From what age chicory should be given to children and can babies drink it?

Many adults like to drink chicory, so they naturally have questions about when you can treat your child with this drink, whether it is useful in childhood and what to consider when cooking chicory for a child.

The drink, which is made from chicory, is intended to replace coffee and tea, as these caffeinated drinks are not recommended in preschool years.

However, besides such an excellent coffee alternative, chicory has other advantages:

• Drink from it has a tonic effect.
• It gently increases the tone of the nervous system, but it does not cause excessive excitability.
• Chicory contains a lot of vitamin C.
• Drink from this plant has a positive effect on the heart.
• Such a drink has a tendency to increase appetite.
• It has a positive effect on the condition of the skin.
• The use of chicory has a beneficial effect on the digestive processes and acts as a prevention of constipation and dysbiosis.
• Drink from the root of this plant improves milk absorption.
• Chicory helps to eliminate toxins.
• Its consumption has a positive effect on metabolic processes.
• Chicory drink has a diuretic effect.
• It also helps to normalize blood sugar levels.

Despite the mass of useful properties, chicory can be harmful if you do not take into account the presence of contraindications to its use. This drink should not be given for obesity, and if the baby has a tendency to allergies (especially citrus), try chicory should be very careful.

Other contraindications to chicory-based beverages are:

• Bronchial asthma and bronchitis.
• Congenital and serious heart disease.
• Vascular diseases.
• Gastritis and peptic ulcer.

That chicory, which quickly dissolves in water, is in high demand these days. It can be purchased at pharmacies and in many grocery stores.

In the manufacture of soluble species of chicory, the root of the plant is dried and crushed, and then cooked. The resulting drink is evaporated, and the dry residue is Packed. There are variants of powdered chicory, which add various additional ingredients, such as cocoa, cinnamon, rosehip, chamomile and other supplements.

This chicory is a powder product, for the manufacture of which the plant is ground. Preparation of a drink from this type of chicory requires brewing for some time. The main advantage of this chicory is 100% natural.

To treat your baby's chicory should be at breakfast, then in the evening you will be able to assess the portability of the new product. If no adverse symptoms appear, increase the portion to 100 ml in 1.5-2 years and to a full circle in 3 years. Do not advise to make too strong a drink - pour a teaspoon of powder with about 150 ml of water.

Many babies eagerly drink chicory without any additives, but some children simply do not like brewed chicory, so they sweeten it by adding:

• Honey.
• Natural juice from apples, oranges, spinach.
• A slice of lemon.
• Warm milk.
• Sugar.

• Acquire chicory, which you plan to use in the nutrition of the child, is in proven places. If you buy shredded root in a store, then it is better to do it in a large supermarket, because in small shops ground chicory can lie for a very long time, losing its useful properties.
• It does not hurt to also carefully examine the label, paying attention to whether there are additional ingredients in the chicory powder. It is best to stop at the purchase of a product, on the packaging of which it will be noted about the naturalness of the raw materials.
• A good choice would be chicory in a glass container, since you can look at the contents of the jar. The powder should be uniform and dry, and there should be no lumps.

The collection of the roots of this plant is carried out in the autumn when nutrients have already accumulated in them. They start digging them in September, and finish by the first frost. Roots do not pull out, and dig with a shovel or shovel. They are long and firmly “sit” in the soil, so the attempt to pull them out with their hands usually ends with the fact that the roots break off and remain in the ground. That is why it is better to dig chicory roots after rain, when the soil is still wet and soft.

Before you start to dry the roots, they are thoroughly washed under cold water to completely clear the ground. At the same time, the aerial parts are cut off, and the upper layer is left as it contains certain active substances.

Washed roots are left to shade in the shade for some time. When the milky sap is no longer emitted from them, the roots are cut into cubes and sent to the oven. The drying temperature is set at approximately + 50 ° C. Gradually, it is increased to + 180 ° C.

A small amount of ground roasted chicory roots need to fall asleep in a cup and pour boiling water. After a brief infusion the drink will be ready. You can drink it with cream, honey, fruit juice, lemon, milk, syrup and other additives to your liking.