Chicory soluble: useful properties and contraindications

The beneficial properties and contraindications of chicory are a frequently discussed topic among the followers of a healthy diet. Let us consider in detail the features of this product in order to accurately study the alleged benefits and harms to human health.

This is a popular and affordable drink made from natural ingredients, the root of a plant of the perennial genus, the Astrov family. Material for it has been cultivated in ecologically clean territories since the end of the 1800s, and since then drinking, reminiscent of instant coffee in color and taste, has not lost popularity, but rather is actively being introduced into the diet of people who monitor health.

What is soluble chicory?

Powdered chicory - a dark powder concentrate obtained from fried and crushed plant roots. To prepare a tasty and healthy drink you will need to dilute it with boiling water. It is often used as a substitute for coffee, as it does not contain caffeine and does not adversely affect the cardiovascular system. Reminds a popular drink in terms of taste.

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Composition, calorie content

What is the secret of chicory? An unpretentious plant, which we commonly consider to be a weed, is very rich in useful micro and macro elements, vitamins, protein, tannins and organic acids, resins.

The root composition includes:

• B vitamins, vitamin C, carotene;
• pectin;
• micro and macro elements - potassium, iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium;
• polysaccharide - inulin (10-11%).

Each of the beneficial ingredients has a positive effect on a particular body system. The abundance of vitamins and other components provides a comprehensive positive effect on the body of the person receiving the drink.

Chicory contains few calories: 100 grams - 70 kcal and is recommended for those who are struggling with excess weight.

The healing properties of chicory

The healing properties of the drink lie in its rich composition.

Let us consider in more detail each of the elements in the root of chicory and its positive effect on the functioning of organs:

1. Inulin. It is used as a sugar substitute in the food industry. Suitable for patients with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, replenishes energy, but does not contribute to lipid deposition.
2. Squirrels. They have an invigorating effect and allow you to replenish energy without resorting to hearty snacks.
3. Thiamine. Group B vitamin, which is essential for the normal functioning of the heart muscle, nervous and digestive systems.
4. Riboflavin (B2). Provides the functioning of the thyroid gland, reproductive system. It is necessary for the growth of healthy hair, strong nails. Its deficiency will be displayed on the skin - it will become vulnerable to infectious agents and external influences.
5. Ascorbic acid (C). Strengthens the walls of blood vessels, makes them elastic. It takes part in supporting muscle tone, stimulates the body's defense system.
6. Carotene - a strong immunomodulator, antioxidant. It supports the condition of the skin, increases its elasticity.

How is chicory useful other than the above list? It strengthens the fundus, increases appetite and restores vital energy, and helps cleanse the liver. As an energetic, it is allowed to drink to children, pregnant and lactating, patients suffering from a breakdown and VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia).

Chicory manufacturing technology

Concentrate for making a drink is produced in several ways.

In modern industry, they most often do this (production stages):

1. Collection, preparation of raw materials. The collected roots are cleaned, washed, crushed. Untreated roasted chicory is sometimes mixed with unroasted oats.
2. Extraction. Drying is carried out in special extraction apparatus or using simpler methods - drying on a warm surface. The process lasts until the raw material reaches the desired performance - the mass fraction of soluble substances should be 10-15%.
3. Mixing with special additives. The components contain baking soda (up to 0.3% of the total mass of material), which is introduced, continuously stirring, for up to 20 minutes.
4. Concentration The stage is carried out with strict adherence to temperature - up to 80 degrees, and rarefaction - from 0.055 to 0.085 MPa until the raw materials correspond to such indicators: mass fraction of solids - 50-55%, mass fraction of total sugars (when converted to dry substance) - from 62% and above (with this indicator, the amount of inulin will reach a level of not less than 20%).

The finished product is packaged. The manufacturer, guided by the desire to improve the organoleptic characteristics of the concentrate, can add sugar, cinnamon, citric acid to chicory. You can learn more about the product by carefully examining the packaging.

There is another chicory concentrate (less popular than powder) - a pasty, soluble drink. It is produced as follows: 60-80% of dried roots and 20-40% of fried are extracted.The obtained extracts are mixed, filtered, and then evaporated to a paste-like consistency. Such a drink is less popular due to its mild taste.

At home, you can also prepare powder for a drink. To do this, collect the roots of chicory, wash, clean and dry (naturally or in the oven). Then the raw materials are crushed, fried in a dry pan until brown. The resulting material must be grinded on a coffee grinder. Home-made powder is stored for up to 6 months in a dry place in a closed container.

The methods used for preparing chicory are aimed at preserving useful components in the plant and improving taste sensations.

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Will chicory replace coffee?

Manufacturers of chicory concentrates make a lot of efforts to make the drink organoleptically close to instant coffee. To do this, use various production methods, flavoring additives. But can a plant from the family of asters replace a favorite drink of coffee lovers?

The composition of coffee and a drink from chicory roots is very different, but they both relate to energy. Only the effect of vigor after coffee arises from the action of caffeine, and in another case, is achieved due to the high concentration of vitamins, proteins and inulin.

Chicory can be drunk by people who suffer from high blood pressure, while natural coffee is strictly forbidden to them. The concentrate will also cheer up those who are forbidden caffeine for other reasons - women during pregnancy, children.

Instant chicory: beneficial properties

The drink was originally known as an integral part of a healthy diet of a person leading an active lifestyle. In addition to quenching thirst and invigorating without caffeine, this plant is able to affect various organ systems, improve their function, and accelerate the elimination of certain pathologies. Let us consider in more detail, to whom and for what this affordable and tasty drink is recommended.

For weight loss

Overweight people should get a drink from chicory.

The secret to losing weight lies in its composition:

1. A large amount of inulin in the concentrate affects the production of insulin, which controls the level of glucose in the blood. The substance, when it enters the stomach, is transformed into fructose, which is known as a reliable source of energy, but at the same time, does not lead to the formation of fat accumulations.
2. In addition to a charge of vigor without risk of recovering, inulin improves the functioning of the digestive tract, accelerates metabolic processes, which will also be displayed on body weight.
3. Soluble fiber - pectin, improves bowel function, helps the body get rid of toxins faster.
4. Intibin glycoside in the composition of the drink accelerates metabolism, activates intestinal motility, and relieves constipation.
5. B vitamins are favorably displayed on the work of the nervous system. Thanks to their action, you can get rid of the bad habit of "seizing stress", which is guaranteed to lead to excess weight.

Chicory for weight loss is also suitable for women after childbirth. To quickly restore the previous forms, it is enough to replace the drink with tea and coffee, which are not recommended for breastfeeding.

To enhance the effect, it is recommended to replace dinner with a cup of the drink in question and do not sweeten it with sugar (drink 200 ml in the morning and at lunch 30 minutes before meals).

Chicory for children

Children's age is not a contraindication to the use of this product. A drink for babies from 3 years old can be sweetened with sugar or honey, fructose in order to remove the characteristic bitterness.

Chicory will be especially useful for children:

1. During an increasing load. With the beginning of the school year, the child needs strength, especially during the period of adaptation to school (as well as during exams).
2. After the disease - as an element for building immunity and quick recovery.
3. As a prophylactic that helps stimulate the body's defense system.

Socialized children who spend a large amount of time in closed groups (kindergarten, school) require the formation of a strong immune system, otherwise it will not be easy to get out of a series of endless infectious diseases that are transmitted instantly in a team. It is for such situations that chicory is suitable - to quickly and without drug use increase the body's resistance to pathogenic bacteria.

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Instant drink for women

It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of chicory for the female body, because its effect is displayed both on the work of internal organs and on appearance:

• strengthens hair, nail plates;
• rejuvenates the skin, makes it more elastic;
• allows you to get rid of toxins;
• improves metabolic processes;
• helps in the fight against excess weight;
• strengthens blood vessels, maintains their elasticity;
• dilates blood vessels, helps in the fight against cardiac pathologies.

When planning to maintain freshness and youth for a long time, you should abandon the abuse of coffee and replace it with a more healthy drink from chicory.

For pregnant

Pregnancy is a special period that requires maintaining the female body in all available ways.

Chicory can be used by pregnant women, as a substitute for coffee and as an assistant in the fight against such problems that are well known to women in the position:

• loss of strength and drowsiness;
• constipation;
• iron deficiency;
• weak immunity;
• rapid weight gain.

Chicory will not only help you feel better, but also avoid the threat to the baby's life that occurs with anemia (fetal hypoxia is possible), low mobility and obesity.

For men

For the stronger sex drink:

1. Improves the work of the digestive tract, nervous system.
2. Serves as a prevention of cardiovascular disease.
3. Replacing coffee, it will relieve excess excitability, insomnia.

It will be especially useful for those who eat irregularly or junk food, lead a sedentary way of life and tend to gain excess weight.

For the nervous system

Chicory contains a large number of B vitamins, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the brain and peripheral nervous system. The drink can be used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute, with a breakdown, drowsiness, irritability, with frequent headaches.

For skin

The composition of the powder from the root of the plant helps to restore collagen fibers, which are responsible for the elasticity, firmness of the skin and slow down the manifestation of age-related changes. In addition, the vitamin complex in the product has a tonic effect on the dermis.

For hair

Thanks to chicory, you can improve the condition of the hair.

How does the composition of the drink:

1. The nutrition of the bulbs improves due to the strengthening of blood vessels, blood flow is activated - the hair becomes stronger and grow more actively.
2. The vitamin complex makes the hair shiny and visually more attractive.
3. The tonic effect of chicory is a wonderful prevention of diseases of the scalp - seborrhea, psoriasis.

In addition to ingestion, strengthening can be achieved using rinses based on a chicory decoction.

For the cardiovascular system

Pathologies of the cardiovascular system are leading among the causes of mortality. To avoid the development of diseases, it is necessary to give credit to prevention.

Chicory is one of the ways to improve the condition of the heart and blood vessels:

• dilates blood vessels;
• strengthens the walls;
• preserves and improves the elasticity of blood vessels;
• improves the state of muscle tissue due to increased metabolic processes.

Replacing coffee and tea with a healthy drink can minimize the risk of developing cardiological diseases.

Is there any harm from the drink?

Drink from chicory cannot cause damage to human health.But the beneficial effect can be destroyed by combining the vegetable concentrate with cow's milk, which inhibits the action of the components and makes drinking useless. Therefore, it is better to combine chicory with soy, nut milk, cinnamon or fructose.

Norms of consumption and method of preparation

Chicory is prepared according to the same principle as all other instant drinks - pour boiled water. The proportion is approximate - 1.5-2 teaspoons per 150-200 ml of boiling water. You can add sugar, fructose, honey, soy milk, cinnamon to your taste.

To feel the positive effect, you need to drink at least 3 servings of the drink per day, but you should not abuse it.

How to choose and store soluble chicory?

You can buy a drink in almost every food store, in pharmacies. To choose the right product, give preference to the product in a transparent container - this way you can verify the uniformity of the powder, the absence of lumps and any additives.

The powder is stored in a tightly closed container in a dry place.

Contraindications

Despite the useful composition, the drink has its own contraindications:

• age up to 3 years;
• phlebeurysm;
• asthma;
• pathology of the gallbladder;
• hemorrhoids;
• allergy to substances in the product;
• It is forbidden to take with cow's milk.

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To make sure that the product suits you, make yourself a small portion of the drink, drink and watch the body react for 24 hours. If you do not notice any allergies or other discomfort, then the product can be entered into your diet.

It is difficult to exaggerate the beneficial properties of chicory, so a drink from its roots is recommended for daily use as a drink that increases vitality and immunity.