What Is Chicory Root & What Are Its Health Benefits?

Did you know that our overall wellbeing is interconnected with the wellbeing of our digestive system? Having poor digestive health will indirectly impact our mood. Furthermore, 70% of our body’s immune cells live in the gut1. Chicory root is one of the many ingredients that can help with the overall wellbeing of our gut. What is chicory root? Read on to find out what this ingredient can do for you!

What is Chicory Root?

Chicory is a perennial plant grown in different parts of the world, more prominently in northwestern Europe. There are several varieties of the chicory plant, known as other names in different parts of the world that it is present in2.

It is known for its numerous medicinal, culinary, and nutritional qualities. For instance, its root itself is a rich source of water-soluble fibre called inulin. Inulin is a soluble fibre and a prebiotic. When inulin reaches the gut, the bacteria in the gut converts it into short-chain fatty acids, nourishing colon cells while providing various other health benefits3.

What is Chicory Root commonly used for?

Despite its trusted reputation for generations now and known nutritional value, for many centuries, people worldwide have been using Chicory in cooking and in their daily diets. The plant is widely used as a cooking spice or added into beverages for that extra kick of flavour. In fact, Chicory is a well-rounded ingredient, its roots and leaf buds are often boiled and eaten, while its leaves are more commonly thrown into a hearty bowl of salad and eaten like celery.

Chicory-derived inulin has been shown to improve bowel motor function in people with functional constipation4. Our digestive tract in general doesn’t come equipped with the enzymes that are needed to digest inulin so it passes intact through our gastrointestinal tract and into the large intestine. This is where the properties of the Chicory root fibre work out its magic, as inulin in particular is very effective in supporting the beneficial bacteria of our microbiota5. Prebiotics such as long chain fructo-oligosaccharides (IcFOS) are extracted from chicory-derived inulin6. Therefore, IcFOS brings with it the ability to support the digestive system.

With all the greatness of the Chicory Root, how can you incorporate it into your child’s diet?

Incorporating Chicory Root into your child’s diet: Dumex Mamil Gold

Introducing the all-new Dumex Mamil Gold containing naturally sourced ingredients. The IcFOS in Dumex Mamil Gold’s unique prebiotic blend of GOS/IcFOS in the optimum ratio of 9:1 is extracted from chicory root, whereas GOS is sourced from milk itself. lcFOS is short for long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides. It is a type of prebiotic, which has a similar function to galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) in supporting the digestive system7.

Dumex Mamil Gold is made from a formula that is naturally sourced and milk that’s produced by free-roaming grass-fed cows. Dumex believes that a child’s diet is crucial for his or her growth and development, that’s why the new Dumex Mamil Gold formula uses only naturally sourced ingredients.

Dumex Mamil Gold is formulated with more than 30 nutrients, including DHA, calcium, vitamins D & E and zinc with no GMO or any added colorings.

As Dumex Mamil Gold’s unique prebiotic blend of GOS / lcFOS is extracted from natural sources like milk and chicory root, you can rest easy knowing that your little one’s digestive health isn’t neglected – especially as a healthy digestive system supports many essential roles in the body as well as your baby’s overall mood. After all, an upset tummy makes for a sour experience for the little one.

Parents, rejoice! You can now breathe easy knowing that our Dumex Mamil Gold not only supports your little one’s well-being, it also nourishes his or her tummy.

After all, a happy tummy makes a happy baby. For more information on Dumex Mamil Gold and more, visit https://www.dumex.com.sg/products

1. Data is based on healthy adult population. Furness JB, Kunze WA, Clerc N. Nutrient tasting and signalling mechanisms in the gut. II. The intestine as a sensory organ: neural, endocrine, and immune responses. AM J Physiol. 1999 Nov; 277 (5 Pt 1): G922-8

2. Nwafor, I. C., Shale, K., & Achilonu, M. C. (2017). Chemical Composition and Nutritive Benefits of Chicory (Cichorium intybus) as an Ideal Complementary and/or Alternative Livestock Feed Supplement. TheScientificWorldJournal, 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2020, from https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7343928

3. Inulin (a prebiotic fiber): Health benefits and risks. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2020, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318593

4. Azpiroz, F., Molne, L., Mendez, S., Nieto, A., Manichanh, C., Mego, M., Accarino, A., Santos, J., Sailer, M., Theis, S., & Guarner, F. (2017). Effect of Chicory-derived Inulin on Abdominal Sensations and Bowel Motor Function. Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 51(7), 619–625. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000000723

5. What is Chicory Root? – Dietary Fiber. Dietary Fiber. Retrieved 30 June 2020, from https://dietaryfiber.org/what-is-chicory-root/.

6. Carrie A. M. Wegh, Margriet H. C. Schoterman, Elaine E. Vaughan, Clara Belzer & Marc A. Benninga (2017) The effect of fiber and prebiotics on children’s gastrointestinal disorders and microbiome, Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 11:11, 1031-1045.

7. Formula Milk: What are prebiotics, GOS, lcFOS and probiotics?. Babyment.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020, from https://www.babyment.com/pregnancycare.php?pregnancy=Formula-Milk-:-What-are-prebiotics,-GOS,-lcFOS-and-probiotics.