Coffee today is the most popular tonic, but everyone knows that it carries significant harm to the body.
The rich chemical composition and pleasant taste make it possible to use such a powder not only for preparing a tonic drink, but also as a seasoning for many culinary dishes. Instant powders are prepared from roasted roots, and green leaves are added to salads.
In modern conditions, an increasing number of farms are cultivating this plant, despite the fact that it is widespread in the natural environment - in meadows, forest belts, in roadside zones, in fields and on forest edges. The most common are two types - ordinary and salad.
Content
Chemical composition and production method
For the preparation of soluble powder, dried roots of chicory vulgaris are used. In botanical references, it is referred to as Cichorium intybus. In the wild, it is a perennial; cultivars are a two-year-old herb.
A coffee beverage concentrate is obtained by extraction. The main stages of production:
- Harvesting, mechanical cleaning of the roots of the earth and damage.
- Drying, grinding into cubes.
- Frying the resulting mass.
- Extraction of active ingredients in hot water using carbon dioxide.
- Getting dry extract by freezing moisture.
- Drying under vacuum.
Soluble chicory can be found on sale in the form of concentrated syrup. In this case, the product is prepared by extracting the juice from the roots, filtering and concentrating it. Since there is no roasting, the finished product has less pronounced taste, but is rich in biologically active components.
The product is valued for its high inulin content, which belongs to the group of polysaccharides. By its chemical structure, it is a derivative of fructose. In the human body, this substance does not break down. Inulin is the main prebiotic - dietary fiber necessary to maintain normal microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. The content of this substance in fresh roots is up to 80%, after frying it decreases by 50%.
The beneficial properties of chicory are due to its rich chemical composition:
- Thiamine - regulates protein metabolism, activates the brain, helps normalize the mental state.
- Riboflavin - has a normalizing effect on the functioning of the reproductive system, supports hormonal levels, is an important element for ensuring hematopoiesis.
- Carotene - supports eye health, increases the body's resistance to infections.
- Ascorbic acid is the strongest antioxidant that protects cell membranes from the effects of free radicals.
- Tannins - have a beneficial effect on the intestinal mucosa, contribute to the normalization of digestion.
Health Benefits of Soluble Chicory
Chicory has not only a general tonic and immuno-strengthening effect, but is also a means of preventing anemia, emotional exhaustion, intestinal disorders, hypertension and ischemic disease.
Of great importance for the body is the presence of inulin. This substance is a coarse dietary fiber that helps maintain the vital activity of the beneficial intestinal flora, and also stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Regular consumption of a soluble drink helps get rid of functional bowel diseases, eliminate constipation and dysbiosis. In addition, as a result of normalization of the intestinal flora, the protective functions of the body are activated, and nonspecific resistance increases.
Among the beneficial properties of such a drink is also an antianemic effect, which is due to the high content of iron and folic acid.
Vitamin C and phenols have pronounced antioxidant properties, which allows the use of chicory drink for the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular diseases.
This drink also has the following effects:
- It normalizes fat metabolism, reduces blood cholesterol and the risk of developing atherosclerotic complications.
- Helps to quickly eliminate inflammation symptoms such as pain and weakness.
- Normalizes the synthesis of the hormone saturation ghrelin, due to which it is possible to achieve a decrease in appetite and changes in eating habits. With regular use, it normalizes energy metabolism and helps to reduce body weight.
- It removes toxins and metabolic products from the body, has a choleretic effect.
- Favorably affects blood glucose levels.
Benefits and harms of chicory for people over 50
As the body ages, the need for the amount of vitamins and minerals changes, there is a need to abandon tea and coffee due to the high caffeine content in them. For adults, it is preferable to use a drink based on soluble powder. This will help prevent the development of hypertension, angina pectoris, and normalize the lipid profile.
Features of age and the effect of chicory
After 50 years, a large number of people suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Due to the high content of vitamin C, as well as potassium and magnesium, it has a capillar-protective effect - strengthens the inner wall of small vessels, reduces their fragility, eliminates bleeding.
A beneficial effect on the heart rate is also observed, with regular use of this drink it is possible to get rid of tachycardia and conduction disorders. Also, this product dilates blood vessels and accelerates blood flow, which helps eliminate the symptoms of hypertension.
Of particular importance for the elderly is the effect on carbohydrate metabolism. After 50 years, the incidence of type 2 diabetes increases significantly. Chicory helps lower blood glucose. Thanks to inulin, the process of absorption of carbohydrates in the digestive tract is accelerated, fermentation processes are eliminated.
Application for men
The male body is less resistant to external stimuli, constant stress and an unhealthy lifestyle provoke the development of angina pectoris, GB and other diseases. Among the recommendations for the use of chicory:
- To reduce the risk of complications, such as hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, transient disturbances in cerebral circulation, myocardial infarction, chicory, it is recommended to use as a tonic.
- This product also strengthens the body, helps increase physical and emotional stability, improves concentration and memory.
- For many men over 50, the problems of the sexual and sexual sphere are familiar. After replacing natural coffee with chicory, many of them notice the restoration of erectile function, increased sexual desire.
- The drink also has a diuretic effect, it helps to quickly remove metabolic products from the body that have a toxic effect. With prolonged use, the ability to break down and remove salt deposits in the kidneys and ureters is noted.
- With prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis, it is possible to eliminate pain and discomfort during urination.
- Drinking a coffee drink from chicory powder by men who have bad habits helps to improve well-being. In smokers, the manifestation of shortness of breath is reduced, the incidence and intensity of coughing attacks is reduced. This will help to quickly remove toxic substances and normalize the delivery of glucose to brain tissue.Interesting!Also, this product will help restore strength and vitality after drinking alcohol - just drink a cup of hot chicory with sugar in the morning to alleviate the symptoms of a hangover.
Application for women
With age, serious changes in the hormonal background occur in a woman’s body, and ovarian function decreases. A decrease in the level of estrogen in the blood carries not only a change in appearance, but can also cause a disturbance in well-being and the occurrence of various diseases.
Chicory will help to cope with many conditions and prevent some diseases:
- The use of chicory daily will help normalize the psychoemotional state, eliminate fatigue, and return interest in life.
- Unlike coffee, this product enhances mood and cognitive function without causing insomnia.
- Chicory affects the synthesis of the hormone of satiety, so it is an essential product for women who want to lose weight and change their taste preferences.
- Of great importance for women taking chicory is its positive effect on the condition of hair, nails and skin.Due to the high content of B vitamins, as well as magnesium and zinc, it is possible to eliminate the increased fragility, hair loss, their natural shine. The skin takes on a healthy look and radiance.
- In the menopause, women are at risk of developing heart and vascular diseases, which can have complications such as strokes and heart attacks. To stabilize the heart, normalize blood pressure, they need to include a drink from the roots of chicory in the diet.
- It also contains a large number of antioxidants that protect the body from the effects of adverse environmental factors and are a means of preventing malignant neoplasms.
Contraindications to taking soluble chicory and harm to the body
In order not to harm your body, chicory should be consumed no more than 3 times a day. It is important to consider such features of the drink and its effects on the human body:
- Excessive fluid intake can cause swelling, increased blood pressure, kidney disease.
- This product does not belong to strong allergens, however, in rare cases, the development of allergic reactions in the form of urticaria, skin itching, redness is possible. People with atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive bronchitis, hypersensitivity reactions of an unexplained genesis should limit consumption.
- Given the pronounced vasodilating properties of chicory, you should not use it in the presence of such pathologies: hemorrhoids, thrombophlebitis and post-thrombophlebitic complications, varicose veins of the lower extremities, varicose veins of the pelvic organs.
- In some cases, an abundant amount of such instant drink can cause an exacerbation of chronic diseases of the digestive system - gastritis, duodenitis, esophagitis, colitis.
- In diseases of the thyroid gland, which are accompanied by a high level of thyroid hormones, chicory should be abandoned.
- Pregnancy and lactation are not a contraindication. However, due to possible allergic reactions, use with caution. Active substances pass into breast milk, and if overused, can cause flatulence and intestinal colic in a newborn.
Proper use of chicory
It is not necessary for healthy people to limit the use of chicory, since it does not have toxic properties. Although this product is rich in vitamins and biologically active substances, there have been no cases of overdose. Most of the components are water soluble; their excess is excreted in the urine.
Selection and storage
It is best to choose liquid forms of soluble chicory in the form of a concentrate or syrup, since during the production process the product is not roasted and retains its useful properties in full. Such a product tastes little like coffee, has a very specific aroma. Forging it is much more difficult than dry powder.
When choosing a store, it is important to evaluate the tightness of the packaging and composition. The quality product does not contain preservatives, flavorings, starch, barley flour. It is best to give preference to the product in transparent glass jars, since in them the powder is reliably protected from moisture.
The smell is specific, not cloying.
Rules for making healthy drink
The organoleptic properties of the finished drink strongly depend on the quality of the water used. It is best to choose purified, not hard water. If the powder is poured with boiling water, a bitter taste may appear. Therefore, it is best to use boiled water cooled to 70-80 degrees.For the preparation of 300 ml of a drink, 2 teaspoons of powder or granules is enough.
To get a richer flavor, chicory can be brewed. To do this, 30-50 g of the powder is poured with cold water, brought to a boil over low heat, after the formation of the foam, it is poured into cups. When using liquid forms, it is necessary to dissolve a small amount of the extract in boiled water, mix well. In some cases, syrup is added to coffee or tea.
Compatibility with other products and medicines
There are a huge number of recipes for making drinks using soluble chicory, but it should be noted that not all of them are equally useful:
- The addition of blackcurrant and raspberry jam will increase the immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory properties of this product, and will help to quickly eliminate the symptoms of colds and viral infections of the upper respiratory tract.
- When using chicory with cow's milk or cream, iron deficiency may develop.
- Chicory goes well with honey and other plant extracts. When losing weight, it is best to use a vegetable sweetener - stevia. This combination favorably affects the level of blood pressure, gives vigor and well-being.
Common questions
Chicory is one of the most common drinks in the world and is highly valued for its similarity in taste and aroma to coffee. With a rich vitamin composition and low price, it is an indispensable component of the diet.