Key Health Benefits

Cichorium intybus (Chicory) is well-known as a coffee substitute but is also widely used medicinally to treat various symptoms and ailments ranging from wounds to diabetes. Root of Chicory is good source of inulin – natural soluble dietary fiber. Numerous of research has been done showing that inulin as a prebiotic has different promising perspectives. Daily consumption of inulin may be helpful in control of blood sugar and thus may benefit at diabetes and insulin resistance, digestion problems, weight management, and maintenance of overall health and vitality. [1, 2]

Prebiotics do not contain microorganisms and do not undergo the digestion process. However, they stimulate the growth of the healthy gut bacteria. Most popular and well-studied prebiotics are the oligosaccharides contained in plants. Prebiotics must meet certain criteria: be resistant to the actions of stomach acids, bile salts and other hydrolyzing enzymes in the intestine, provide a substrate for one or more strains of beneficial bacteria, stimulate the growth and activity of the desired groups of bacteria in the digestive tract, and possess proven health benefits. [3]