Inulin chicory - what is it? Inulin food

Many experts say that inulin is very useful for our health. What is this is not everyone knows. Let's try to understand this issue and find out what are the useful properties of the above product for a person.

Inulin chicory - what is it?

Chicory is a plant with lovely flowers of delicate blue. From its roots receive a special substance - inulin. From chicory prepare a bitterish drink, which to your taste resembles brewed burned coffee.

Inulin is the energy reserve of a plant. It is carbon. Many people do not know such a concept as inulin chicory. What is it and how is it produced?

This substance is "built" on the basis of fructose residues. During the process of hydrolysis under the influence of inulinase, it completely decomposes into fructose.

Inulin - a prebiotic, respectively, in the organs of the digestive system, it is not digested. It is processed by the intestinal microflora.

Inulin: where it is kept, how it is extracted and how it is applied

The above substance is included in the following products:

• The root of chicory - 6% and even more;
• Garlic - from 8 to 16%;
• Onion - up to 6%.

Inulin is also found in Jerusalem artichoke, burdock, elephant and dandelion.

The aforementioned substance is extracted from plants by the method of cold pressing. It is thanks to this method that all of its useful properties are preserved.

Inulin is produced in most cases from chicory. This is done as follows:

1. Crushing of raw materials.
2. Extraction of inulin (its extraction).
3. Reduction of the resulting extract to a thick consistency.
4. Precipitation of inulin and its purification.
5. Drying.

The above substance is actively used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Inulin food acts as a technological ingredient. It simulates the presence of fats in foods and stabilizes the quality of ice cream, mousses and sauces. In addition, food inulin is added to baby food, chocolate, dairy and diet foods, baked goods.

Pharmacology also actively uses inulin chicory. What is this and what is the use of it, pharmacists have understood for a long time. Therefore, today it is added to biologically active additives for the therapy and prevention of many diseases.

Useful properties of inulin

The above substance affects the human body as follows:

• Normalizes the level of sugar in the blood;
• Has the ability to remove harmful radionuclides, slags and heavy metals from the body;
• Stimulates the growth of bone tissue, thereby preventing the emergence of a variety of diseases of the skeleton;
• Has a positive effect on the absorption of calcium by the body;
• Strengthens the immune system;
• Improves the condition of the lymphoid tissue, which consists of the cells of the mucosa of the intestinal mucosa (this helps to increase the resistance of the bronchial tree, ureters);
• Helps maintain the liver in a healthy state;
• Normalizes the heart rhythm;
• Balances the work of the central nervous system;
• Strengthens the activity of the heart.

In addition, inulin has antipyretic and diaphoretic effects.

Chicory (drink): benefit and harm

This product is made from soluble chicory. In taste and appearance, it has a great similarity to roasted coffee. But unlike the latter, the drink from chicory does not contain caffeine, so it does not cause harm to human health. Caffeine is contraindicated in people with different diseases. It causes vasodilation, provokes heart rhythm disturbance, etc.

Soluble chicory has another advantage - a sweetish taste, therefore it is extremely useful for people suffering from diabetes.

Properties of chicory soluble:

• Improves the intestinal microflora;
• Suppresses appetite;
• Improves metabolism;
• Promotes the work of the digestive system.

It is interesting that besides inulin, chicory liquid contains vitamins of group B, ascorbic acid, pectins, resins and trace elements (iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium), as well as carotene, tannic and protein substances, organic acids.

As for contraindications, they have a little chicory. So, you should not drink a drink on its basis when taking antibiotics, since this can interfere with the assimilation of the medicine. In addition, chicory is not recommended for people suffering from varicose veins and hemorrhoids, since these conditions can only worsen. Do not use this product and those who are allergic to ascorbic acid, as well as spasms of the respiratory system.

Chicory: indications for use

Inulin chicory and a drink from the above plant experts recommend eating people with such diseases as:

• diabetes;
• Dysbiosis;
• Acute and chronic infections of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Frequent colds;
• Bone diseases;
• Hepatitis and gastritis.

Soluble chicory for pregnant women

If a woman expects a child, but at the same time is a great lover of coffee, the above product for her will be a real godsend. Useful properties of chicory soluble for pregnant women are as follows:

• Activation of the heart;
• Support of the normal functioning of the liver;
• Facilitating the rapid removal of toxins from the body;
• Regulation of the intestine;
• Prevention of constipation.

This plant can easily replace coffee, since it has a similar taste. But in fact, chicory is much more useful, because it has the ability to benefit not only the organism of the future mother, but also the state of her child.

Chicory for weight loss

The substance inulin, which is obtained from chicory, is now actively used in many diets. This substance when absorbed into the human body in the intestine is not absorbed. In the stomach, inulin takes a gelled state, enveloping the mucous membranes of this digestive organ, and thus protecting it from the effects of alcohol and smoking.

How does inulin chicory affect the body of a slimming person? First, this substance is an effective probiotic: it promotes the formation of a favorable environment for the development of intestinal microflora, in which microbes and other pathogenic bacteria are killed. Thus, the human body is cleaned of harmful substances.

Secondly, inulin chicory has the ability to influence lipid metabolism. This leads to a decrease in the weight of a person.

Thirdly, inulin perfectly regulates appetite. This substance is the right carbohydrate, which does not increase the amount of sugar in the blood and does not cause insulin jumps. Therefore, the feeling of satiety remains for a long time.

Fourth, during the diet, the body requires serious protection. Inulin chicory lowers the level in the intestine of ammonia, which provokes the development of oncology of the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition, this substance has the ability to regulate carbohydrate metabolism, which, in turn, is responsible for the slender figure of a person.

How to use chicory

For the preparation of various medications, you can use chicory. The drink, the benefit and harm of which has been described in detail above, is, among other things, extremely tasty and aromatic, and in no way inferior to coffee in these qualities. It is prepared in several ways:

1. One and a half teaspoons of soluble chicory pour a glass of boiling water. To your own taste, put sugar and add milk or a spoonful of honey.
2. The fourth part of a teaspoon of soluble chicory pour a glass of boiled milk. Then add 2-3 dessert spoons of honey.
3. A table spoon of fried chicory should be filled in a glass of hot water and boiled for no more than 3 minutes. Then add to your own taste cream, sugar or milk.

The above drinks not only have exquisite taste, but also give incredible benefits to the human body: strengthen it and enrich it with the right substances.

It's interesting that even salads are prepared from chicory. To do this, use the leaves of the plant pale green color. Experts say that the taste of chicory is perfectly combined with celery, walnuts, cucumber, yogurt, any lettuce, parsley, apples. It should be noted that the leaves of the above plant are rich in folate and ascorbic acid. Some gourmets prefer soup from chicory roots for dinner.

An important rule, if you want to use chicory in cooking, you need to buy it in the store. The plant that grows near roads is usually poisoned with strontium.

Conclusion

Inulin chicory, the benefit and harm of which is obvious, based on its composition, still it is not recommended to take for yourself therapies for various diseases without consulting the doctor. After all, only a doctor can determine the right amount of the drug and indicate possible side effects.