blueberries complement and enhance each other's properties.
Instant chicory with ginseng
Ginseng root is rich in palmic acid and linoleic acid, which are rich in brain activity. Ginseng is also rich in B vitamins, which increase stress resistance and normalize the psychological state. Ginseng increases the beneficial properties of the drink, making the composition richer.
Brewed malt bread with instant chicory
The beneficial properties of chicory are also used in baking. The composition of such bread includes grains of wheat, oats and barley, malt, yeast and chicory. The combination of grains and chicory is beneficial for the gastrointestinal tract and normalization of metabolic processes.
