Chicory for gastritis: is it possible to eat, the effect on the gastrointestinal tract

Aromatic chicory can fit perfectly into your drinking diet and become a reasonable replacement for coffee. The “cocktail” will be especially useful for people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Indeed, a caffeine-free drink contains many elements that improve the patient’s well-being and have an anti-inflammatory effect. But sometimes chicory does more harm than good for gastritis and various gastrointestinal pathologies.

A tasty drink based on the dried root of the same name is used to achieve many goals: losing weight, curing eczema and psoriasis, improving the condition of patients with anemia and diabetes, lowering blood pressure.

For each of these cases, there are special methods and recipes for brewing the drink. People suffering from gastritis, stomach or duodenal ulcers should also know some of the nuances of preparing a healing “cocktail”.

Compound

To understand why the drink is good for health, you need to know what is contained in chicory:

The main component of the plant is inulin. It has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and is also the best option for a sweetener substitute for people with a disease such as diabetes.
Another useful component of chicory, intibin, has long been used in folk medicine to normalize the functioning of the central nervous system and heart muscle. There are also options for using it to dilate blood vessels and veins.
Chicory contains a lot of B vitamins and C, which is essential for immunity. The following components must be indicated: fructose, iron, potassium, organic acids. There are also antimicrobial components that relieve inflammation and promote regeneration of affected areas.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels

The beneficial properties of chicory are used in the treatment of heart diseases to increase the amplitude and normalize the rhythm of contractions, dilate blood vessels, reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood, and increase the concentration of hemoglobin.

Arrhythmia.

Recipe 1:

Mix 1 tsp. soluble chicory or root powder, 1 tsp. calendula marigolds, pour 100 ml of vodka.
Leave in a dark, cool place in a tightly closed glass container for 20 days, shake every day, and strain when finished.

Take 20 drops on a piece of sugar after meals.

Recipe 2:

Brew 20g with a glass of boiling water, leave for half an hour, strain.

Take 2 tbsp. 3 times a day to relieve swelling associated with insufficient heart function, stimulating its activity.

Cardiac ischemia:

Mix two parts cottage cheese and one part instant chicory or chopped roots.

Eat throughout the day.

Frequent heartbeats (tachycardia):

Mix equal parts creeping thyme herb and chicory.
Brew 1 tsp. mix 500 ml of boiling water, cover well, leave for 30 minutes, strain.

Drink during the day in four doses.

Reduced hemoglobin concentration in the blood (anemia):

Cut young shoots during flowering, scald with boiling water, mince, squeeze, and boil the juice for 10 minutes over low heat.

Take 1 teaspoon diluted in half a glass of milk 3 times a day.

High blood pressure (hypertension):

Pour 1.5 liters of cold water 1 tsp. chopped roots, slowly bring to a boil, boil for 5 minutes, cover well and leave for 4 hours, strain.

During the day, take a total of 250-350 ml of infusion, possibly with the addition of honey and lemon. Treat for two weeks.

Strengthening blood vessels:

Mix dried plant tops and parsley leaves, 1 tsp. Brew the mixture with a glass of boiling water, cover well and leave for 20 minutes, strain.

Take 1/3 cup before meals.

Benefit for health

The root of the plant is useful for:

nervous system (due to the content of vitamin B);
digestive tract;
heart and blood vessels;
liver and kidneys (chicory stimulates the excretion of bile, cleanses the body of waste and toxins).

The drink is also known to help you lose weight (thanks to riboflavin and thiamine).

Chicory is recommended for anemia because it is rich in iron. However, when cow's milk is added, the chemical element is less absorbed. Therefore, it should be replaced with a plant-based option - coconut or nut.

Effect on digestion

Chicory contains inulin, which is an excellent prebiotic. Used to treat a range of problems related to bowel function and digestion.

The effect of inulin on the body is especially noticeable in cases of heartburn and acid reflux disease. This is explained by the ability of the prebiotic to reduce the production of hydrochloric acid. In addition, the natural fibers contained in chicory improve intestinal motility. This significantly reduces the likelihood of constipation.

Since drinking coffee for gastritis and ulcers is not recommended, chicory can easily replace it.

To stimulate peristalsis, it is recommended to add honey to the drink. This infusion option is given to children after three years of age. It is considered an effective and safe laxative.

Benefits for gastrointestinal diseases

This product has long been known for the following properties:

Helps relieve inflammation. The drink is recommended for people suffering from certain types of gastritis. In case of illness, chicory promotes wound healing and soothes inflamed and irritated mucous membranes. For this reason, the use of chicory is recommended for people with duodenal and stomach ulcers.
Has an antimicrobial effect. The product contains tannins and essential oils, which reduce the activity of bacteria and improve the patient's condition. Therefore, foreign experts believe that consuming a drink with chicory is an excellent prevention of helicobacteriosis.
Rich in vitamin C, which strengthens cells and blood vessels and improves immunity. By the way, it is often a decrease in the body’s protective functions that leads to the activity of Helicobacter pylori. Ascorbic acid is indispensable for gastritis. When the disease occurs, patients often suffer from vitamin deficiency.
Contains B vitamins. They are especially useful for the normal functioning of the nervous system. After all, it often happens that gastritis occurs against a background of stress and emotional tension.

Contraindications

Chicory for gastritis is strictly prohibited for people prone to developing allergic reactions. In addition, it has other contraindications:

erosive lesions of the stomach and intestines;
cholelithiasis.

People with gallstone disease can drink a drink made from chicory only if there are no large stones in the organ. Gastritis, accompanied by high acidity, is not an absolute contraindication.

Children under 14 years of age who have been diagnosed with gastritis are advised to avoid consuming chicory. If necessary, the drink can be sweetened by adding a little honey or cane sugar.

Chicory is a medicinal plant that is used to treat many diseases. The rhizome is used for medicinal purposes. Before use, such raw materials must be dried, crushed, fried, and then ground into powder. It is in this form that you can find the product on store shelves. Can you use chicory for gastritis? Or not?

How much and how to use

Chicory is a non-toxic drink. Moreover, it does not contain caffeine, so it can be consumed in larger quantities than the invigorating and aromatic cocktail beloved by many.

However, if you have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, you cannot drink the drink as much as you want. The recommended dose is no more than 2-3 glasses.

In what form is it best to consume?

It all depends on the purpose of use:

To prevent and treat diseases of internal organs (including hypoacid gastritis and pancreatitis), you should harvest the roots yourself or purchase them in dry form. You can usually find the raw material at the pharmacy.
If you do not have serious pathologies, purchase granules or soluble chicory powder at the supermarket. In this case, you should give preference to the expensive option - sublimate in the form of “pyramids” of the same size. The manufacturing technology of such a product allows you to preserve more useful properties and components. The powder is produced by drying at a temperature of 200-220 degrees. Therefore, there is no need to talk about its beneficial effects on the body.

How to help your stomach

If, despite observing the recommended volume, the stomach does not accept the chicory drink enthusiastically, then this is manifested by not the most pleasant symptoms: heartburn, sour belching, pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, and sometimes even vomiting.

The main help in such a situation is to take an acid neutralizing agent (Maalox, Gaviscon, Rennie) as early as possible.
Then, for several days, it is advisable to take drugs that suppress the secretory function of the stomach: Omez, Nexium or Pariet. If the condition is accompanied by severe nausea or vomiting, then preference should be given to a combined dosage form with the antiemetic drug domperidone - Omez D or Omez DSR. It is also important at this time not to allow yourself anything extra in your diet; the diet should be the same as during an exacerbation. And of course, you need to promptly seek help from a specialist, and avoid using chicory in the future.

Should you drink if you have pancreatitis or not?

To answer the question, it is necessary to decide what form of the disease we are talking about - acute or chronic. Let's look at each of them.

Exacerbation stage. Chicory should not be consumed at this time. You already know that the drink stimulates the activity of the pancreas and the diseased organ.

Chronic form (during remission). Already a month after treatment, the patient can introduce this drink into his drinking diet, but in a small volume. Inulin lowers glucose levels.

This feature of dietary fiber is especially useful for pancreatitis with impaired insulin production.

Properties of green tea and their effect on digestion

Drinking a green drink is contraindicated for people suffering from gastritis. Tea may contribute to heartburn or increase the production of hydrochloric acid. Much attention should be paid to the quality of raw materials. You should not use tea in disposable bags, and also drink it very strong and hot.

A warm drink soothes irritation in the stomach lining, while strong tea provokes heartburn. Excessive consumption of tea harms the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of “tea intoxication” occur, accompanied by nausea, belching, and vomiting.

It is unacceptable to drink green tea in combination with alcohol or after a heavy meal, because when consumed together, toxic substances are produced that affect the digestive organs. It is not allowed to drink the drink on an empty stomach, because the walls of the stomach become coated with mucus, saliva becomes diluted, food is poorly digested, indigestion occurs, and discomfort appears. In children, drinking green tea causes heaviness, regurgitation, sleep disturbance, and insomnia.

Can I drink if I have gastritis?

In which form of the disease is it permissible to drink a fragrant, healthy drink, and in which is it better to avoid its use? We invite you to read the opinions of experts on this issue:

Atrophic form. This type of gastritis is characterized by chronic inflammation and subsequent thinning of the mucosa. It is also important that with this diagnosis the pancreas produces an insufficient amount of hydrochloric acid. In case of pathology, it makes sense to use chicory, which promotes the active production of gastric juice. Moreover, doctors recommend adding a small amount of dairy product - cream or milk - to the drink. They will reduce the negative impact of the healing cocktail on the gastric mucosa.
Erosive gastritis and bulbitis. You need to undergo a course of drug treatment, and after (about 21-30 days) you can introduce a cup of chicory into your menu.
Gastritis with high acidity. When drinking the drink, gastric juice begins to actively secrete. In this case, chicory can not only worsen the patient’s well-being, but also intensify the inflammatory process.
Hypoacid gastritis. Since chicory is the record holder for inulin content, it can be safely included in your diet for those people who have low stomach acidity. The drink also improves appetite.

What are the benefits of chicory?

Before drinking a cup of chicory for gastritis, you should consult a specialist. In general, the drink contains many useful components that determine the beneficial properties of the plant:

Pectin. This substance improves intestinal motility, while eliminating constipation. The component allows you to adsorb toxic compounds and remove them from the body.
The product has a detoxifying effect. Thanks to this, the drink eliminates the signs of acute poisoning.
Tannins have an anti-inflammatory effect and suppress the pathogenic environment in the gastrointestinal tract.
The product accelerates the regeneration processes of soft tissues, heals erosions and wounds on the gastric mucosa.
Normalizes kidney function, providing a diuretic effect and restoring water-salt balance.
It has a choleretic effect and removes excess bile, while dissolving gallstones.
Chicory contains inulin, a sugar substitute that is not absorbed into the blood. The decoction allows you to reduce the concentration of glucose.
The drink improves the production of gastric juice and increases appetite. It is recommended to use chicory for gastritis with low acidity.
Ascorbic acid helps normalize the functioning of the immune system, restore elasticity to blood vessels and strengthen their walls.
Protein takes part in the restoration, construction and renewal of tissues in the body, improves metabolic processes and supports the functions of the nervous system.
Potassium improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

In addition to the above, chicory has a general strengthening effect. Therefore, the drink is useful for gastritis. After all, this disease is often accompanied by vitamin deficiency.

Doctors' opinion about chicory for gastrointestinal problems

There are several points of view on this matter. Some doctors believe that taking a decoction based on this plant is not beneficial, since it increases the production of gastric juice. Nevertheless, experts agree that for gastritis with low acidity, the drink is more beneficial than harmful.

Some substances relieve pain and reduce inflammation. In addition, by taking a drink based on chicory root, you can enrich the body with vitamins, the deficiency of which is often observed when following a therapeutic diet for gastritis.

Recommendations for using the decoction:

The chicory-based drink should not be drunk hot. This will only irritate the mucous membrane.
Use chicory cocktail with honey for gastritis and pancreatitis. The natural delicacy will only enhance the beneficial properties of the liquid.
Like coffee, chicory is not recommended to be consumed on an empty stomach.
Do not combine the drink with alcohol. Although in folk medicine alcohol is used to treat stomach and duodenal ulcers, this is still not the best option.

When taking certain medications, you should not drink an aromatic and invigorating drink. We recommend that you consult your doctor about this.

When the drink is contraindicated

Despite the great benefits of chicory for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, there are cases when the drink is not recommended:

It is not advisable to drink chicory if you have a stomach or duodenal ulcer. Increased production of gastric juice can lead to erosion of the mucous membrane.
People with cholelithiasis should be careful about the product and its consumption. The drink has a choleretic effect, which is useful for sand and small stones. But if the latter are very large, there is a danger that their movement will clog the bile ducts.
You should not drink chicory if you have chronic bronchitis or asthma.
It is forbidden to drink the drink if you have varicose veins.
You should not drink chicory if you have hemorrhoids.
Do not indulge in this drink if you are allergic to vitamin C.
Small children under three years old.
For expectant mothers and women during the lactation period.

Before consuming chicory, you should consult your doctor. This is especially important for ulcers, atrophic gastritis and Barrett's esophagus. The root of the plant produces a vasodilator effect, which in some cases is very undesirable.

Tips and tricks

To get the maximum benefit from the drink, you need to drink it without sugar and milk. The plant contains a large amount of iron, and milk interferes with the absorption of the element ;
Do not combine the drink with alcohol;
When taking medications, you should consult your doctor about the compatibility of chicory and medications.

On our website: What juices can you drink for gastritis?

If you have gastritis, you need to be especially careful when taking a herbal drink. Even if the product is prepared independently at home, this does not guarantee its safe effect on the stomach.

Before drinking, you must always consult your doctor about the dosage, even if the doctor has allowed you to drink the drink, you need to take it wisely, without fanaticism. Also, don’t forget about your diet and be healthy!

Cooking recipes

There are different recipes for a therapeutic “cocktail” for people with gastrointestinal ailments.

For pancreatitis

We offer several options for preparing healthy drinks:

Fry the chopped root. Pour 200 ml into the container. water, add 20 g of raw materials. Boil for 10 minutes and then strain. It is recommended to use 1 tbsp. l. 15 minutes before meals.
1 tsp. finely ground powder pour 0.5 tbsp. boiling water Add some low-fat milk.
Take a spoonful of chicory, dandelion, elecampane and burdock root. Pour in 3 cups of hot water. Cover the broth and leave for 8 hours.
Pour one spoon of plant root with 0.5 tbsp. boiling water, pour in milk.

With hypoacid type of disease

Concentrated healing “cocktail”:

Pour a liter of water into a saucepan and place on fire.
After boiling, add 0.5 tbsp. chicory.
Reduce heat and simmer for half an hour.
Let the drink cool and strain.

Drink the concentrated decoction by spoon before meals.

Prepare with powder:

Add 5 tbsp. l. raw materials and pour 500 ml. hot water, close the lid.
Let the drink brew for 2-3 hours.

Use ¼ tbsp. before eating.

Popular recipes with chicory

Improving memory, attention:

A glass of chicory root decoction with milk and 1 tsp. honey, eat an apple when finished.

It is useful to take every day during high intellectual stress and to eliminate irritability.

Improved vision (myopia, farsightedness):

Mix 8 parts carrot juice, 6 parts celery juice, 3 parts chicory juice, 3 parts parsley juice.

Take one or two glasses (250-500 ml) of the medicinal mixture daily for several months to normalize the function of the optic nerve and lens muscles, and restore visual acuity.

Toothache:

Brew 1 tsp. soluble chicory or crushed roots with a glass of boiling water, leave for 20-30 minutes in a sealed container, let cool slightly, strain.

Use warm as a mouth rinse for severe toothache.

Allergy:

It is useful to take 1-2 cups of oatmeal jelly every day, prepared with a decoction of chicory roots.

For men.

Recipe 1. Chicory is useful for impotence:

Boil carrots until half cooked, grate, mix 150g with 1 tbsp. honey and 1 tsp. chopped root.

There is a medicinal composition every day for two months.

Recipe 2. In case of premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea (discharge of a small amount of sperm at the end of urination), to improve potency:

Stir 1/2 tsp. juice of chicory and ginger flowers.

Take with a soft-boiled egg and honey every day for a month.

Toxicosis during pregnancy:

Brew 1 tsp. leaves with a glass of boiling water.

Take small sips throughout the day or 1/3 cup before meals.

Constipation:

Brew 1 tsp. crushed roots 500 ml of boiling water, simmer in a water bath for 10 minutes, cover well, leave, strain.

Use 1 tsp. flax seeds with a warm medicinal decoction to restore digestion and lubrication during bowel movements.