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Anticancer Foods: Chicory Root Uses & Benefits

11 months ago

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Dried natural wild chicory (dry medicinal herbs)

Did you know about chicory root? Did you know that you can use Chicory Root for more than just an ingredient in your favorite coffee shop’s mocha? You should also know its origin and how is it beneficial, so keep reading!

What Is Chicory Root?

Chicory root comes from a dandelion-like plant with vivid blue blossoms. Salad leaves, chicons, and roots are among the many types grown, which are baked, ground, and used as a substitute for coffee and food additives.

Chicory is often used as a livestock forage crop. It grows wild alongside the roads in its native Europe, and it is now popular in North America, Australia, and China, where it has spread worldwide.

What Are The Uses Of Chicory Root?

Chicory possesses a bitter taste, that’s why we rarely consume it alone. To use in warming drinks or as a supplement, the roots are roasted, powdered, or dried.

Centuries ago, during timed of coffee scarcity, Chicory roots served as coffee’s substitute. Since the twenty-first century, various food manufacturing process have bee using inulin, a chicory root extract as a sweetener and dietary fibre source.

Chicory root is now a popular in wide range of foods and beverages, not just as a coffee substitute. Some people utilize it for medical purposes outside of food sources. Chicory can help relieve inflammation when applied topically, but it can also help treat gallbladder, liver problems, and high blood pressure, when consumed.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Chicory Root?

Chicory root is high in inulin. It also packs a wide range of nutrients including antioxidants and vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Chicory root’s fiber offer several health benefits and its extracted form often serves as a useful food supplement or additive.

Here are some emerging health benefits of chicory root.

Chicory root inulin is a dietary fiber supplement that may aid in digestion by increasing the amount of fiber in food. Several studies have linked chicory inulin to an increase in stool frequency in constipated individuals. Chicory root also possesses prebiotic properties, which means it feeds your gut’s beneficial bacteria thus keeping your gut healthy.
Chicory root fiber has the potential to improve blood sugar control, particularly in diabetics.
Chicory root is packed with magnesium and vitamin B6, which maintain your brain health.
Chicory root is an appetite suppressant which helps you lose weight in the long run.

What Makes Chicory Root An Anti-cancer Food?

Multiple studies have suggested that using Chicory root can help prevent different types of cancers. For instance, research has found that chicory assists in the death of breast cancer cells. Similarly, another study suggests that Inulin can lead to a lower risk of colon cancer.

In one study, people who took an inulin supplement manufactured from chicory root had more frequent and softer stools. This is an important advantage of chicory root use, as studies have linked infrequent bowel movements to an increased risk of colon cancer.