Chicory has long entered our lives as a favorite drink. Parents often have a question, at what age are children allowed chicory? You can drink it instead of coffee and tea for children from three years old, and many doctors advise even from one year old if there are no contraindications. It is not only very tasty, but also carries many positive benefits for the body. Is chicory possible for young children? When is it better to abstain? This is what we will try to find out.
What is the use of chicory?
Can children have chicory? Since the drink is popular, it also has a number of advantages that are beneficial for the child's body. For example, these may be properties such as:
- It has a general strengthening effect.
- Saturates with vitamin C.
- It has a calming effect on the nervous system.
- Appetite improves from its use.
- Skin condition improves.
- Helps with constipation.
- Removes toxic substances from the stomach.
- Saves from dysbiosis.
- It normalizes metabolic processes.
Its usefulness can also be explained by its rich composition, which contains a whole storehouse of vitamins and nutrients. They are found not only in the roots of the plant, but also in the flowers and leaves, which can also be eaten.
Is it harmful?
Not only benefits chicory. And harm to health after its use is possible. When using this product, you need to be aware of its harmful features. You need to know that it can not be used for children with excess weight and allergies, especially citrus fruits.
Contraindications may include:
- bronchial asthma;
- heart disease
- vascular problems:
- gastritis or stomach ulcer.
Chicory should not be given to newborns. It can be harmful to young children. Also, chicory can cause problems such as:
- insomnia;
- respiratory diseases;
- exacerbation of an ulcer;
- depression;
- kidney disease.
Chicory is contraindicated in people with disabilities or with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In this situation, taking a drink is strictly prohibited!
Use chicory correctly
Can children have chicory? It is important for the younger generation to eat only high-quality foods. Chicory, in turn, can be found on sale as a powder. A product that needs to be infused like tea is very rare. It is undesirable to give this type of chicory to children, since you can exceed the daily dose and harm the health of the child.
When buying, you need to pay attention to the packaging and packaging. If the product is in a transparent container, has a normal, characteristic brown color, then most likely it can be taken. Do not forget to pay attention to the production date and the date when the product becomes unusable. If you are faced with chicory, which is packed in an opaque package or bag, then pay attention to the composition.
It is important to understand that the manufacturer did not deceive his buyer, and a quality product was sold in containers. For example, if chicory from still green roots is allowed for sale, then of course it will not bring any harm, but it will also benefit.
Read that there are no artificial vitamins in the composition. The child’s body does not need additional saturation, unless the doctor has prescribed this for you.
How much to use?
The daily dose of both an adult and a child is up to 5 grams. This is quite enough for the body to receive all the necessary substances without harm.
However, no cases had previously been revealed about an overdose of a drink. Therefore, many adults can safely drink 2-3 cups of the drink per day. Naturally, this will be a lot for children, so taking more than one cup is not recommended.
Why chicory in kindergarten?
You may come across worried parents who often wonder about the use of chicory in the kindergarten. Nothing wrong with that. Chicory is a great alternative to other drinks. The use of his healthy children is only beneficial. It helps to establish the work of the stomach, to be awake throughout the day and sleep soundly at night. This is a great relief for parents and carers in the garden.
Often children in the kindergarten drink chicory with milk. This also does not harm the body in any way, but acts on the immune system in order to strengthen it. Therefore, parents do not need to worry and wonder if chicory is soluble in children.
What drinks can I mix with?
Can children have chicory? We have already found out. If there are no contraindications, then it will bring exceptional benefits to the body. The drink itself has a sweet taste, so many children drink it without sugar with great pleasure. You can also add sugar, also give a slice of lemon.
Often warm milk is added, and for a greater effect, they throw a spoonful of honey. This mixture helps to strengthen the immune system and has a beneficial effect on the body. You can mix chicory with natural juices:
- orange
- carrot;
- spinach;
- tomato;
- celery
Can I do it myself?
If the store products are not credible, then you can independently cook chicory at home. Where to begin?
- It is necessary to find a glade with chicory in the forest or in the country. Dig up 9-10 plants and rinse the roots. Plants must be mature and mature so that the roots are not green.
- Separate and clean clean plant roots. Then lay out on a flat surface.
- Decomposed chicory must be dried. You can use two methods: to dry in the sun (then drying will take about a week) or to dry in the oven (this will take very little time). If you use the option with an oven, then this must be done at 100 degrees for 5-6 hours.
- After the roots are dried, they must be crushed and fry in a pan, be sure to be without oil. Fry until brown, about chocolate. So that the roots look the way you used to see when buying.
- After roasting, scroll through the chopped roots in a coffee grinder or blender until they are completely chopped.
You can use it in the same quantities as a store up to 5 grams per day. And enjoy its taste and good.
During illness
There are some nuances of taking a plant for inflammation - it is forbidden for pancreatic disease. And at the stage of weakening, it is fully suitable for use:
- Several grams of powder are brewed in one glass of water.
- Over time, the amount is adjusted to one teaspoon.
- You can use it in combination with herbs (brew in equal proportions and insist 10 hours). Consume a tablespoon, 3 times a day. Herbs can be selected to choose from or buy in a pharmacy.
Chicory, the health benefits and harms of which we have studied, is also used in food. Not only the plant roots themselves. For example, its flowers and leaves can be added to a salad with fresh vegetables, or baked with meat in the oven.
The roots can be cooked fresh, not only in a salad, but also stewed in a pan and eat stewed product. In various sources you can find many recipes, up to chicory vinaigrette. At the same time, not a single dish will harm your body, much less your child’s body.
Chicory is a time-tested plant. To strengthen immunity, it was given to children in past centuries. Due to its effectiveness, the healing drink is popular now. Therefore, if your child does not have allergies and any contraindications, you can safely use chicory in your kitchen!