Many people are familiar with this modest blue flower, which grows along the roadsides, hills and forest edges. He is the first to reveal the basket of his inflorescences, welcoming the rays of the rising sun, perhaps, therefore, one of the popular names of chicory is "sunny grass".
This plant is familiar to mankind for a long time: its salad variety - endive, was consumed as food in ancient Rome. In Russia, from the 19th century, another species was grown - chicory ordinary, whose roots were used as an additive to natural coffee, or as a substitute for the latter. Nowadays, there are many different coffee drinks made on the basis of this plant.
Is it useful to drink chicory?
It is believed that the drink from chicory is a healthy alternative to coffee and tea: its usefulness is, firstly, the lack of caffeine, the harm of which for people with cardiovascular diseases is well known. Secondly, chicory has anti-inflammatory, choleretic and soothing effects. In addition, in the roots of this plant contains up to 70% of inulin - a polysaccharide, which is a good nutrient medium for beneficial intestinal microflora, and giving a sweetish taste of a drink. In the human body, inulin breaks down into fructose, so this polysaccharide, unlike starch, is an absolutely safe source of carbohydrates for people with diabetes. In addition, beverages based on chicory roots, have hypoglycemic properties, and are recommended for use in the treatment of mild forms of type 2 diabetes.
In pregnancy, chicory is also useful: it will help to defeat heartburn, and is much less harmful than medications of a similar action.
But the useful properties of chicory in the process of losing weight - a fairly controversial issue. Of course, thanks to the sweet taste, chicory drinks can reduce the amount of sugar that many put in tea or coffee, in addition, these drinks can lower blood glucose levels. This allows them to be used for the prevention of diabetes, the risk of which is directly proportional to the number of extra pounds, and an easy diuretic effect will help remove excess fluid from the body. However, along with the abovementioned useful qualities, the chicory root has the ability to arouse appetite , and does not at all affect the rate of "burning" fatty "stocks". So chicory is best viewed
Along with the useful, chicory also has some harmful properties and contraindications, which are very few. So the root of chicory is contraindicated:
- with varicose veins and hemorrhoids;
- with gastritis and peptic ulcer during exacerbation, as well as gastritis with high acidity;
- hypotension (low blood pressure);
- with CNS diseases apply with caution, having previously received the advice of a doctor.