Jerusalem artichoke syrup: health benefits and harms

In fact, few people know about this syrup, since this product is not popular. Its main feature is that it can replace sugar. Almost everyone knows that refined sugar does harm to the body, but most cannot afford to give up sweets. Jerusalem artichoke syrup will be a great alternative, besides it is incredibly tasty and healthy.

As the name implies, the syrup is made from root crops of Jerusalem artichoke. The plant itself is very similar to a sunflower, and its fruits look like ginger. They taste like potatoes, but much sweeter.

The native land of the plant is North America, where Indians cultivated it for centuries. It reached the European continent only at the beginning of the 17th century, but quickly gained great popularity, and now Jerusalem artichoke is known throughout the world for its useful properties.

Fructans, which are found only in Jerusalem artichoke, give sweetness to tubers. These elements behave in the body in a completely different way than fructose or glucose, which largely distinguishes Jerusalem artichoke from other plants.

Composition and calorie content

The peculiarity of the syrup is that it is prepared at a temperature of 50-60 ° C. And this means that all its nutrients are stored in its composition, namely:

• Vitamins of group B, A, C and E.
• Trace elements: iron, magnesium, calcium, etc.
• Organic acids: malic, succinic and citric.

The energy value is 250–270 kcal per 100 g of product.

In Jerusalem artichoke syrup there are no fats and proteins, only carbohydrates, which are about 70 g per 100 g of product.

To taste, the syrup resembles a young flower honey, sugar is not used in its production, sometimes lemon juice is added, which gives a characteristic acidity. The syrup does not have a pronounced smell, so it can be used in the preparation of various dishes, and can also be used instead of sugar in coffee, tea, drinks.

What is useful Jerusalem artichoke syrup

General benefit

Jerusalem artichoke is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals, which makes it a rather valuable product. Characteristically, the root crop itself can be eaten in any form, both raw and cooked.

Benefit:

1. A syrup will be useful in treating a digestive tract disorder. So, it activates the metabolism in the body, which helps to reduce weight, fights flatulence, gently cleanses the liver and normalizes the digestive tract.
2. Jerusalem artichoke syrup contains a sufficient amount of potassium, which has a beneficial effect on the work of the cardiovascular system, it normalizes blood pressure, improves heart function. Among other things, potassium is part of the electrolyte and is involved in conducting signals of the central nervous system.
3. Magnesium, like potassium, has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system and improves its condition.
4. Sodium regulates the water balance, which is undoubtedly very important for the body, especially with diets and dietary restrictions.
5. Another important element in the composition of Jerusalem artichoke is zinc, which is needed for the synthesis of insulin. He takes part in recovery processes.

Jerusalem artichoke syrup is often prescribed for heart diseases:

• It has a mild stimulating effect on the work of the heart;
• lowers cholesterol;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• relieves headaches.

It is impossible not to note the benefits that fiber has, it removes toxins and toxins from the body, perfectly cleanses the stomach of food debris. Very often you can find on sale even individual preparations based on Jerusalem artichoke fiber.

Vitamins that are part of Jerusalem artichoke syrup also affect the body:

1. If you regularly use Jerusalem artichoke syrup as an additive, then you can significantly increase immunity.
2. The role of nicotinic acid or vitamin PP is difficult to overestimate, since it takes part in the formation of many hormones in the body: estrogen, insulin, etc. Its sufficient amount affects the optimal weight.
3. Vitamins of group B. It includes many water-soluble vitamins, which play a key role in cellular metabolism.

For women

Despite the above beneficial qualities of syrup, it has a special effect on the female body.

The first thing worth noting is the presence of vitamins A and E in it, which are also called "vitamins of youth."

1. Retinol (Vitamin A) is known for helping the dermis cells regenerate faster and more actively. Thanks to this, the skin becomes soft and supple, so it must be included in many cosmetics. In particular, retinol is used in ointments that are used to treat burns and skin diseases. It is also known as a natural antioxidant that protects cells from free radicals and prevents their premature aging.
2. Vitamin E. The value of this vitamin is so great that it is released as an independent drug and is included in most vitamin complexes. Vitamin E is a powerful natural antioxidant. He takes part in the synthesis of most hormones, promotes the rapid regeneration of skin cells, hair and nails, increases the protective mechanisms of cells. Adequate regular intake of vitamin E helps rejuvenate the skin, strengthen hair and makes nails strong. In addition, it will greatly alleviate the condition with PMS. And for women after 40–45 years of age, it is prescribed to alleviate the menopause.

For men

For the male body, the use of Jerusalem artichoke syrup is also important. It includes potassium, which has a significant effect on the state of the cardiovascular system, which is important for men over 40. It reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and myocardial infarction.

Also in its composition are substances that have a beneficial effect on potency and enhance it, which is important for some age groups. In addition, they reduce the likelihood of developing prostate adenoma.

During pregnancy

Pregnancy is a special condition of a woman, in which doctors often prescribe a diet and urge them to abandon the use of certain products. At this time, it is important not only to eat healthy foods, but also those that help to cope with related problems.

First, perhaps, it should be noted that syrup should not be used for individual intolerance, low blood pressure and flatulence.

Important! Jerusalem artichoke does not absorb pesticides and harmful chemicals from the soil, therefore it is an environmentally friendly product, which is especially important during pregnancy.

The benefits of Jerusalem artichoke syrup for pregnant women:

• reduces the likelihood of clots in the blood and blood clots;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• improves skin elasticity, preventing the formation of stretch marks;
• improves the digestive tract;
• due to the presence of fiber, it removes toxins from the body, which is very important;
• strengthens the immune system;
• reduces the risk of hypoxia in the unborn child;
• cleanses the liver and reduces the load on it.

When breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is an important moment in his life. A well-known fact - breast milk protects infants in the first six months of his life. Also, during breastfeeding, the mother must strictly comply with the diet, because what she eats directly affects not only the correct development of the baby, but also his future health.

Jerusalem artichoke syrup does not cause allergic reactions, therefore, with breastfeeding it can and should be consumed. Vitamin A improves lactation of the mother, and also normalizes the digestive tract, removes toxins and toxins.

For kids

Jerusalem artichoke syrup is also useful for children, as mentioned earlier, it is an absolutely pure ecological product, it does not contain harmful chemicals and pesticides.

Giving it to food can begin already at the first feeding. It perfectly replaces sugar, so syrup can be used in the preparation of drinks and desserts.

The benefits of Jerusalem artichoke syrup for children:

• boosts immunity;
• improves the protective mechanisms of cells;
• normalizes the digestive tract;
• lowers blood sugar.

When losing weight

Jerusalem artichoke syrup is often included in diets for weight loss. Usually they replace sugar.

Jerusalem artichoke itself is very effective when you need to adjust the weight:

1. It contains fiber, which stimulates the motility of the stomach. It removes toxins, toxins and food debris, dulls hunger.
2. The product improves fat and carbohydrate metabolism, reduces insulin levels.
3. Sodium regulates water metabolism, removing excess fluid from the body.
4. The root crop reduces the accumulation of fats in the body, removes salts.

However, it is important to remember that the use of Jerusalem artichoke syrup will not give an every second effect, the accumulated weight will go away gradually. To get rid of extra pounds, syrup can be used not only as an additive or a substitute for sugar, but also drink it on an empty stomach before dinner or lunch.

Jerusalem artichoke syrup in medicine

Since the syrup contains such rare polymers as fructans and inulin, it is actively used for therapeutic purposes.

With diabetes

The World Health Organization has ranked diabetes as the most common disease in the world. Suffering from this ailment, not only need to undergo a medical course of treatment, but it is also necessary to adhere to a strict diet in order to overcome the disease.

To better understand the benefits of Jerusalem artichoke syrup for diabetes, you need to know what constitutes an ailment. So, pathology is characterized by a lack of energy from consumed food. It breaks down in the body into substances, one of which is glucose. In order for it to be properly absorbed, insulin is needed, which is produced by the pancreas. With its deficiency, this does not happen - glucose does not turn into energy, which means it remains unclaimed, therefore, the sugar content in the blood rises significantly.

The peculiarity of Jerusalem artichoke syrup is the content of inulin, which is practically absent in other products (it is important not to confuse it with insulin). Thanks to him, syrup is recognized not only as a "folk remedy", but also approved by official medicine.

The benefits of syrup for diabetes:

1. Inulin, getting into the human body, as if collects all the excess glucose in the blood and removes it, thereby regulating its amount.
2. The syrup contains many organic acids that bind toxins and remove them from the body. For example, Jerusalem artichoke syrup will quickly help to completely get rid of acetone and ketone bodies.
3. When inulin enters the body, it enters the bloodstream as fructose, which does not need insulin to penetrate the body’s cells.This is very important for patients with diabetes, since fructose is able to completely replace glucose and normalize metabolism.
4. In addition to the above, inulin not only removes glucose from the body, but also contributes to its penetration into the cells.
5. The pear syrup also contributes to the pancreas itself, which affects the production of insulin for glucose uptake.

In addition, the syrup contains many vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the normal functioning of the body, which is important when limiting nutrition and treating the disease.

Important: the glycemic index of Jerusalem artichoke syrup is 16 units.

With pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a serious disease characterized by a malfunction of the pancreas due to metabolic failure or circulatory disorders in the lower section. About half the cases are related to alcohol abuse. For the successful treatment of an ailment, in addition to the use of medicines, one should, as in the case of diabetes, adhere to a diet and use traditional medicine.

The benefits of Jerusalem artichoke syrup with pancreatitis:

• has a positive effect on the functioning of the pancreas;
• removes inflammation;
• normalizes metabolic processes in the body;
• removes toxic substances;
• prevents the development of diabetes;
• possesses antioxidant properties.

With the disease, you can use the root crop in any form, except for fried or pickled. In this case, a worsening of the patient's condition can be provoked.

It is best to use Jerusalem artichoke syrup throughout the day 15–20 minutes before eating.

With gastritis

To understand whether it is possible to use Jerusalem artichoke syrup for gastritis, you need to know about its effect on the digestive tract:

1. As mentioned earlier, it includes inulin, which binds toxic substances and removes them from the body, thereby normalizing the work of the stomach.
2. Inulin stimulates the motility and motility of the stomach, and it also has a choleretic effect.
3. Jerusalem artichoke syrup prevents the harmful effects of bacteria and viruses on the digestive organs, is able to destroy almost all types of parasites.
4. Clinical studies have shown that the syrup copes with nausea, vomiting, bitterness in the mouth and heartburn.

Experts say that thanks to these properties, Jerusalem artichoke syrup for gastritis can not only be eaten, but also necessary. It is often used as an additional tool in the treatment of gastritis, ulcers and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition, Jerusalem artichoke syrup significantly reduces the acidity of gastric juice, which is important for the general condition of the patient and strengthens the immune system. In the treatment of gastritis, syrup should be consumed 10-15 minutes before a meal. Contraindication is only individual intolerance to the patient.

Cooking Application

Jerusalem artichoke is widely used in cooking, in its characteristics it is very similar to potatoes, however, unlike it, it contains significantly less starch. Therefore, dishes prepared from Jerusalem artichoke are much tastier and healthier. If we talk about cooking technology, then it is almost identical to that used for potatoes.

As for Jerusalem artichoke syrup, it is most often used as an additive to dishes and as a substitute for sugar. Jerusalem artichoke syrup will be a godsend for patients with diabetes, pancreatitis and gastritis.

It is used in the preparation of sweet dishes and drinks, because it has almost no smell and is easily soluble in water. It is also indispensable for cooking vegetarian dishes and during fasting.

How to replace
Given that syrup is most often used as an alternative to sugar, then you can replace it in the recipe with these products:

1. Maple syrup. It is obtained from sweet maple; this syrup is very popular in North America. It is used not only as an additive and ingredient for sweet dishes, but also in the preparation of meat and salads. Its disadvantage is that it is quite difficult to find on store shelves.
2. Honey. This product has many useful properties and has been known since ancient times. It is used both as an additive and for the preparation of sweet foods and drinks. Like maple syrup, it can be used in cooking meat and vegetables.
3. Maltose syrup is a product derived from cornmeal. Despite the fact that little is known about it to a wide range of consumers, it is widely used in the manufacture of diet and baby food. At home, molasses can be used instead of sugar when making jam.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the many positive properties, Jerusalem artichoke syrup can be harmful, and also has a number of contraindications for use:

1. Individual intolerance. Syrup should not be consumed by those who are allergic to this root crop.
2. Also, it can not be taken to people who have a pathology of gas formation. The use of syrup will only enhance meteoric reactions, which ultimately will harm the digestive system of the body.
3. At low pressure. So, if blood pressure is lower or about 100/60, then you should also refrain from drinking Jerusalem artichoke syrup, because this will lead to even more pronounced hypotension.
4. During pregnancy and low blood pressure, women are not recommended to eat syrup, as this can cause a delay in the development of the fetus.

For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis and ulcers, you should consult a doctor before use.

How to choose and store

Jerusalem artichoke syrup can contain directly tuber juice, lemon juice and water. Therefore, when buying, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the composition, except for the listed components, there should be nothing in it!

From the moment of production, Jerusalem artichoke syrup can be stored in a sealed container for a year. After opening, keep it in the refrigerator according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

How to take Jerusalem artichoke syrup

There are no restrictions on taking the syrup. You can use it in different ways - both as an additive and as a substitute for sugar, most importantly, to make it tasty.

For the prevention of diseases or as a means for losing weight, usually use 1 tbsp. syrup 30 minutes before meals. For those involved in sports, doctors recommend using it immediately after a workout, it will increase fat burning and replenish energy.

When using it is important to adhere to reasonable amounts.

How to make Jerusalem artichoke syrup at home

One of the problems of using Jerusalem artichoke in cooking is its short shelf life. The plant itself is quite unpretentious in care. It can grow on poor soils, as well as in one place for more than 20 years. The best time to harvest root vegetables is autumn, but they can also be harvested in early spring before they sprout. Experts advise doing this in April-May, some believe that the root crops that spent the winter in the land are more healthy and have a better taste.

To make syrup from Jerusalem artichoke at home, you can use several recipes, the first will be "classic" using lemon juice.

If the root crop got into the house from its own garden, then before cooking it should be thoroughly cleaned from the ground.You can use it with or without peel. The first method is preferable, since then there will be more inulin in the syrup.

"Classic" recipe with lemon

1. Jerusalem artichoke tubers clear of the earth. If a decision has been made to prepare a syrup without a tuber peel, then it is better to divide the especially branched parts into fragments to facilitate cleaning.
2. After that, chopped chopped tubers, turning into mashed potatoes. To do this, you can use a meat grinder, grater or blender.
3. Then get the juice, this can be done in a juicer or squeezed manually using gauze.
4. Put the juice in a container and put on fire. Boil it and add sugar is not necessary! Bring it to a temperature of 50-60 ° C, and then make the fire minimal, keep it for 10 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and allow to cool in natural conditions, this procedure must be repeated several times until it becomes thick.
6. At the final stage, before the next heating, add lemon juice at the rate of juice of 1 citrus per 1 kg of Jerusalem artichoke tubers to the syrup.
7. To make the syrup transparent, and also to get rid of fibers and other particles, strain it through gauze or flannel fabric.
8. Immediately after the last heating, pour the syrup into sterilized containers and close tightly.

It is worth noting that the cooking process is quite tedious and long. Tanks must be sterilized, including lids.

Fast syrup preparation without additives

When boiling the “real” syrup, boiling is not used, since a large amount of vitamins is lost. But boiling helps to get the product faster, in this case, most of the useful substances will still be preserved.

Prepare the juice in the same way as in the previous recipe. Then pour it into enameled dishes, put on medium heat and boil for 20 minutes. After that, let him cool, and then repeat the procedure.

If in the first case, lemon juice is a preservative, then in the second it is a long boil.

It should be repeated, the containers must be sterilized with steam, and the lids boil for 10 minutes. After this, the syrup can be stored from 6 months to a year in a cool dark place.

Interesting facts about Jerusalem artichoke

1. Many farmers plant a plant not only in order to get a crop. Jerusalem artichoke is able to restore poor soils and their structure.
2. In home gardens, this plant can be used as a "green hedge" and protection against the spread of weeds.
3. Often it is used as food for chickens, so they will carry more eggs.
4. Jerusalem artichoke has a second name - "earthen pear", because the tubers are very reminiscent of this fruit.
5. In Russia, initially the plant was grown exclusively as a medicinal plant. Tubers were not eaten.
6. In traditional medicine, Jerusalem artichoke is used on an industrial scale to produce inulin, which is used to treat diabetes.
7. Jerusalem artichoke tubers are fried; they taste like chips. In the US, they are very common, so you can meet them in any store. It is also used for the production of diet coffee.
8. Often it is used in cosmetology for the preparation of creams and ointments for the face, which smooth wrinkles and make the skin more elastic.

Photo of Jerusalem artichoke syrup