Getting to Know Chicory

It is called “ Kasni “ in India

Belonging to the dandelion family, chicory is a type of somewhat woody plant usually witnessed with bright blue flowers. Its roots are generally used for medicinal purposes although its upper parts may also serve purpose. Specifically, the roots are boiled and added into products while the leaves are consumed like celery.

So what makes chicory seem so appealing?

The fact that it is low in calories, high in fiber, and cost-effective are just a few enticements. For these reasons, food producers and manufacturers add chicory to common commercial products - including coffee, ice cream, yogurt, protein bars, and cereals. And since these products offer fiber bulk without accelerating calories, they are certainly attractive to health-conscious individuals.

Have you ever tried consuming chicory?

It is a root which is commonly known to substitute coffee. But what you probably are not aware of is that this amazing root comes with a lot of health benefits. There are plenty of varieties of this root, and some of them have their leaves beneficial, and some of them focus on the benefits of the root.

Native to several parts of Europe where it's been commonly used in salads, witloof of chicory, a Dutch translation of "white leaf," denotes tightly curled leaves force-grown in darkness to encourage paler, more tender foliage.

Radicchio, another relative, is the red-leafed variety. Transported to the Americas, chicory now grows so prolifically that it's a common sight along roadside ditches and in meadows, recognizable by its soft blue flower.

Chicory is also known as succory or coffee weed, and there are reasons for each. Herbalists have valued chicory as a medicinal for a variety of ills for 1,000 years at least. It's been used on several continents as a liver tonic, to relieve upset stomachs, detoxify, calm the nerves, regulate the heartbeat, and treat osteoarthritis, gout, and diabetes.

Crushed chicory leaves have also been used as a poultice to treat skin inflammations and promote wound healing. That's why it's called succory – a form of "comfort." With a taste not unlike chocolate, sliced, dried, or ground chicory root is added to boiled water to make "coffee" (or more often added to coffee) but contains no caffeine.

The root of the chicory can be found useful in treating many health conditions, and this is why today we have decided to make up a list of all the health benefits that come with consuming this root on a regular basis.

It is good for the eyes – the chicory is one of the richest sources of Vitamin A, making the chicory quite useful for the health of the eyes.

Adding chicory, carrots, celery and parsley into your everyday dieting plan will provide you with the necessary protection that will keep you safe from macular degeneration and any other eye issue that may come your way.

The chicory is the best way to maintain the optimal level of health to your eyes.

It is excellent for digestion – one of the most common reasons why people add the chicory in their dieting plans is to improve the digestive system.

The chicory contains a probiotic called inulin, which is a healthy bacteria that could benefit the overall health of the digestive system. The inulin is usually used to combat the intestinal and digestive issues, including indigestion, acid reflux, as well as heartburn for it reduces the acidity of the intestines.

How and why does this stuff end up in our coffee?

It's all rooted (pun not intended) in world history, a little bit of tradition and a whole lot of politics and economic hardships. For most of our coffee-drinking past, the addictive caffeinated beverage has been expensive.

There weren't always Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts competing on every street corner. Sometimes coffee was scarce -- especially if a major port was blocked for political reasons. 

No one is sure exactly when people began mixing chicory with coffee, but according to Antony Wild (author of 'Coffee: A Dark History'), the use of chicory became popular in France during Napoleon's 'Continental Blockade' Of 1808, which resulted in a major coffee shortage. Chicory is native to France, where it has long been loved for culinary reasons so it's only natural that's where the story began. 

Disclaimer: The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensue discussion or debate.

Thank you … Will provide you with strong bones – the inulin found in the chicory has been well known for improving the calcium absorption in the body and increasing the bone mineral density.

The chicory, thankfully, is a great source of calcium, phosphorous and magnesium, which are all minerals connected with the health and strength of the bones.

Chicory is blessed with small amounts of nearly every essential vitamin. At seven percent of the daily value for each, selenium and manganese are two of the main ones.

The former helps regulate thyroid hormones and the immune system, while the latter supports the formation of healthy bones, tissues, and sex hormones.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) maintains normal blood sugar levels and nerves. The potassium is essential for optimum kidney function, phosphorus metabolizes proteins, sugar, and calcium, and vitamin C fights infection.

Want to add word or two?

Using the premise that caffeine-free chicory coffee is a rich source of plant phenolic, researchers conducted a clinical study on 27 healthy volunteers who consumed 300 ml of chicory coffee every day for a week to see whether it might have some cardiovascular benefits. The scientists concluded that the study offered "an encouraging starting point to delineate the anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects of phenolic compounds found in chicory coffee."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21425378, Thrombosis preventive potential of chicory coffee consumption: a clinical study, Oct. 2012

A placebo-controlled, double blind, dose-escalating trial was conducted to determine the safety and tolerability of a chicory root extract, shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in vitro, and assess the effects on the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

The results of the pilot study suggested that a "proprietary bioactive" extract of chicory root has a potential role in the management of osteoarthritis, merited further investigation.2

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20618964, Phase 1, placebo-controlled, dose escalation trial of chicory root extract in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, Oct. 2012

Your comment ….?

The root of the chicory has been used in the folk medicine for treating liver disease and hepatic system related disorders. A group of clinical researchers recently isolated a phenolic compound called esculetin, from the extracts of the chicory root and they further confirmed that is a hepatoprotectant compound.

The compound showed liver protecting activity in mice with hepatic damage induced by paracetamol and carbon tetrachloride. The potent hepatoprotective activity is associated with the aqueous extract of the chicory root; this extract inhibited the oxidative degradation of DNA in tissue debris of mice liver.

Chicory is not only a beautiful, nutritionally dense herb, it can be used for many medicinal purposes, including the following:

• Preventing liver damage. Its antioxidant properties work to prevent liver damage within the system.
• Enhancing digestive function. Chicory may stimulate the production of bile, which impacts the overall digestive system.

In addition, chicory can help fight other conditions, such as:

• Preventing parasites. Chicory's anthelminthic properties can inhibit the reproduction and growth of certain parasites, such as intestinal worms.
• Preventing bacterial infections. 
• Use of its antibacterial properties, chicory can prevent sinus infections, as well as other bacterial infections.
• Preventing fungal growth. Chicory can prevent fungal growth on the skin or within the body.