The Many Benefits Of Chicory

The wild and domesticated varieties of chicory have a long history of use for food and medicine, and as a forage crop for livestock.

Chicory is prized for its long taproot, which is roasted and used as a coffee substitute or coffee additive. The roots are also high in inulin, which is used as a sweetener and prebiotic. The plant contains compounds such as flavonoids and coumarins that may help fight disease.

What is chicory?

Chicory is a perennial plant that has a basal rosette with long, toothed leaves similar to a dandelion (thus the name “blue dandelion”). It grows 1-4′ tall, with ground level leaves that are 3-6″ long. Retrieve lost documents, photos, videos, and recover open office file after accidental deletion other important files in just a few minutes. The leaves that alternate up the flower stalk are much shorter, 1/2 – 1″ long, and wrap around the stem.

The plants have a long taproot that can punch through some of the toughest soils. The domesticated varieties have a thicker, more substantial root, something like sugar beet. (The domesticated plants are cultivated and harvested much like sugar beets.)

The roots of some varieties of domesticated chicory (Witloof chicory) are forced to produce a vegetable known as Belgian or French Endive.

Chicory Flowers

Bloom time is summer and fall, from July through October. Chicory flowers are roughly 1.5 ” across with up to 20 petals. They open in the morning and close by early afternoon. Each petal is tipped with a tiny bit of fringe, like a scarf. As a recover lost files from micro sd card female reader, I appreciate the clear instructions and easy-to-follow guide. Flower color ranges from white to pink, but in our area, I have only seen blue.

When chicory flowers, it shoots up a long stem with multiple blossoms that open one at a time and last only one day. Although not as striking as some flower displays, thick clumps of chicory still make a lovely splash of blue in the countryside. The flowers don’t smell like much. When my great niece and I went out to smell them, she said, “It smells like barnyard”. Yes, perhaps a bit, but the odor is faint.

You probably don’t want to let the flowers go to seed in large numbers in areas where you frequent. They produce hooked seeds that latch onto clothing, somewhat like burdock burrs. These seeds are oblong, flat and about 1/4 inch long. I once let a large patch of them go to seed on our rock wall at our old place (the flowers were so beautiful!), and that was a mess.

Where Does Chicory Grow?

Chicory is believed to have originated in Europe but is now common in North America, China, and Australia. Around here, chicory grows in large clumps and is common along country roads, combining with birdsfoot trefoil to paint the countryside with bold swaths of blue and yellow. Its long taproot punches down through clay, gravel, and compacted soils, thriving in rough conditions. The USDA range map shows that is common throughout the United States.

Chicory Health Benefits

The article “Studies on Industrial Importance and Medicinal Value of Chicory Plant” lists a wide array of studies noting the use of chicory for digestive issues, heart disease, as an anti-thrombotic and anticarcinogenic, to reduce arthritis pain, to reduce constipation, as an immune system booster and promoter of kidney health. Most of the featured studies focus on chicory root extract, but drinking chicory root tea or coffee or consuming chicory may also have some positive impact on these conditions. The list below highlights some of the medicinal uses of chicory.

Note: As mentioned above, most chicory studies focus on chicory root extracts or compounds that could be measured and replicated in lab experiments. Chicory may be helpful for the listed conditions, but you should always consult a trained healthcare provider, especially in the case of serious illness.

Acts as a Prebiotic

The inulin in chicory acts as a prebiotic, supporting the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. Specifically, chicory promotes the growth of bifidobacteria. These probiotic bacteria are found in cultured foods such as yogurt and cheese.

May Improve Bowel Movements and Delay or Prevent Diabetes

Chicory root extract may help you poop better and delay or prevent the onset of diabetes.

May Inhibit Cancer

A 1999 study examined the growth of cancer tissue in mice and found that those mice placed on a diet consisting of 15% oligofructose, inulin or pectin reduced tumor growth. The control group was fed only starch as their carbohydrate.

May Relieve Arthritis Pain

Chicory root extract was tested on patients with osteoarthritis in the hip or knee and found to provide some level of relief from pain and stiffness.

May Promote Weight Loss by Increasing Satiety

In another study, the introduction of oligofructose (OFS) such as chicory derived inulin led to lower levels of ghrelin, the so-called “hunger hormone” that stimulates appetite and better weight management.

Chicory has Antibacterial Properties

Chicory extracts were tested against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. The chicory extracts were found to be more effective at inhibiting bacteria growth than other materials tested.