Content
- 1 Nutritional value, composition and calorie content of Jerusalem artichoke powder
- 2 What are the benefits of Jerusalem artichoke powder?
- 3 How to take Jerusalem artichoke powder
- 4 Use of Jerusalem artichoke powder in cooking
- 5 How to make Jerusalem artichoke powder at home
- 6 How to store Jerusalem artichoke powder
- 7 Contraindications for use
- 8 Conclusion
By spring, everyone experiences a lack of useful nutrients, in particular vitamins. But there is a wonderful plant, Jerusalem artichoke, which in early spring can make up for this deficiency. It is often grown in household plots and sold at spontaneous markets. Industrially produced Jerusalem artichoke powder is also available for sale. It also brings great benefits to the body and can be easily purchased at pharmacies and health food stores.
Nutritional value, composition and calorie content of Jerusalem artichoke powder
The benefits and harms of Jerusalem artichoke powder have long been known in the medical community. Jerusalem artichoke flour is another name. This is a unique and healthy food product that contains low-calorie protein (1.5 kcal/1 g) and has the highest concentration of potassium and silicon among other vegetables.
A special feature of Jerusalem artichoke powder is its high inulin content. This is a healthy polysaccharide, mostly consisting of fructose (95%). Under the influence of gastric enzymes, the acidic environment is hydrolyzed.As a result, it turns into fructose, for the absorption of which the body does not need insulin. Thus, it replenishes the energy deficiency of tissues, and the product brings invaluable benefits to patients with diabetes.
Thanks to it, the development of many cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and intoxications is prevented. Inulin has a complexing effect, that is, it combines with radioactive elements, heavy metals, and poisons and removes them from the body.
The cleansing properties and benefits of Jerusalem artichoke powder are enhanced by the presence of pectin substances in it. They adsorb toxic substances and “bad” cholesterol on their surface and remove them from the body. Pectin has other beneficial properties, for example, astringent and gelling, stimulates the activity of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines and helps remove pathogenic microflora.
What are the benefits of Jerusalem artichoke powder?
Inulin also has other benefits. The environment is heavily polluted with toxic elements that penetrate the body and cause dysbacteriosis. This disease has spread greatly recently and has reached epidemic proportions. The age factor also affects the human body. Over the years, the number of bifidobacteria in the human intestine decreases naturally. Dried Jerusalem artichoke powder helps restore a healthy balance of microflora, providing a useful nutrient medium for friendly bacteria.
In turn, normal intestinal microflora, enriched with a complex of bifidobacteria, improves liver function, cleanses the blood of toxic elements and prevents the absorption of nitrogenous compounds into the bloodstream.Helps regulate the acid-base balance, which prevents putrefactive and pathogenic bacteria from developing. Jerusalem artichoke powder also benefits the immune system.
By neutralizing toxic compounds inside a person, the powder thereby strengthens the body and activates its defenses. Regulates the functions and processes of the gastrointestinal tract, improves the digestion and absorption of nutrients, including vitamins (up to 70%), microelements, reduces the GI (glycemic index) of incoming food. Increases resistance to intestinal infections, reduces appetite, cravings for sweet, refined foods, and provides significant assistance in the treatment of obesity.
Improves the functioning of many internal organs, primarily the kidneys, liver, central nervous system, and cardiovascular system. Nourishes the heart muscle with potassium, prevents the development of atherosclerosis, and minimizes the risk of cancer. Helps reduce allergic manifestations, prevents potential allergens (proteins and protein-carbohydrate complexes) from entering the bloodstream, and restores impaired functions of the immune system. Neutralizes the symptoms of flatulence, many other diseases and disorders of the body.
The benefits of Jerusalem artichoke flour are also known in home cosmetology. Masks made from Jerusalem artichoke powder protect against age-related changes, acne, and nourish the skin.
How to take Jerusalem artichoke powder
Jerusalem artichoke powder is used as a useful remedy in the fight against dysbiosis, primarily in children and the elderly. To restore normal intestinal microflora per day, it is enough to eat one tablespoon of powder, using it as a food additive.One tablespoon of powder (7.5 g) contains up to 6 million bifidobacteria, as well as dietary fiber (1 g), sodium (6 mg), carbohydrates (6 g).
For both types of diabetes, 1-2 teaspoons should be taken with meals. This will reduce the GI of food entering the body, and will also reduce the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis.
Steam 1-2 tablespoons of Jerusalem artichoke powder with 0.5 liters of boiling water. Drink a cup 2-3 times a day on an empty stomach during exacerbation of chronic diseases or weakened immunity.
Take 1 tablespoon each of Jerusalem artichoke powder and licorice rhizomes. Boil the mixture in 0.5 liters of silicon water for half an hour. Drink 150 ml of the strained solution before meals.
For mild allergies, a decoction (jelly) prepared from silicon water and Jerusalem artichoke flour is beneficial. During the day you need to drink up to 2 cups of the drink. The same remedy, if you add honey to it, will help with arteriosclerosis. Take it the same way.
For allergies, treatment according to the following scheme helps. Infuse a tablespoon of powder per cup of boiling silicon water in a thermos for 5 hours. Take 1.5 tablespoons up to 7 times a day on an empty stomach. Duration of treatment is 2-3 weeks. After the same break you can repeat.
During the recovery period after a stroke or heart attack, it is good to use this very useful remedy. Soak 3 tablespoons of powder in a cup of silicon water in the evening (at 16:00). Add finely chopped walnuts (3 pieces) and a tablespoon of raisins to the swollen pulp. In the morning at 8 o'clock, eat the dish on an empty stomach. The duration of the course is at least 2-3 months.
For insomnia, porridge made from Jerusalem artichoke powder is beneficial. Eat it up to 5 times a day, 50 g each.
Bring 1.5 liters of silicon water to a boil.At this moment, add 0.4 kg of Jerusalem artichoke powder and mix. Add honey and drink hot for bronchitis and loss of voice.
For hyperacid gastritis, you can prepare a useful remedy. Pour 100 g of Jerusalem artichoke flour into 1 liter of boiled silicon water. Simmer slowly over heat for about an hour. Add to the cooled mixture:
- honey - 2 tbsp. l.;
- ground nuts (walnuts) – 2 tbsp. l.;
- fennel leaves - 1 tbsp. l.;
- salt – 1 tsp.
Divide the resulting mixture into 3 servings. Eat before the main meal. Duration of treatment is a week.
For diabetes, dissolve 1-2 tablespoons of powder in 0.5 liters of hot infusion (on cranberry leaves), filter and drink before meals several times a day.
Use of Jerusalem artichoke powder in cooking
Jerusalem artichoke flour not only has medicinal benefits, but is also used in various culinary recipes. It helps make them as interesting and healthy as possible. Also, not only the taste of food improves, but also the process of its absorption. Jerusalem artichoke powder is a safe, spicy seasoning that has an exquisite taste and is completely free of preservatives; it brings exceptional benefits to the body.
The powder goes well with sweet dishes, so it can be added to baked goods, including bread, confectionery, as well as cereals, yoghurts, and cocktails. Thanks to the presence of Jerusalem artichoke in its composition, homemade baked goods do not go stale for a long time. The fact is that fructose, which is in the powder, helps maintain the freshness of the product.
How to make Jerusalem artichoke powder at home
Jerusalem artichoke removed from the ground is very poorly stored.Therefore, when grown on an industrial scale, the optimal way to store it is thermal (or cryogenic) drying and subsequent processing into powder in ball mills.
Before drying, the Jerusalem artichoke is thoroughly washed and crushed into chips. The thermal method involves long-term exposure of raw materials to high temperatures (up to +50 C). During cryogenic processing, Jerusalem artichoke chips are dehydrated using low temperatures. At the same time, the raw materials are enriched with biologically active elements. So in cryopowder the concentration of minerals increases significantly. In addition, such flour can be stored for a long time without losing its beneficial properties.
At home, you can prepare Jerusalem artichoke powder using the same technological scheme. Remove the tubers from the ground, wash with a stiff brush and dry. Cut into very thin slices, dry in an electric dryer, oven, or any other way. Then grind in a coffee grinder until it becomes powdery. The benefits of homemade Jerusalem artichoke powder are much greater than those of its industrial counterpart.
How to store Jerusalem artichoke powder
Homemade powder is stored in an airtight, darkened glass container in a cool place. Its shelf life is short. In order for the product to be beneficial and not harmful, it must be prepared in small quantities.
You can purchase ready-made Jerusalem artichoke powder. In this case, the storage duration increases significantly. Its advantages also include low cost and availability. One package is usually enough for a month.
Contraindications for use
Before starting treatment with Jerusalem artichoke flour, you should consult your doctor on how to properly take Jerusalem artichoke powder.Individual intolerance to the components of the powder is possible. When consumed in large quantities, symptoms of flatulence appear.
Conclusion
Jerusalem artichoke powder is an affordable and useful remedy that helps avoid many diseases. You can purchase it at a pharmacy or make it yourself. In any case, this will be a step towards achieving good health.
