How to drink instant chicory and how many cups can you drink per day?

Chicory is an amazing drink with an impressive set of useful properties. It has a positive effect on the digestive, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems, and prevents the development of deadly diseases (including oncopathologies).

However, if abused, a number of adverse reactions may develop. Therefore, it is important to know how much chicory you can drink per day and what will happen if you exceed the norm.

Daily rate

The maximum daily dose for soluble (powdered) chicory is 10 teaspoons (60 grams), which corresponds to 5 cups (2 tsp per 1 cup).

For ground chicory, the maximum daily volume is 7.5 teaspoons (45 grams) or up to 5 cups per day (1.5 hours L. per 1 cup).

The typical dose is from 3 to 5 tsp of the plant per day for adult women and men.

The time interval between portions should not be less than 1-2 hours.

If the above dosages are observed and there are no contraindications, the drink is considered not only safe, but also useful. It can be drunk on a regular basis every day.

10 beneficial properties of chicory we have reviewed in a separate article.

To whom is it contraindicated?

In the presence of acute or exacerbation of chronic pathologies of the digestive system, the daily volume of chicory should be limited (no more than 1 cup per day), and it is better to abandon it altogether.  Contraindications include: gastritis, duodenitis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, GERD, gallstone disease and calculous cholecystitis.

The drink is also contraindicated for pregnant and breast-feeding women. The use of chicory against the background of the described conditions is fraught with the development of toxic effects in the fetus, as well as a violation of the adequate course of pregnancy (premature birth, detachment of the normally located placenta, uterine bleeding, etc.).

Chicory is also categorically contraindicated in children under 3 years old.

Do not take it if you have allergies. Cases of cross-allergopathology have been reported: with intolerance to ragweed and plants of the Asteraceae family, chicory is strictly prohibited.

How to brew properly?

The method of preparation of the drink directly depends on the initial type of raw material. It is enough to pour granulated or soluble chicory with hot water (temperature at least 70 degrees) at the rate of 2 tsp per 200 ml of water. The ground version requires prolonged infusion or cooking.

To prepare a drink based on ground chicory, the following ingredients are needed:

• 1.5 tsp of chicory powder;
• 200 ml of cold water;
• Additional additives to taste (perfectly combined with cloves or cinnamon, it is allowed to add sugar – 1-2 tsp.).

Cooking scheme:

1. Pour ground chicory powder into a turk.
2. Add additional ingredients.
3. Pour in the water and mix thoroughly.
4. Cook until boiling. At the time of heating to 100 degrees, a small foam forms on the surface, then the turk should be removed from the fire and the foam removed.
5. Bring the drink to a boil again.
6. Remove from heat. Cover with a lid and let it brew for 3-5 minutes.
7. The drink is ready.

What can I add to a drink?

In order to improve the taste and beneficial properties, it is possible to add various auxiliary ingredients to the drink. Below are the most popular options:

1. Milk. Recommended volume is up to 50 ml per 1 serving. Useful properties of milk are multifaceted and have been investigated more than once. Milk has been proven to promote strengthen bone tissue and maintaining oral health, preventing a wide range of pathologies from the cardiovascular, digestive and endocrine systems. Milk is also effective in reducing body weight ( The effects are scientifically proven ).
2. Sugar. Helps to soften the bitter woody-nutty taste of chicory, however, it is a high-calorie substance, increases appetite, promotes obesity and slows down metabolism. Unless absolutely necessary, it is better to give up sugar.
3. Honey.  Recent scientific studies demonstrate that honey consumption is associated with a high risk of developing cardiovascular and oncological diseases. In addition, honey is a high–calorie component.
4. Lemon.  According to research data , this citrus has a hypotensive effect. Lemon is also reduces blood viscosity , helps to improve the general condition against the background of the course of inflammatory processes and food poisoning, has a pronounced antibacterial effect. Adds a slightly sour taste to the drink.
5. Rosehip. Rosehip improves the course of diabetes mellitus and trophic ulcers, lowers blood pressure, is effective for gastritis and chronic constipation. It is a valuable source of vitamin C. 1-2 fruits are enough for one serving of the drink.
6. Cinnamon. Adds a spicy-burning aftertaste to the product. Activates metabolism, helps to reduce body weight.
7. Turmeric. Has a complex effect on all components of the metabolic syndrome. Scientists have proved that this ingredient prevents the development of type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
8. Blueberries. Chicory and blueberries are part of many biologically active food additives. The berry prevents the manifestation of urolithiasis, improves the course of autoimmune and allergic processes, reduces the concentration of glucose in blood plasma.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Below we consider a number of the most pressing questions about how to drink chicory correctly.

1. Is it possible to drink in the evening / at night? Chicory does not contain caffeine (unlike  coffee ). Therefore, chicory can be safely drunk even at night before going to bed. Additionally, it has a general soothing effect, promotes the rapid onset of sleep.
2. Can I take it on an empty stomach in the morning? There is no scientific data regarding the time of taking the drink. However, according to the accumulated data of traditional medicine, drinking a drink in the morning (especially in combination with lemon) has a positive effect on blood pressure levels, normalizes the peristaltic activity of the digestive system. In the presence of inflammatory lesions of the stomach and the underlying parts of the intestine, it is forbidden to drink chicory on an empty stomach.For healthy people, there is no fundamental difference in the order of admission.
3. Is it better to drink before meals or after? People suffering from gastroenterological diseases (gastritis, duodenitis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, GERD, gallstone disease and calculous cholecystitis) should better consume chicory after meals.
4. Is it possible to consume an expired product? Chicory is a plant product rich in vitamins, essential oils and organic acids. Neglecting the shelf life leads to a decrease in the content of active substances, and, consequently, significantly reduces the volume of valuable properties. With proper storage (in hermetically sealed containers), there will most likely be no harm from taking expired chicory, but the benefits will also be significantly reduced.

Conclusion

Thus, chicory is a healthy drink, the cooking process of which is quite simple. To get only positive properties from it, it is necessary to normalize consumption, comply with cooking technology, and take into account the entire range of contraindications. Some natural additives can be used to improve the taste.