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A fresh look at chicory

Sumita D Saligram writes about chicory, the lesser known constituent of coffee that cuts down some of its ill effects.

Chicory powder is commonly blended with coffee. Yet, not much is known about the attributes of chicory. In fact, several health benefits are contained in chicory.

History of chicory

Chicory in Latin means January Plant or Winter Salad. Chicory was used and promoted centuries ago. When coffee prices shot up during the regime of Emperor Napoleon the British stopped the shipment of coffee to France, and so chicory became popular as a coffee substitute. In the US, Chicory gained popularity during World War II.

Chicory is a perennial plant that grows four to six feet and belongs to the family Asteraceae. All parts of the plant are used, including the leaves which are used for making salads in Europe. It also has beautiful blue flowers which are used in bouquets. Chicory root is a tuber. The root, when powdered and roasted, looks exactly like coffee powder and it is for this reason that it is accepted for blending with coffee powder. Chicory gives coffee a good flavour and makes it smoother. Chicory is also used in other drinks with malt.

In India chicory is cultivated in parts of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Health benefits

100 g of chicory leafy contains 23 KCal; 4.7 g carbohydrates; 0.3 g fat; 1.7 g protein 4 g fibre. It is also rich in calcium, phosphorus, Vitamins B and C.

100g of chicory root contains 73 Kcal; 1.4 g protein; 0.2 g fat; 17.5 g carbohydrate. It also contains Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C.

Chicory has many health benefits. Ancient folklore says it is good as a laxative diuretic. It helps in cases of indigestion and liver problems and cleanses the blood. In Ayurveda chicory is known as Kasni and is used in the preparation of many medicines that treat liver problems, indigestion, loss of appetite etc.

Chicory and diabetes

Chicory leaves are good for diabetic patients because of its high fibre content. Chicory used in coffee has an indirect effect in lowering blood glucose levels as it does not contain any caffeine and also reduces the caffeine content in a cup of coffee. A few studies have shown that caffeine has a negative effect for persons with diabetes.

Chicory and cholesterol

There are studies to show that chicory reduces cholesterol levels. It also increases High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) which is good for the heart. There are studies conducted which show that chicory helps in prevention of headaches and liver problems. A few studies even point out that chicory helps treatment for tumours and cancers.

Caffeine is a stimulant; it stimulates the Central Nervous System. Over indulgence in caffeine can cause insomnia and gastritis. Some studies show that too much of caffeine stimulates the stress hormone (epinephrine). This hormone sends stress signals and in turn increases the heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar levels etc. On the other hand, caffeine is considered to be a mood elevator. It also relieves headaches.

Chicory mixed with coffee effectively reduces the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee. That means chicory helps to ‘cut-down’ the ‘bad effects’ of caffeine.

How much of chicory is permitted for blending with coffee

The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) has permitted up to 49 per cent chicory in coffee powder. The amount of chicory added in coffee powder can vary from 10 per cent to 49 per cent. The more the chicory the better it is!

The author is a consultant dietician. She can be contacted at sumitasaligram@yahoo.com