How jerusalem artichoke is used in cosmetology and what useful properties it has for the body!
Jerusalem artichoke is still a rare plant in Russian vegetable gardens. Many vegetable growers are not in a hurry to plant it, giving their preference to potatoes. But this attitude to this vegetable is undeserved, because it is very useful and even shows medicinal qualities. Learn about such a wonderful plant as jerusalem artichoke, its benefits and harms to the body, as well as its medicinal properties.
What does jerusalem artichoke look like and where does it grow
Although jerusalem artichoke is a tuberous plant, it belongs to the Sunflower genus and the Asteraceae family. This herbaceous plant, which most often grows to a height of up to 1.5 m, but there are cases when there were four-meter specimens. If we return to its botanical description, it should be noted that the stem is straight and strong, pubescent with short hairs, the leaves are egg – shaped, and it blooms in baskets-inflorescences that reach a diameter of 2-10 cm. They consist of tubular yellow flowers. In the conditions of the European part of Russia, flowering occurs in August-October. The fruits of jerusalem artichoke are achenes.
Composition and caloric content
The energy value of the ground pear is small, it is about 72 kcal per 100 g.
You can often read that the chemical composition of the tubers of this plant is close to potatoes. To a certain extent, this is true. They contain up to 3% protein, fiber and pectin, essential amino acids, a number of vitamins and minerals. At the same time, the ground pear completely lacks the alkaloid corned beef, which is formed in the light in raw potatoes and has toxic properties. Also, jerusalem artichoke does not contain saturated fatty acids.
Jerusalem artichoke tubers contain the following substances:
Inulin is part of the unique carbohydrate complex of the ground pear, which also includes fructose. Inulin is the main component of the system, in the human body it is broken down to fructose, so Jerusalem artichoke is indicated for diabetes.
Amino acids (there are sixteen of them in total, of which half are essential). At the same time, they are identical in structure to thymus gland proteins, which play an important role in the functioning of the immune system.
Organic acids (malic, raspberry, succinic, citric). They have strong antioxidant properties.
Dietary fiber. They contribute to the timely cleansing of the intestines from toxins.
Silicon is a very important element that is necessary for the normalization of metabolic processes. Only 50 g of jerusalem artichoke tubers will provide a daily requirement for this element.
Iron is necessary for the processes of hematopoiesis, and its lack can lead to anemia.
Potassium, calcium, sodium, zinc, phosphorus, nitrogenous substances.
Carotenoids, vitamins of group B.
Ascorbic acid, which is essential for strengthening blood vessels and acts as an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.
Fructose.
It should also be noted that ascorbic acid and silicon together significantly increase the natural immunity. However, silicon is also necessary for strengthening teeth and bones, and in these tubers it is combined with calcium, which has similar properties, so that the therapeutic effect is enhanced. Finally, it is silicon that gives jerusalem artichoke its choleretic properties and prevents the formation of osteophytes in the joints.
General use
Ground pear has many useful properties. Its benefits are as follows:
Eating jerusalem artichoke tubers helps to normalize digestion. This root vegetable allows you to create optimal conditions for the development of beneficial intestinal microflora, as well as relieves diarrhea and constipation.
Jerusalem artichoke has bile-removing properties, so it is recommended to use it for the prevention of congestion.
Since ground pears contain a lot of fiber, it helps to quickly remove toxins from the body. Therefore, its tubers are advised to eat those who live in areas with unfavorable environmental conditions.
Due to the presence of inulin in the pulp of jerusalem artichoke, these root vegetables are recommended to be regularly eaten in diabetes mellitus to normalize blood glucose levels.
The immunomodulatory properties of the ground pear are due to the fact that it contains silicon and vitamin C (although it is more contained in the green part of the plant, it is also enough in the tubers). The use of this vegetable in food for autumn and winter helps prepare the body for the cold and flu season.
Recent studies have shown that Jerusalem artichoke plays an important role in the prevention of cancer. It is also useful in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system. This is due to the fact that it contains potassium, which has a beneficial effect on the condition of the heart muscle and raises the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Moreover, unlike ready-made pharmaceutical products, this root vegetable does not give any side effects.
Experts believe that jerusalem artichoke is also useful for those who are actively engaged in sports or work where they constantly experience high physical activity. The fact is that the composition of tubers also includes arginine (one of the amino acids mentioned above) and phosphorus, and they significantly increase the endurance of the body.
Jerusalem artichoke in cosmetology
Ground pear is very good for the skin. Basically, various masks are prepared from root vegetables and their juice. For example:
Mask for dry skin. Take a jerusalem artichoke tuber, get rid of the skin, grind it on a grater, wait for it to release the juice, then mix the whole mass with a spoonful of olive or almond oil, apply the mixture to the skin of the face and keep it for half an hour, and then rinse with warm water. In this case, a course of three weeks will give good results.
A product for oily skin. Jerusalem artichoke can normalize the production of sebum. To do this, the tuber is crushed on a grater and literally 2 tablespoons of low-fat milk are added there. The mixture is applied to the face for half an hour, then washed off. The duration of the course is two weeks, and you can make such a mask every other day.
Black spot lotion. From several tubers of jerusalem artichoke, juice is obtained, which is rubbed on the face twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.
For hair, jerusalem artichoke juice is more often used, which contains a lot of iron, copper and vitamin C. All these components can improve the condition of the hair and enhance the production of collagen. Also, the juice allows you to fight seborrhea, not so much due to the antibacterial effect, but due to the normalization of the sebaceous glands. Jerusalem artichoke juice is added to the water to rinse the hair. It can also be rubbed into the scalp. After application, it is left for a few minutes, and then washed off.