Good day to you! And apologies if the photo of the beautiful blue flowers is slightly blurry. TODAY in our plant spotlight is one that's a digestive healer: Chicory.
The botanical name of this plant is Cichorium intybus.
The entire plant is edible, and is often confused with dandelion plants before it flowers since the leaves look similar. The flowers will most often be blue, but you may find them to be white as well. The leaves can be eaten just like dandelion leaves or spinach, but are best eaten when the leaves are young since they become more bitter tasting as they age. You’ll often see chicory root used in tea blends, since both the leaves and roots are rich in antioxidants. The roots specifically are highly concentrated with inulin, a type of soluble dietary fiber. Meaning the roots act as a prebiotic by nourishing the good bacteria in your digestive system.
Along with regulating digestion, chicory is a good herb to help with liver health and is used for overall detoxification. Here’s something really interesting: chicory root has long been used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute due to its resemblance and aroma to coffee!
Have a magical day,
Jenny
PLANT INGESTION WARNING!
As with all herbs and plants you plan to ingest, never ingest them before doing your own research and/or talking with your doctor - it’s possible that medications you take or health conditions you have could have a negative effect if paired with chicory. Better safe than sorry!
Photo credit goes to Darkone
