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The benefits and harms of Jerusalem artichoke (or earthen pear) syrup are due to its rich chemical composition. Regular consumption of this product as a vitamin supplement has a beneficial effect on the human body and can replace a course of immunostimulating drugs. Moreover, the high fructose content allows the syrup to be used in cooking instead of ordinary refined sugar, and the calorie content of dishes as a result of such a replacement will be significantly reduced.
Nutritional value and composition of Jerusalem artichoke syrup
After squeezing root vegetables and heat treatment of raw materials, the following components are retained in the finished product, which bring undeniable benefits to the human body:
- B vitamins;
- vitamins A, C, PP;
- organic acids (malic, citric, succinic);
- micro- and macroelements (manganese, magnesium, potassium, silicon, zinc, phosphorus, iron);
- pectins;
- amino acids;
- polysaccharides.
Of particular note is the high content of inulin in Jerusalem artichoke, a polysaccharide that the human body converts into fructose. Inulin does not increase blood insulin levels, as does the consumption of starch and glucose. This explains the benefits of the product for diabetics, who can use Jerusalem artichoke syrup as a natural substitute for sugar.
Calorie content of Jerusalem artichoke syrup
The calorie content of Jerusalem artichoke syrup is 267 kcal per 100 grams, however, this is far from a critical indicator. Moreover, these calories are not spent on the formation of fat mass - they are used to restore the body’s energy potential. This is precisely why the product is beneficial for weight loss.
What does Jerusalem artichoke syrup taste like?
Reviews note that the taste of Jerusalem artichoke syrup is in many ways reminiscent of flower honey or diluted fructose. If lemon juice was used when preparing the base for the product, a sour aftertaste remains after consuming the syrup.
Sometimes reviews highlight the characteristic sweet potato flavor.
What are the benefits of Jerusalem artichoke syrup?
The benefits of the product are expressed in the following effects on the human body:
- lowering cholesterol levels;
- removal of excess fluid and harmful salts from the body, which alleviates the symptoms of various types of swelling;
- normalization of the cardiovascular system;
- decreased stomach acidity;
- elimination of heartburn;
- stabilization of metabolic processes;
- general strengthening of the immune system;
- increased hemoglobin;
- improving the functioning of the pancreas;
- normalization of intestinal microflora;
- strengthening the nervous system;
- normalization of sleep for chronic fatigue;
- increasing the stability of the menstrual cycle;
- inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
In addition, the benefits of the product are obvious when losing weight - it can replace sugar and thereby soften the transition to a strict diet. Normalization of metabolic processes also contributes to the loss of excess weight.
The benefits of Jerusalem artichoke syrup for men
Consuming pear syrup improves male potency. In addition, regular intake of the substance minimizes the risk of developing prostate adenoma.
Is it possible to use Jerusalem artichoke syrup during pregnancy?
The benefits of earthen pear syrup while expecting a child are undeniable. The product has the following effects on the body of a pregnant woman:
- reduces the risk of miscarriage;
- normalizes the intrauterine development of the child due to the high concentration of vitamins and various microelements;
- localizes heartburn foci;
- stabilizes the stool;
- normalizes metabolic processes.
The benefits of Jerusalem artichoke syrup during breastfeeding
Eating Jerusalem artichoke syrup during breastfeeding normalizes digestive processes and improves lactation. The benefit of the product during this period also lies in the fact that it saturates mother’s milk with nutrients.
Can Jerusalem artichoke syrup be used for children?
Jerusalem artichoke syrup can be given to young children as young as 8 months. The introduction of the product into the diet during the first feeding has a good effect on the development of the child. In addition, consuming this supplement in early childhood helps strengthen the immune system.
How to make Jerusalem artichoke syrup
Jerusalem artichoke syrup can be easily prepared at home - you can find many recipes online for every taste. In this case, you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- When growing tubers yourself, it is better to collect them in early spring. In some reviews, gardeners claim that overwintered root vegetables taste sweeter.
- To prepare the base, both peeled fruits and Jerusalem artichoke with peel are suitable - its benefits do not change in any way.
- When cooking juice, it is not recommended to set the temperature above 55°C. The root vegetable retains nutrients when cooked, however, too high temperatures destroy some compounds and reduce the benefits of the product.
How to make Jerusalem artichoke syrup with lemon
The classic recipe for Jerusalem artichoke syrup involves the use of lemon juice. No sugar is added.
The cooking diagram looks like this:
- 1 kg of tubers are thoroughly washed and peeled if desired.
- Then the root vegetable is cut into cubes and further crushed in a blender. You can also grind Jerusalem artichoke on a grater or in a meat grinder.
- The resulting pulp is squeezed through a double layer of gauze.
- After this, the juice is poured into an enamel bowl and the container is placed on the fire. The temperature is set at 50-55°C and the juice is boiled for 6-8 minutes.
- Then the thickened juice is removed. When it cools down, it is placed on the stove again.
- This procedure is repeated 4-5 times until the liquid acquires a thicker consistency.
- During the last heating, add the juice of one lemon to the syrup.
The end result should be about 1 liter of Jerusalem artichoke syrup.
How to make Jerusalem artichoke syrup with fructose
Jerusalem artichoke syrup can be prepared without a food additive in the form of lemon juice; in this case, sugar is also not added. The cooking technology is in many ways similar to the described recipe, but there are still some differences:
- The juice obtained after squeezing is boiled over medium heat for 18-20 minutes.
- After this, the juice is removed from the stove for 2-3 hours, then boiled again.
- Then the finished product is poured into glass containers and tightly closed.
In the first recipe, lemon juice acts as a natural preservative; in this recipe, long-term heat treatment is used. Also, with this cooking technology, the fructose content is slightly higher.
Is it possible to heat Jerusalem artichoke syrup?
There is a widespread misconception online that Jerusalem artichoke syrup cannot be heated.This myth is based on the claim that heating sweeteners provokes the production of toxic compounds. It is also not recommended to heat honey syrup; however, this prohibition does not apply in any way to the vitamin supplement from Jerusalem artichoke - its benefits do not decrease after a slight heat treatment.
Where can you add Jerusalem artichoke syrup?
Jerusalem artichoke syrup can be added to tea, coffee and milk drinks as a natural sweetener. It is not recommended to mix the product with carbonated drinks - the high sugar content in them negates all the benefits of the substance.
The amount of added substance is calculated from how many tablespoons of sugar were added before.
How to use Jerusalem artichoke syrup
Basically, all Jerusalem artichoke derivatives are used to suppress appetite and improve metabolic processes during weight loss. For medicinal purposes, the product is taken on average 1 tbsp. l. per day 30 minutes before meals.
Taking into account age, this vitamin supplement for the prevention of various diseases is taken in the following doses:
- up to 5 years – ½ tsp. per day;
- from 5 to 15 years – 1-2 tbsp. l. per day;
- from 15 years and older – 3-7 tbsp. l. per day.
How to use Jerusalem artichoke syrup for weight loss
Nutritionists recommend including Jerusalem artichoke syrup in your daily diet when losing weight - its benefits in this regard are obvious. It helps satisfy the need for sweets during a strict diet, but does not provoke weight gain due to the relatively low calorie content for a sweetener.
When losing weight with the help of a diet, the product is taken according to the following scheme: in the morning an hour before meals and in the evening, also an hour before meals. The daily norm is 2 tbsp. l. The average course is 2 weeks, after which it is recommended to take a short break. Then the reception can be resumed. The combination of Jerusalem artichoke and dairy products has worked well for weight loss.
The use of Jerusalem artichoke syrup for diabetes mellitus
For diabetes mellitus, Jerusalem artichoke syrup can be added instead of sugar to tea, porridge and baked goods. The main thing is to strictly adhere to the daily intake of the product, which for diabetes is 4-5 tbsp. l. per day. It is also recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- it is better to add it to steamed dishes;
- when frying dish components, use a minimum amount of vegetable oil;
- You cannot combine Jerusalem artichoke derivatives with fatty dairy products.
Regular consumption of the product quickly brings tangible benefits to patients with diabetes, namely, it normalizes blood glucose levels, resulting in a reduction in the body's need for insulin.
How to use Jerusalem artichoke syrup for oncology
For oncology, the benefit of the product is that its rich vitamin composition helps to recover after chemotherapy. The daily intake of the substance in this case is 4-7 tbsp. l., however, before introducing this drug into the diet, you should consult your doctor.
Restrictions and contraindications for taking Jerusalem artichoke syrup
There are no serious contraindications to the use of Jerusalem artichoke tuber syrup. A product can be harmful only if low-quality raw materials were used to create it or if the rules for its storage were violated. Also, this food supplement is contraindicated for persons with individual intolerance to its chemical component.
Some restrictions are imposed for flatulence and cholelithiasis. In this case, the daily dose of the substance should be reduced to a minimum, however, it is not necessary to completely remove it from the diet.
Conclusion
The benefits and harms of Jerusalem artichoke syrup are so unequal in percentage terms that the decision about whether to introduce the product into the diet is determined by itself. The syrup is strictly contraindicated only if individually tolerable, however, an allergic reaction to its components is not so common. Moreover, the product can be used not only as a medicine, but also as a dietary sweetener - syrup from Jerusalem artichoke has greater benefits for the body than its analogues from corn, agave and maple.
You can learn more about the beneficial properties of the product from the video below:
