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 At the grocery store, an aged man standing in front of me in line asked the saleswoman for a pack of chicory. Vaguely imagining what it is, I could not resist and asked:
- Do you drink it instead of coffee?
Having received an affirmative answer, I asked:
- And tasty?
Well, not as tasty as coffee, but how healthy, read it! - and he handed me a bright package.
In the store, I did not begin to study what was written on the bag so as not to detain people, but at home I decided to ask this question, look for information. Moreover, I have long wanted to offer some alternative drink to my husband, who is very used to coffee ...
Yes, chicory is indeed a very useful plant. In its roots, from which the powder for the drink is prepared, there is a lot of inulin, coumarin, a bitter substance, sugar, resins, as well as the vitamins of the B group necessary for our body. The aerial part of chicory also has healing properties. The milky juice found in the whole plant contains vitamin C, bitter substances and rubber.
In folk medicine, the chicory plant is used to treat various diseases such as stomach ulcers, anemia, malaria, bronchial asthma, intestinal disorders, liver and spleen diseases, tuberculosis, hypertension, general weakness. The calming effect of chicory on the nervous system has long been known. Therefore, his drugs are prescribed for neuroses and bad sleep. Chicory reduces blood sugar levels, which means it is useful for diabetes mellitus too. The plant improves digestion, enhances metabolism and is used as an appetizing, choleretic, diuretic and laxative.
If we consider the nutritional value of chicory, then it is interesting to know that it can be used not only as a coffee surrogate. Salads are made from young chicory leaves, rich in B vitamins and easily digestible protein. Its roots, which are rich in sugars, are used to produce alcohol. Chicory is a good honey plant.
Having learned about the value of this pretty plant with blue flowers, I must confess that in the future I even wanted to sow it on my site, especially since it is described as an unpretentious and winter-hardy plant that can be cultivated. And first I decided to go to the store and buy a bag of instant chicory to try out the drink in practice.
The powder from the roots did not practically differ in appearance from coffee. Only the aroma is somewhat different and not so intense. Dissolved in water easily. I tried it without sugar - delicious! You don't even need to sweeten it. I called my husband, asked to rate the drink. Indeed, for some time now, he could not do without coffee for a day. The verdict was: "You can drink!" I thought that soon my husband would still want his favorite coffee. But no, he is silent, instead of coffee, chicory dissolves itself. When the package was over, and I asked whether to buy coffee now, my husband asked me to buy instant chicory again:
- I somehow began to feel better!
What else can I say! If coffee is contraindicated for you, then you can successfully and with benefits for your health replace it with a drink made from chicory root, which does not contain caffeine. The powder can be prepared by yourself from dried roots, fried in a pan and crushed in a coffee grinder or in a mortar. And if you do not have such an opportunity and time to prepare, then just buy instant chicory in the store, and enjoy a delicious and healthy drink, which, like coffee, can be drunk with milk or sugar - according to your taste!
Krotova Marina
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