The debate about the dangers and benefits of coffee has been going on for years. Scientists around the world, as often happens, are finding more and more evidence: some about the dangers of coffee, and others about the benefits. Who is right? As in most debates, both of them: coffee can be beneficial or harmful - it all depends on when, how and how much to drink it. The type of coffee also matters, but first things first.

Already ancient alchemists and doctors knew about the benefits of coffee and used it as a healing agent for various diseases. Back in the 1st millennium AD, the famous Eastern philosopher, alchemist and doctor Ar-Razi (Razes) wrote in his scientific treatises that coffee gives clarity to the mind, cheers the soul, treats eye diseases, prevents scurvy and gout. And in the 17th century, the court physician of the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich used coffee to relieve headache and reduce runny nose. By the way, many modern doctors also consider coffee an excellent remedy for migraines.

Today, coffee for us is just an everyday drink, tonic and stimulating due to the caffeine content in it. When we drink a cup of coffee, we get a small dose of caffeine, become more alert and begin to work more actively. For example, drivers' reactions improve after a cup of coffee, but you should not think that coffee can neutralize alcohol.

Of course, large doses of coffee often depress the psyche. Sometimes doctors even recommend drinking coffee for insomnia - at night. It seems surprising, but this way you can fall asleep faster.

Coffee dilates blood vessels and speeds up the digestion process - which is why it is often served for dessert. For patients with gastritis or stomach ulcers, as well as atherosclerosis, it is better not to drink coffee, but for a healthy person the question is different.

Which coffee is better? How much can you drink and when? Like any product, coffee can be harmful or beneficial. Try, for example, drinking 2-3 liters of milk in one sitting, and what will happen to you? But milk is very healthy.

However, the body of many people still reacts negatively to coffee, and for some, three cups can act like poison. But it happens that people simply cannot, or do not want to do without coffee, and when they smell it, they literally fall into ecstasy. How to be? You can use coffee substitutes, of which quite a few have been invented throughout the history of its use.

The most famous and recognized coffee substitute - chicory.

What are the benefits of chicory?

It grows everywhere: in wastelands, near roads, along river banks. In some European countries, chicory is specially grown, and drinks and drinks are prepared on its basis. medications. The most important part of the plant is its root, which contains the nutrient inulin, proteins, vitamins and sugars.

Chicory decoction is known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and does not depress the nervous system, but calms it, improves appetite and heart function. In ancient times, chicory was used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory eye diseases, and wound healing. Today, chicory is included in some wound-healing and anti-inflammatory drugs. Not long ago it was found that chicory helps diabetics by lowering blood sugar levels.

In today's medicine, chicory remains popular because chicory really has many beneficial properties. In addition to the properties listed above, it has a diuretic, choleretic and astringent effect, as well as antipyretic and anthelmintic.

What are the benefits of chicory on the digestive system? Usually they drink a decoction of the roots - this normalizes the functioning of the pancreas, improves metabolic processes in the liver and accelerates the dissolution of gallstones. In addition, the substance inulin, which chicory contains up to 40%, stimulates the development of beneficial intestinal microflora - and this is the path to strong immunity.

Chicory reduces the risk of developing inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines, so it is often used not only for the prevention, but also for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases - ulcers, gastritis, dysbiosis, etc. The effect of chicory on the nervous and cardiovascular system is also very beneficial. Chicory contains B vitamins, which not only calm the nervous system, but also improve mood, giving us energy and vigor.

In addition, chicory is rich in potassium, so it promotes normal heart function, dilates blood vessels and removes “bad” cholesterol from the blood.

Chicory as a coffee substitute or simply a food product, very useful for tachycardia, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis and other similar diseases. Due to the high percentage of iron in chicory, it is also successfully used in the treatment of anemia.

Obesity, like diabetes, also recedes under the influence of chicory. It is for this reason that chicory root is so highly valued in modern medicine. Inulin is a high molecular weight polysaccharide. By reducing blood sugar, it normalizes all metabolic processes, accordingly normalizing body weight.

Surprisingly, chicory is also used in the treatment of certain skin diseases. Decoctions, infusions and alcohol tinctures of chicory root help in the complex treatment of seborrhea, neurodermatitis, eczema and dermatitis, chicken pox, furunculosis, acne and psoriasis.

If you consume chicory regularly, for example, instead of coffee, you can significantly reduce the “reserves” of toxins and waste in your body, remove heavy metals and radioactive substances. Even if you are absolutely healthy, you can add chicory to coffee or tea to improve appetite and digestion and relieve stress.

Can chicory replace coffee?

However, can chicory replace coffee completely? Still, the smell and taste of chicory are completely different. Of course, this drink is very healthy, but for people who want to feel the real taste and smell of coffee, this is a small consolation. Therefore, you can add natural coffee to the chicory drink, about 1/5 part.

For those who are too fixated on the dangers of coffee, it doesn’t hurt to know that many studies by modern scientists, on the contrary, speak in its favor. So, if in case of poisoning you rinse your stomach and then drink a couple of cups of coffee, the absorption of toxins remaining in the stomach into the blood will be significantly reduced, thanks to the tannins contained in coffee.

Smokers who don't drink coffee are twice as likely to get lung cancer than those who drink coffee. If alcohol lovers drink coffee in moderation, this significantly reduces the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver - a frequent companion to immoderate alcoholic libations.

By drinking just one cup of coffee a day, we get 1/5 of the required daily amount of vitamin P, which is responsible for the health of blood vessels. The list of beneficial properties of coffee could go on and on...

As you can see, coffee, like any other food product, is not evil if it is not abused. In addition, you can choose and drink regular coffee in such a way that the amount of caffeine in it is significantly reduced. The most common coffee varieties are Robusta and Arabica. Drink Arabica coffee - it has almost 1/3 less caffeine.

How to prepare coffee to reduce the caffeine content while maintaining the aroma and taste? It’s not difficult: you just need to pour boiling water over freshly ground coffee, bring it to a boil and quickly pour it into a cup. So there is always a choice - you just need to not be afraid to try different options.

Gataulina Galina
For women's magazine www.site

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Cabbage juice is a healthy life-giving drink that can provide our body with many necessary and beneficial substances. About what beneficial features cabbage juice exists, and how to drink it correctly, we’ll talk in our article. Cabbage is one of the most useful vegetable crops because it has very valuable properties. This product is tasty and nutritious, moreover, it is an affordable medicine that anyone can grow in their own garden. By eating cabbage, you can eliminate many health problems. Although everyone knows that due to the fiber contained in cabbage, this vegetable is difficult to digest, causing gas formation. To avoid such problems, it is healthier to drink cabbage juice, receiving the same beneficial substances contained in the vegetable.

Freshly squeezed cabbage juice contains vitamin C, which increases the body's resistance to infections. Scientists have calculated that in order to satisfy our body's daily need for vitamin C, you can eat about 200 g of cabbage. In addition, the vegetable contains the vitamin K we need, which is responsible for the full formation of bones, as well as blood clotting. Cabbage, and therefore cabbage juice, contains B vitamins and a very rich set of minerals, including iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and other elements.

What is very nice for people losing weight is that cabbage juice is very low in calories (25 kcal per 100 ml). This is a diet drink that will help you get rid of excess weight. Cabbage juice has wound-healing and hemostatic properties. It is used externally, to treat burns and wounds, and for oral administration (to treat ulcers). Effectively use fresh cabbage juice to treat gastritis and ulcers. The effect is ensured by vitamin U contained in the juice. This vitamin helps regenerate cells in the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. The juice is used to treat hemorrhoids, colitis and inflammatory processes occurring in the stomach and intestines, as well as bleeding gums.

Cabbage juice is used as an antimicrobial agent that can affect some pathogens of dangerous diseases, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Koch's bacillus and ARVI. Cabbage juice is also used to treat bronchitis; in particular, it can thin and remove mucus. For this treatment, it is recommended to take juice with honey to enhance the healing effect. Cabbage juice is also used to restore tooth enamel, improve the condition of nails, skin and hair. For diabetes mellitus, drinking cabbage juice can prevent the occurrence of skin diseases.

Cabbage juice should definitely be included in the diet of those wishing to lose excess weight, due to its low calorie content and high biological activity. At the same time, cabbage juice can fill you up very quickly without getting extra calories, and it also prevents the conversion of carbohydrates into fat deposits. Cabbage juice can normalize intestinal function by removing bile that has stagnated in the body, fights constipation and helps remove harmful substances from the body.

Since the juice contains folic acid, which helps conception and full development of the fetus, it is useful for expectant mothers to drink. The vitamins and minerals contained in the juice protect against infections and colds.

When consuming cabbage juice, you should follow the rules. Juice has contraindications and restrictions. The drink is capable of dissolving and decomposing toxins accumulated in the body, causing severe gas formation in the intestines, so you can drink no more than three glasses a day. You should start drinking it starting with one and a half glasses. For the reasons listed above, cabbage juice is not recommended in the postoperative period if operations were performed in abdominal cavity, and during breastfeeding, with gastritis with high acidity, with kidney disease and problems with the pancreas.

The world we live in often affects the state of our nervous system, since it is full of various stressful situations, chronic fatigue and systematic stress. However, the nervous system should be constantly monitored and not overstrained. To do this, you need to streamline your daily worries, for which you need to create and adhere to proper routine day, if necessary, attend a course of psychotherapy, yoga, auto-training and other activities. But most in a simple way relaxation is a simple cup of herbal tea, fragrant and warm. wonderful natural remedy Soothing, which has a gentle effect on nerves worn out during the day, is evening tea. Teas that relax the nervous system help eliminate irritability, nervous exhaustion and relax before going to bed, overcoming insomnia. We will talk about how tea calms the nervous system in our article.

Tea from a collection of fragrant herbs

To prepare this wonderful tea, you should take plants such as St. John's wort, peppermint, chamomile and hawthorn flowers in equal proportions. Grind the ingredients, then tbsp. l. pour boiling water over the mixture in a cup and leave for 30 minutes, covering with a lid. Strain the cooled infusion and add to it a large number of honey. Drink while sleeping. This tea will easily calm your nerves, but it is recommended to drink it for no more than two months.

Lime tea

To prepare tea, mix dry linden and lemon balm flowers in equal parts, add a glass of warm water to the mixture, and boil for about five minutes. The broth is infused for 15 minutes, filtered, a spoonful of honey is added and taken for tea drinking. If you take this tea regularly, your nervous system will react more calmly to various unpleasant stimuli.

Mint tea with motherwort

Mix chamomile and motherwort herb 10 g each, add chopped mint 20 g, linden blossom, lemon balm and dried strawberries. Three tablespoons of the mixture should be poured into 1 liter of boiling water and left for up to 12 minutes. You need to drink the infusion throughout the day, adding a little jam or honey if desired. This infusion is designed not to completely suppress the nervous system, but only to gently calm it. This tea should be drunk for a long time, without the risk of adverse reactions that are harmful to health.

Simple soothing teas

Mix 50 g of hop cones and valerian roots, then brew a dessert spoon of the mixture with boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, filter. Drink in small portions throughout the day. It is better to drink a whole glass of this tea at night. The product quickly calms the nerves and helps in the fight against insomnia.

Mix peppermint herb and valerian roots in equal parts, then pour boiling water over a dessert spoon of this mixture, leave for half an hour and filter. We drink this tea in the morning and evening, half a glass. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to add a little anise or dill.

Melissa, valerian root and motherwort are taken in equal proportions and brewed in a cup. Then infuse and filter. You need to drink a dessert spoon of tea before meals.

Drinking half a glass of tea before meals, prepared according to the recipe below, can calm your nerves and improve digestion. To prepare it, you need to place 1 tsp in a half-liter jar. motherwort, hop cones and green tea, pour boiling water, leave for 12 minutes, strain. Add honey to taste.

Complex soothing teas

Mix peppermint, oregano, St. John's wort and chamomile in equal parts. Then brew a dessert spoon of the mixture in a cup, leave, strain and add honey. Drink a glass of this tea in the morning and before bed.

Mix peppermint, valerian root, hop cones, motherwort and ground rose hips in equal proportions. A tablespoon of the mixture should be brewed as tea, steeped and strained. This sedative should be drunk throughout the day.

Soothing teas for children

To prepare a soothing tea for children, you need to mix chamomile flowers, peppermint and fennel in equal parts. Then pour boiling water over a dessert spoon of the mixture and keep in a steam bath for about 20 minutes, strain. It is recommended to give this tea to small children in the evening before bedtime, a teaspoon, as it can soothe, relax, and normalize a healthy alternation of sleep and wakefulness.

The teas that were described in our article can calm the nervous system and normalize blood pressure. Such daily tea drinking helps improve sleep and skin condition. The medicinal plants included in these teas help eliminate under-eye dark circles, improve vision, and improve the functioning of the stomach and intestines.

Previously, people could not imagine that a person’s breakfast could consist of various crispy balls with dried fruits, cereals and milk. But these days such food does not surprise anyone, because such a breakfast is very tasty and also easy to prepare. However, such food opens up a lot of controversy and discussion, since it is important for people to know the benefits and harms of breakfast cereals for human health. The very concept of dry food appeared in 1863, and it was introduced by James Jackson. The first food was compressed bran. Even though it wasn't very tasty, it was healthy food. The Kellogg brothers supported the idea of ​​dry food already at the beginning of the twentieth century. At this time, both Americans and Europeans were seized by the idea of ​​correct and healthy eating. At that time, the brothers produced breakfast cereals made from soaked corn kernels passed through rollers. These breakfasts were more like raw dough, torn into pieces. They were helped by an accident in which this body was placed on a hot baking sheet and forgotten about it. Thus, the first breakfast cereals were created. This idea was picked up by many companies, and the cereal was mixed with nuts. Fruits and other products.

What are the benefits of breakfast cereals?

In the last twenty years, ordinary breakfasts, which consisted of sandwiches and cereals, began to be replaced by dry ones. The main advantage of dry food is, first of all, saving time, which is very important in our time. Few people can afford a complete and proper breakfast these days. That is why the main benefit of breakfast cereals is their simple and quick preparation. Such breakfasts are prepared simply. All you have to do is pour milk over the cereal. In addition, milk can be replaced with yogurt or kefir.

During the production of breakfast cereals, all the beneficial substances of cereals are preserved. For example, corn flakes are rich in vitamins A and E, while rice flakes contain amino acids important for our body. Included oatmeal includes phosphorus and magnesium. But, unfortunately, not all breakfasts are good for the human body; some of them can be harmful.

Dry breakfasts include snacks, muesli, and cereal. Snacks are balls and pillows of different sizes made from rice, corn, barley, oats and rye. These grains are steamed under high pressure, in order to preserve the maximum amount of useful microelements and vitamins. However, with additional heat treatment, for example, by frying, the product loses its benefits. When you add nuts, honey, fruits, and chocolate to the flakes, you get muesli. For the production of snacks, ground flakes, as well as various additions to them, are fried. Children often love snacks, so they are produced in the form of different figures. Some manufacturers add various fillings to snacks, including chocolate. However, after adding sugar and various additives to breakfast, it will no longer be very useful. In this regard, to maintain health and figure, it is better to choose unprocessed cereal or muesli with fruit and honey.

Why are breakfast cereals harmful?

The most harmful product is snacks, since their preparation destroys a large amount of beneficial substances. One serving of such breakfasts contains only about two grams of fiber, while our body needs up to 30 grams of dietary fiber per day. It is healthier to eat unprocessed flakes that have not undergone heat treatment. This product will fill the body with the necessary amount of fiber. Snacks are harmful due to frying as they become high in calories and fat.

Should be considered high calorie content breakfast cereals. For example, the calorie content of stuffed pillows is about 400 calories, and chocolate balls are 380 calories. Cakes and sweets have a similar calorie content, and this is not healthy. Causes more harm various additives included in breakfast cereals. That is why buy raw cereal for children, without various additives. Add honey, nuts or dried fruits to your breakfast cereal and avoid products that contain sugar substitutes.

Wheat, rice and corn flakes are very easy to digest because they contain simple carbohydrates. This fills the body with energy and provides nutrition to the brain, but excessive consumption of these carbohydrates leads to excess weight.

Heat-treated breakfast cereals are very harmful. During the cooking process, the fat or oil used in the cooking process can lead to cardiovascular problems and increased cholesterol levels. Breakfasts often include flavor enhancers, leavening agents and flavorings. Avoid purchasing products with such additives.

A child can be given flakes from the age of six, not earlier, since coarse fibers are difficult for the child’s intestines to absorb.

Pain, which people may periodically feel for various reasons, can ruin all their plans for the day, ruin their mood and worsen their quality of life. Pain can be of different nature, but to get rid of it, people resort to using painkillers. However, few people think about the fact that when using an anesthetic, we can harm our health, since each drug has side effects, which can manifest themselves in an individual organism. However, not everyone knows that some products can reduce or remove painful sensations, while being quite effective and without exposing the body to additional risk. Of course, when any pain appears, it is necessary to determine what it is associated with. Pain is a kind of signal from the body indicating that it has problems. Therefore, you should never ignore pain, and sometimes it is impossible to do so, since it reminds you of itself, sometimes at the most inopportune moment. In our article we will talk about what products can relieve pain, or reduce its manifestation at least for a while.

People with chronic diseases that periodically manifest themselves as pain can be put on some kind of pain-relieving diet to alleviate their condition. So, here are the foods that can soothe the pain:

Turmeric and ginger. Ginger is tried and tested medicine from many diseases, which can effectively cope with pain. For example, in oriental medicine this plant is used to relieve toothache. For this purpose, you need to prepare a decoction of ginger and rinse your mouth with it. Pain resulting from physical activity and due to intestinal disorders and ulcers, can be soothed with ginger and turmeric. In addition, these plants have a positive effect on kidney health.

Parsley. This greenery contains essential oils, capable of stimulating blood circulation in the human body, including blood supply internal organs. When parsley is consumed, the body's adaptive abilities increase, which speeds up healing.

Chilli. This is another pain reliever. In the course of research, it was revealed that red pepper can increase a person’s pain threshold. The molecules of this product activate the body's immune defense and produce endorphins, which work as a pain reliever. Traditionally, this pepper is included in the menu of peoples living in difficult natural conditions and engaged in heavy physical labor.

bitter chocolate. As mentioned above, the hormone endorphin, which is also called the “hormone of happiness,” is a natural pain reliever. The production of this natural pain reliever is stimulated by eating chocolate. The ability of chocolate to bring pleasure is known to everyone, however, this product not only gives you a good mood, but can relieve painful sensations.

Whole grain products. According to some experts, the ability of foods made from whole grains to relieve pain is excessively high. These products contain a lot of magnesium, which helps relieve muscle pain. In addition, these products help relieve headaches, as they protect the body from dehydration.

Mustard. Mustard can reduce headaches that arise from overwork or other reasons. It is enough to eat a piece of bread spread with fresh mustard.

Cherry. It is very easy to eliminate headaches by eating a few ripe cherries.

Garlic. This is another burning product that can relieve pain, and this also applies to pain resulting from various inflammations.

Citrus. These fruits have pain-relieving properties, just like other foods containing vitamin C. Citrus fruits relieve pain due to various reasons. In addition, these fruits act as a general tonic. Therefore, this is the first product to be given to patients in the hospital.

Cinnamon. Another important remedy used in the fight against various inflammations and pain. Cinnamon reduces the degree of negative effects uric acid, elevated levels of which can trigger the development of many diseases, including arthritis.

In nature, there are many herbs and plants from which you can prepare delicious, and most importantly, healthy drinks. One of these plants is chicory, which has simply amazing properties.

Each of us has seen chicory at least once. The plant is found almost everywhere - it grows most often on roadsides, next to meadows and fields.

It is distinguished by modest, beautiful pale blue flowers. But since in other respects it looks like a completely ordinary, ordinary field grass, it is difficult to even think about how many beneficial properties the plant hides.

Chicory is easy to buy in supermarkets and any pharmacy - since it is widely used for culinary and medicinal purposes. It is usually sold as a powder, liquid, or in the form of crushed pieces of root - the last two options are the most common.

The natural product is useful in any of the varieties. But it is believed that the dried, chopped plant contains the most valuable substances, since it has undergone minimal processing.

What exactly are the substances that make up chicory root? A rich set of microelements necessary for human health, vitamins C, B, pectin, carotene, as well as tannins, a huge amount of fructose, organic acids - this is what the plant consists of.

However, the most important feature of the plant is the highest content of polyfructosan inulin - about 70% of the composition. Inulin acts as a natural prebiotic, since it has an extremely positive effect on the stomach and intestines, and helps to establish healthy digestion. It is necessary to note the peculiarity of inulin contained in chicory - it is not broken down in the upper gastrointestinal tract, but enters the intestines, thus creating beneficial microflora for it.

Although the range of uses of the plant is very wide, most often it is used as the basis for a tasty, healthy drink. Sometimes chicory can be mixed with other natural herb supplements - how you use it depends entirely on your preference. If you wish, you can mix the product yourself with other seasonings and spices - or use it undiluted.

At first, the taste of chicory may seem somewhat unusual, somewhat reminiscent of coffee - but quite pleasant. After just a few cups of chicory, many discover that they really like the taste of the drink. Then a decoction of the plant quickly becomes an indispensable element of every day, sometimes completely replacing coffee or tea.

Of course, chicory can bring significant benefits, but it can also cause harm. Before you start using it on a regular basis, you should carefully understand all the effects produced by this plant. Does it have serious contraindications?

Useful properties of the plant and contraindications

The list of beneficial properties of chicory is quite extensive. The plant has a positive effect on almost the entire body. Even people with chronic diseases, who are usually forced to carefully choose their food products, are allowed to consume it.

• First of all, the polysaccharide inulin makes the decoction from the plant taste sweet - but the drink contains absolutely no sugar. Thus, diabetics can drink chicory without fear. It can be incredibly difficult to do without sweets - a dried plant can greatly diversify your daily diet. In addition, thanks to inulin, chicory becomes an excellent drink during the diet. For those losing weight, like diabetics, sugar is contraindicated - but a sweet drink can successfully replace it.
• In large quantities, chicory contains valuable microelements, iron, potassium - they are excellent means of preventing vascular and heart diseases. In addition, the plant lowers cholesterol levels, which means it normalizes blood pressure and helps improve blood circulation.
• The extremely positive effect of chicory on vision has been proven. Therefore, doctors recommend taking it to patients with myopia, farsightedness, and rapid eye fatigue. The drink will also be useful for children - schoolwork often leads to poor vision, but chicory will help prevent the problem.
• Finally, chicory has a calming effect on the nervous system. It tones, but cardiac activity remains completely calm, which means no tachycardia occurs. For this reason, it is recommended to drink it in the morning - the invigorating taste of the drink will help you wake up without any damage to your health.

However, with all its beneficial properties chicory has a number of contraindications. Who is not recommended to drink a drink made from a plant?

• The plant contains quite a lot of vitamin C - which is useful, but can cause allergies. Before using chicory, it is better to make sure that you do not have such an individual intolerance.
• Since the drink has a vasodilating effect - and in addition, contains a large amount of ascorbic acid - it is not recommended for those who suffer from asthma or any chronic lung diseases, otherwise the drink may cause an attack.
• Due to its vasodilating effect, this drink is contraindicated for varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It can not only worsen the condition, but also provoke severe bleeding.

Of course, to be completely sure whether you personally are allowed to drink chicory, you should consult your doctor. The effect of a decoction of this plant on the body is always individual. If you have one of the listed diseases, then perhaps you should not use a decoction of the plant at all - for the sake of preserving your own health. But there is also a possibility that you can still take an instant drink - just rarely, little by little.

Can instant chicory fully replace coffee?

Despite the impressive list of its valuable qualities, chicory is best known for one feature. The taste of the plant decoction is very similar to the taste of coffee. That is why many people try it for the first time - and after trying it, they try to completely replace the usual invigorating drink with chicory.

Typically, instant powder is used to replace coffee., which any supermarkets and pharmacies offer to buy. The powder still retains most of the beneficial properties of the plant, but dissolves quickly if you add water to it. You don’t have to wait long for the drink to brew.

Theoretically, chicory can really become a complete replacement for coffee. We already mentioned that these two drinks taste similar. However, natural powder has a much more positive effect on the body.

When used, there are no changes in blood pressure, heart rate or nervous tone. After a cup of decoction you should not be afraid of any discomfort- alas, this often happens after coffee. Chicory has a calming effect, which is why it is often used not only instead of coffee, but also instead of tea.

It must be emphasized that it is precisely because of the directly opposite effect that switching from coffee to chicory can be difficult.

Refusing the usual invigorating drink made from coffee beans, suddenly starting to drink a decoction of a medicinal plant for breakfast and lunch, many feel the lack of the usual invigorating effect - therefore, unable to stand it, they return to the tried and tested coffee.

To avoid such a situation, it is recommended to switch from coffee to chicory not immediately, but gradually. This is done as follows - at first, dilute the usual amount of coffee with a very small part of soluble chicory powder. For example, if you are used to brewing a strong drink from two spoons of coffee, divide each of them in half - you get one and a half spoons of coffee per half spoon of chicory.

Over time, reduce the amount of coffee, gradually increasing the amount of chicory. At first, the volume of both components will be equal, and then there will be more and more chicory, and less and less coffee. This way, you will be able to completely switch to a natural herbal decoction - without experiencing the stress of suddenly giving up coffee.

However, do not forget - to save useful qualities drink, pour chicory not with boiling water, but with warm or hot water. It is recommended to put no more than two tablespoons of soluble powder per cup, and you should drink the drink no more than three times a day.

Of course, the plant cannot be called a universal coffee substitute. Some will be able to switch to it with pleasure, without any particular difficulties, while others will quickly give up trying.

In the end, if you are well versed in coffee varieties and are accustomed to savoring a bitter drink with pleasure, the taste of chicory may seem like a completely unequal substitute to you.

However, if you feel that drinking coffee has become a bad habit that you want to get rid of as soon as possible, then no one is stopping you from at least trying to replace the drink with instant chicory. By the way, you need to add - This decoction helps you lose weight, improves skin condition. For women who always care about their figure and beauty, this fact can become an additional motivation.

Chicory during pregnancy and breastfeeding

If chicory is so healthy drink, sometimes capable of completely replacing coffee, then a logical question arises - is it permissible for pregnant women and nursing mothers to consume it? Will it have a good effect on the health of the expectant mother herself and the condition of the newborn child?

It is necessary to make a reservation - some doctors really oppose the use of a natural drink by pregnant women. But the main argument is that the high content of vitamin C and the vasodilating properties of the drink can provoke allergic reaction. After all, the expectant mother’s body often begins to reject completely ordinary foods, to which it previously reacted calmly and friendly.

However most doctors allow, even recommend, drinking chicory to their pregnant patients. It is quite simple to exclude the possibility of an allergy - just study the test results and first take the drink in very small quantities. If it turns out that it does not cause any allergies, the benefits of the decoction for the body of the mother and child will be undoubted.

First of all, chicory normalizes digestion - during pregnancy, constipation often becomes a serious problem.

A decoction of the plant helps get rid of heartburn, nausea, and also quickly and effectively calms the nerves.

The calmest, most balanced women, while carrying a child, become irritable due to hormonal changes and begin to get nervous over little things - then chicory decoction will come in handy.

As for breastfeeding, together with the mother’s milk, the beneficial and harmful substances present in her diet are transferred to the child.

Consequently, with normal absorption, the child will only benefit from chicory - since the functioning of his digestion will significantly improve. And to make sure that your baby is not allergic to chicory components, you should start taking the decoction during lactation carefully, in small quantities, until the safety of the drink becomes obvious.

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Chicory packaged in packs has increasingly begun to appear on supermarket shelves: instant and ground, in special disposable bags and loose. We often pass by all the variety of this drink, and completely in vain. Many consider chicory an alternative to coffee, while others are skeptical about its taste, not even close to comparing it with a natural drink. On actual question: Chicory or coffee is healthier, there is no clear answer. In order not to downplay the benefits of both, let's look at the properties and features of both drinks.

Chicory has long been a famous coffee substitute. It is recommended and allowed to drink for those for whom invigorating and tonic coffee is contraindicated. Chicory has a lot of beneficial properties. It helps reduce blood pressure, dilates blood vessels and has a slightly tonic effect, which is beneficial for the health of hypertensive patients and diabetics. With regular consumption of a chicory drink, you can thoroughly cleanse the body of toxins and harmful substances that usually enter it through inhaled air and food.

Chicory or coffee?

A pressing issue for diabetics. In fact, coffee is contraindicated for those who suffer from diabetes. Chicory, on the contrary, improves the activity of the pancreas, activates metabolic processes occurring in the liver, and also lowers blood sugar several times. Chicory contains a substance called inulin. This is a polysaccharide of plant origin, thanks to which beneficial microflora multiply in the intestines. The same substance prevents inflammatory processes, infectious diseases and gastrointestinal disorders. If you answer the question of what strengthens the immune system better - chicory or coffee, then chicory will definitely be the winner.

A drink made from chicory is recommended as a replacement for natural coffee for older people. They shouldn't have caffeine, so chicory is a great way to start the day. It is useful for hypertensive patients to drink a drink made from chicory with the addition of honey and lemon. In the early stages of hypertension development, this will slow down its development.

Chicory or coffee, what is recommended for the fair sex to consume to maintain beauty, youth and health? In fact, coffee abuse is undesirable at any age and for neither women nor men. Chicory itself is considered a natural component that maintains the necessary level of vitamins and minerals in female body. Thanks to it, the skin remains youthful and the condition of the hair improves.

Those who love milk but do not drink it for health reasons should also pay attention to chicory. If you add a spoonful of chicory to a glass of milk, it will increase its digestibility several times. As is known, milk in its pure form is poorly tolerated by people with intestinal and stomach diseases, as well as by the elderly. In this case, chicory will become a worthy alternative to dairy drinks.

Chicory actually has a lot of medicinal properties. It is both a diuretic and a choleretic agent, as well as a means of effectively fighting worms. Thanks to it, the breakdown of stones in the gallbladder is accelerated and their formation is prevented. Eating chicory is much healthier for those who have skin diseases, for example, seborrhea, furunculosis, chicken pox, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis. In addition, chicory tinctures can be taken not only internally; it is also useful for wiping problem areas of the skin.

For those who love coffee too much, let's say the following. The importance and health benefits of this drink should not be underestimated. It has its own beneficial properties and can also bring great benefits to the body. Natural coffee is an excellent invigorating drink that will allow you to wake up faster in the morning and start a new day. In case of poisoning, it is useful to drink a cup of coffee without sugar, because the tannins contained in it disinfect and cleanse the stomach well. Thanks to coffee, toxins are neutralized and stop entering the blood, causing poisoning.

Natural coffee is healthier for smokers than chicory. Caffeine prevents the development of lung cancer in those who smoke a lot.

As for the vitamin composition, thanks to a cup of coffee per day, the body receives 1/5 of that the required minimum vitamin P, which the body needs to strengthen blood vessels. In a word, if you drink coffee in reasonable quantities, then you shouldn’t even think about its harm. If you are faced with a choice - chicory or coffee, do not rack your brains. Both drinks can bring both invaluable benefits to your body and irreparable harm.

If coffee is categorically contraindicated for you, don’t worry. There is one small trick that will allow you to “deceive” the body. It is no secret that chicory has far from the same aroma as coffee, and its taste is different. Therefore, when brewing chicory, try adding half a teaspoon of natural coffee to the cup. This will give the drink more flavor. If, on the contrary, you add a little chicory to your coffee, you will get an excellent result: the drink will become thicker and richer. Sometimes coffee lovers resort to such secrets.

To minimize health risks for those who drink large quantities of coffee and make this drink healthier, switch to varieties that contain less caffeine. This is Arabica. It contains one third less caffeine than robusta.

Drink your favorite drinks with pleasure, observing moderation! Each of them will benefit if consumed in moderation.

Margarita

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Chicory drink is a natural coffee substitute. Many people have to give up this delicious invigorating drink for various health reasons. And here everyone’s favorite infusion of chicory roots comes to the rescue. Today we will find out the composition, beneficial properties of the plant, whether it is possible to drink chicory instead of coffee.

This brewed strong natural infusion gives vigor, strength and energy. It is useful because it can raise blood pressure, increase performance and concentrate attention. If you drink it regularly and in large quantities, heart and digestive problems will begin to appear.

But in small doses it is even useful:

• Drinking one or two cups in the first half of the day will not hurt;
• For people who smoke or work in hazardous industries, coffee helps remove harmful toxins and also prevents the development of oncology;
• A coffee drink with milk has a positive effect on the nervous system, it calms, relieves nervous tension and fatigue;
• Has a beneficial effect on people with low blood pressure.

Soluble product

This drink does not invigorate the body as much as a natural one, but it has a negative effect on the functioning of the digestive system. Some manufacturers make the product from low-quality raw materials, so many prefer it in grain. But if you buy expensive natural product it will provide greater health benefits than coffee beans. Taste qualities instant drink is certainly worse than natural drink. But the instant one can be drunk in large quantities, because it has a lower degree of action.

The instant drink is useful because:

• You can drink it up to four times a day without much harm;
• The prepared drink with milk has a gentle effect on the body and allows you to normalize blood pressure;
• You can use it at any time of the day. Some people take instant coffee to stay awake;
• Promotes weight loss, is part of various diets, contains a minimum of calories.

A coffee substitute like chicory is a natural medicinal plant that is beneficial to the body and has virtually no contraindications. It is a real source of vitamins and microelements. The composition of chicory coffee includes vitamins C, B, organic acids, magnesium, potassium, pectin and others. This is an excellent alternative for people who are prohibited from drinking coffee. For example, patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart or hypertension are not recommended to drink the drink. Coffee with chicory can be drunk by everyone, even during pregnancy and mothers who are pregnant. breastfeeding, with prior consultation with a doctor. What are the benefits of chicory:

• You can drink up to five cups a day;
• Restores the functioning of the digestive system and pancreas;
• The inulin content of the plant helps strengthen the immune system, restore microflora in the intestines and reduce blood sugar, which makes its intake very useful for diabetics;
• Regular consumption of the drink helps lower cholesterol, improve metabolism and increase appetite.
• It is beneficial for skin diseases, helps with rashes, ulcers, dermatitis.

How to drink chicory

We sell chicory coffee in various types. Pharmacies sell dried roots of the plant. But they are not roasted, so the resulting drink will not taste like coffee. It is better to brew such roots in medicinal purposes. There is also a ground product or liquid concentrate on sale. You can brew chicory like coffee, put it in a cup and pour boiling water, let it brew a little. There are many recipes for making the drink; you can add milk, cream and sugar. Chicory should be drunk in moderation; three to four cups per day will be enough.

A coffee and chicory plant such as Aronal produces coffee drinks and groceries in Russia. The plant occupies a leading position among other manufacturers; the company employs about three hundred workers. The goal of the Aronap chicory plant is to produce natural, high-quality food products.

Contraindications

We know what benefits chicory has and now we will also determine the harm. The drink does not contain caffeine, but its intake has restrictions. Caution should be taken when drinking the drink if you have low blood pressure. People who are prone to varicose veins veins, you also need to drink chicory in limited quantities. Taking the infusion is prohibited for people with individual intolerance.

Chicory recipes

You can buy dry roots of the plant and fry them, and then chop them. Place one or two cups of powder in a cup and pour boiling water over it. You can optionally add milk or sugar to the finished aromatic drink.

You can make healthy coffee or chicory with honey. To do this, place a teaspoon of ground root in a container and pour two hundred and fifty milliliters of water. Boil the mixture over low heat for several minutes, add honey to the warm broth.