Chicory is considered a close relative of dandelion.
Due to its aroma and taste, it has long been used as a coffee substitute.
The vitamins and microelements contained in the roots of the plant attract adherents of a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition.
Useful properties of chicory drink
1. Protects a person from harmful microorganisms.
2. Prevents cancer.
3. Strengthens the immune system, resists colds.
4. Calms the nervous system.
5. Normalizes blood sugar levels.
6. Slows down age-related changes in the body.
7. Has a beneficial effect on the skin.
8. Frees the liver from accumulated fat and toxins.
9. Regulates metabolic processes.
10. Strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
11. Helps fight excess weight.
Chicory is needed:
• diabetics;
• for atherosclerosis and hypertension;
• people with bad habits, a sedentary lifestyle;
• patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases;
• women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Harm of chicory
The substances contained in the plant thin the blood. Therefore, it is forbidden to use chicory if you have low blood pressure or its tendency to fluctuate. The same applies to varicose veins.
Gallstone and urolithiasis can be aggravated even by one cup of chicory “coffee”.
People prone to allergies should be careful with the drink. When undergoing antibiotic treatment, it is better to avoid chicory: its components can neutralize the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Chicory is a medicinal plant. It should be treated as a remedy, avoiding overdose. It should be drunk in moderation. According to experts, the normal daily dose of the drink is no more than 300 ml, one or two cups per day.
How to cook
The collected roots are washed well and dried in a dark, ventilated room for 2 weeks.
A faster drying option is in the oven at 300-350 degrees. If the raw material has become dark brown, crunches and breaks, then the product is ready for further processing. Chicory will taste more like natural coffee if it is roasted. After roasting, the roots are ground in a coffee grinder.
2 ways to make chicory "coffee"
1. 2 teaspoons of powder per glass of water. Pour in, cook on low heat for 15 minutes. The finished drink acquires a rich brown color.
2. Pour 1 teaspoon of ground chicory into the Turk, pour in 100 ml of water. Put on the fire. Bring to a boil three times.
If desired, you can add spices: cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg.
Instant chicory drink makes a healthy and tasty vitamin cocktail with the addition of apple juice, lemon and honey.
Liquid, paste-like or sublimated soluble drinks are most often used for preparation. Their taste and benefits are not inferior to natural chicory. The main thing is to follow the measure and recommendations of doctors and nutritionists.
Earlier we told you how to make halva at home.
