Adherents of a healthy lifestyle claim that chicory is an amazing drink that will not only provide the body with healthy vitamins and minerals, but will also help you lose excess weight. You can prepare the drink yourself or use an instant mixture that just needs to be filled with water.
If you add a teaspoon of honey or lemon to it, the drink will become even more beneficial, help strengthen your immune system and keep you feeling energetic throughout the day. But in order to achieve your goal and reduce hip size, you need to know how to take chicory for weight loss.
Does chicory help you lose weight?
An excellent addition to various diets is a well-known plant called chicory. It has a very positive effect on the main organs and systems of the human body and significantly reduces appetite.
Inulin – it is this component that is part of chicory that significantly reduces cravings for food and dulls the feeling of hunger. As a result, during a meal a person will not want to eat a lot of everything and unnecessary things.
To reduce appetite with chicory, it is important to consume the plant before and not after meals.
Before you begin the process of losing weight with chicory, you should understand exactly how this product promotes weight loss.
So, chicory provides the so-called “weight loss” effect due to:
- the ability of a substance such as inulin to significantly slow down the absorption of fast carbohydrates and fats in the intestines;
- accelerating metabolic processes and improving the condition of the intestinal microflora (the latter circumstance is extremely important for long-term weight loss, since all substances entering the gastrointestinal tract are quickly digested, and the resulting calories are quickly eliminated without accumulating in the body);
- eliminating such an unpleasant phenomenon among obese people as constipation (the latter most often occurs due to the consumption of “wrong”, too high-calorie foods);
- fiber, which chicory root is rich in, relieves the feeling of hunger for a long time and ensures that this feeling persists for 3-4 hours after eating;
- mild diuretic effect (for this reason, this drink should not be abused, since its uncontrolled consumption can lead to dehydration of the body with all the ensuing consequences).
In addition to its ability to fight excess weight, chicory generally improves the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal tract and increases the overall tone of the body.
Application
We have found out what exactly chicory can be used for, now it’s time to find out how to take it correctly in order to lose weight as quickly, effectively and with health benefits.
How much per day?
This plant does not have a psychotropic or aggressive effect on the body. Therefore, there are no clear recommendations about its daily dosage. As with the consumption of other products, nutritionists advise maintaining a golden mean and call 2 cups (200 ml each) per day for long-term (more than 1 month) weight loss. However, there are people who drink 5 cups of an invigorating drink daily without any deterioration in their health, without complaining of any side effects. This issue is resolved purely individually. The dosage should be increased gradually.
How should I take it?
This invigorating drink will fit into any weight loss plan and diet. In the first week, it is recommended to drink 1 cup per day in the morning. If well tolerated, the dosage is increased to 2 cups, starting from the second week. After achieving the desired results, you can continue to use it. First, it will maintain the desired weight. Secondly, it has a beneficial effect on health. The only recommendation is to take a break for 1-2 weeks every 2 months. This will avoid addiction and enhance the effectiveness of the product.
Can I drink it at night?
Many people believe that chicory, being a coffee substitute and having an invigorating effect, should not be drunk before bed, otherwise insomnia cannot be avoided. Completely unfounded fears, because the inulin contained in it does not work like caffeine. It does not excite the nervous system, but calms it. The boost of energy is provided by the content of slow carbohydrates, rather than psychotropic bioactive substances. Therefore, there will be nothing wrong if you drink a small cup at night while losing weight.
How long should I take it?
The average weight loss course is 1 month.
With what?
It is recommended to add any fat-burning ingredients to the drink. It could be lemon, cinnamon, ginger or honey. They will enhance its unusual taste, add piquancy and contribute to the weight loss process. As for milk, you need to proceed from the situation. If the diet is protein, it will fit perfectly into it. Just make sure that it is not too greasy.
By following the recommendations on how to properly take chicory for weight loss, you can achieve maximum effectiveness from any diet.
Lifehack. Chicory powder (roots) should not be poured with boiling water that has just been removed from the heat. The liquid should be hot, but not scalding.
Methods of consumption and preparation options
From such a useful plant as chicory, you can prepare various drinks, the consumption of which will help reduce excess weight. The most popular among those losing weight are:
Chicory with coffee . Anyone who is accustomed to drinking freshly brewed coffee every morning, but has decided to change this not very healthy habit, should opt for a healthier drink that promotes weight loss. It is recommended to do this in stages.
The chicory drink has a rather specific taste, which not everyone likes. Therefore, experts advise starting to get used to its taste by adding half a spoon of chicory to your usual coffee. The dosage can be increased slightly every day.
When increasing the amount of chicory in the drink, it is important to reduce the amount of coffee until the latter is completely eliminated.
There are many ways to prepare such a drink. The most popular: mixing equal proportions of coffee and instant chicory (1 teaspoon each). Then the resulting mixture is poured into a Turk and brought to a boil over low heat.
Nutritionists do not recommend adding sugar to any chicory drinks. If the taste is not too pleasant, you can dilute the drink with a small amount of cream or milk. To sweeten the drink, you can add a little natural honey to it.
Chicory with milk . Those who do not like the taste of chicory can drink this drink with milk. It will improve the taste and interrupt the aroma of the plant.
Preparing the drink is as easy as shelling pears: brew chicory powder with boiled milk (milk diluted in half with water) and leave for 2-3 minutes. Daily consumption of the miracle drink in the morning will also help reduce excess weight.
Chicory with cinnamon . A tasty, fresh and very aromatic drink to combat extra pounds - chicory with the addition of a small amount of cinnamon. The light and pleasant taste of cinnamon will quickly “overpower” the aroma of chicory and its specific taste.
The drink recipe is very simple. It is not difficult to prepare it at home. What you will need: a glass of boiling water, a teaspoon of instant chicory, half a teaspoon of cinnamon. All main ingredients should be poured with boiling water and left to steep for 5 minutes.
Chicory decoction . Anyone who has the opportunity to buy fresh chicory can lose weight using its decoction. Making such a drink yourself at home is an extremely simple task. To do this, you should stock up on the roots of the plant, wash them thoroughly and cut them into small pieces. Afterwards, fry in a dry frying pan until the main raw materials for the drink acquire a beautiful brownish-black hue.
Cooled and roasted roots should be stored in a glass container and ground immediately before use. To brew, you need to pour a couple of teaspoons of chicory with a glass of cold water, put on low heat and bring to a boil, then leave for 10-15 minutes. The resulting mixture for weight loss should be consumed at least twice a day, 1 hour before meals.
Chicory root infusion . To prepare an infusion, you can buy ground plant root in bags. To prepare a portion of the miraculous drink, you need to pour 200 ml of boiling water over the finished product, boil over low heat for 2-3 minutes and let it brew for 10-15 minutes. You can drink chicory infusion.
Do you want to get the maximum weight loss effect from the drink? Drink the infusion at least forty minutes before meals. By drinking the drink 2-3 times a day in small portions, you will be able to quickly improve the functioning of your gastrointestinal tract and speed up your metabolism, which, in turn, will help you quickly lose extra pounds.
To achieve a good “weight loss” effect, you should combine taking chicory decoction with a healthy eating program.
Chicory with ginger . It has a double effect - it promotes weight loss and allows you to saturate the body with vitamins, beneficial micro and macroelements, which are contained in both plants, which is especially important in the autumn-winter period.
Preparing the drink takes just a few minutes. To do this, you need to dilute 1-2 tablespoons of soluble chicory in a glass of water brought to a boil and add a thin slice of ginger to it. Afterwards, let the drink brew for 3-5 minutes.
It is important not to overdo it with the amount of ginger, remembering its pronounced and very rich taste and aroma.
Thanks to ginger, the chicory drink will acquire a slightly sour taste and lemon aroma.
Anyone who periodically arranges fasting days will find it useful to include salads made from fresh chicory leaves into their diet. This plant goes well with salad ingredients such as cucumbers, walnuts and parsley.
In what form to use
To lose weight quickly and effectively, you need to know in what form to consume chicory.
Roots
During the peak season (second half of summer), the root contains the maximum amount of inulin (up to 75%). It would be ideal if you collect the raw materials yourself, dry them, grind them (in the same coffee grinder) and brew them as a homemade drink. For a glass of hot water - 1 or 2 tablespoons. You can simply steam it or keep it in a water bath for 10 minutes. Drink warm, adding milk or other ingredients to taste.
The prepared powder can also be added as a piquant spice with an unusual taste to low-calorie salads and soups that form the basis of the diet. The slight tonic effect will remain.
Some do not dry or grind the raw material, using it for weight loss, like parsley or horseradish root - stewing it with vegetables, preparing broths and other dishes based on it.
Instant chicory
If you don’t have time to do herbal collection, there is a more convenient and faster alternative - buy instant chicory in the store and brew it in the same way as regular coffee. But when buying such a product, always pay attention to the composition - the fewer impurities it contains, the better. In addition, different manufacturers may have different calorie content, and for weight loss this is one of the most important selection criteria.
Greenery
Much less commonly, chicory greens are used for weight loss (and in cooking in general). Fresh leaves are crushed and added to low-calorie summer salads. They fit perfectly into a green diet.
With the world - one by one. In some countries, radicchio is grown, a leafy variety of chicory, which is used specifically for culinary purposes - for making salads.
Possible harm
Most doctors believe that consuming chicory cannot harm the body. However, when including drinks and dishes from this plant in your diet, you should not forget about a sense of proportion. Thus, nutritionists do not recommend drinking more than 2-3 glasses of chicory per day in order to avoid possible health problems.
Despite a lot of information about the benefits of this plant, some experts question many of the beneficial properties of chicory, saying that most of them are clearly exaggerated. They call soluble chicory “dead,” emphasizing that one should not expect any particular benefits for the body from consuming powder with dyes and flavors, artificially saturated with vitamins.
Useful video
To learn about the benefits of chicory, watch this video:
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Contraindications
Despite all the beneficial properties of chicory described above and its unique natural composition, not all people can include it in their diet due to the presence of certain contraindications for its use. So, you should give up chicory in the following cases:
- during treatment of any diseases with antibiotics;
- in the presence of hemorrhoids;
- in case of varicose veins;
- if you are allergic to vitamin C (since the plant contains a very large amount of ascorbic acid);
- people suffering from illnesses such as bronchial asthma, other diseases of the respiratory system, which are characterized by respiratory spasms;
- for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (in particular, gastritis, peptic ulcers, diseases of the duodenum) and liver.
Patients suffering from prolonged depression, frequent stress and insomnia are also advised to avoid consuming chicory in any form during the treatment of these diseases.
If a person is allergic to ragweed, then with a high degree of probability it can be said that an allergic reaction may also occur to chicory root.
Weight loss results with chicory
Despite numerous positive reviews and information about the benefits of chicory for losing weight, most experts unanimously declare that the use of this plant does not play a significant role in losing weight. Of course, its basic properties slightly stimulate the process of weight loss, but only due to improved intestinal function.
Chicory cannot work a miracle: after drinking a cup of instant drink, infusion or decoction, a person will not begin to lose weight and decrease in size. In order for the process of losing weight with the help of chicory to be truly noticeable and bring good results, its consumption should be combined with a diet (significantly reduce the number of calories consumed in the diet), daily physical activity, and proper rest. Only in this case, the miraculous plant and drinks from it will help the body burn fat faster.
As you can see, chicory is quite a useful product, including for weight loss. Despite the fact that with its help it is unlikely that you will be able to lose 5, 10 or more kilograms, its use still provides an easy weight loss effect. Among other things, chicory drinks have a beneficial effect on health and improve the functioning of many organs and systems.
Recipes
During weight loss, chicory can be used in various culinary recipes. There are low-calorie drinks based on it, which have not only an invigorating, but also a fat-burning effect. Excellent diet options that are definitely worth taking advantage of.
When losing weight, you are allowed to add no more than 50 ml of warm 1.5% milk per 200 ml of drink.
For 200 ml of warm drink - 1 tsp. fresh honey (the most beneficial for weight loss is buckwheat). Stir thoroughly. Drink hot.
Wash the fresh lemon and cut into thick slices along with the peel. One such slice is for 200 ml of hot drink. Stir, cover with a lid for 5 minutes.
Add ground root (1 tsp) to boiling water (150 ml). Wait until foam forms, remove from heat, strain. Place 1 stick of Ceylon cinnamon in a cup. Pour the prepared drink while it is hot. Cover with a lid for 5 minutes.
Legend. It is believed that chicory is the staff of the Apostle Peter, with which he once herded sheep. Therefore, its second name is Petrov batog.
When planning to lose weight, you should definitely think about including chicory-based foods and drinks in your diet. A low-calorie and healthy product of plant origin will add a piquant touch to the menu and become an excellent source of energy.
