Jerusalem Artichoke: The Answer to Your Sugar Cravings?

[Guest guest]

To add to the info posted earlier on Jerusalem artichokes-- or

sun chokes (this from " The Colon Health Handbook " by Robert Gray):

 

One additonal advantage:

 

" When sun chokes are eaten, the inulin they contain serves as a

source of lactobacteria food for which the body does not compete.

Most of the inulin eaten reaches the colon intact. An enormous

amount of lactobacteria growth can be supported by 3-4 ounces

(75-100 grams) of sun chokes per day. " (This author is against

lactobacteria obtained from yogurt.)

 

And two possible drawbacks:

 

Sunchokes " also feed candida yeast and can aggravate the

condition of anyone having a candida yeast infection, which many

people chronically have and they " promote heterofermentation

rather than homofermentation " (smelly gas)

 

Claire

[Guest guest]

Studies show that although there can be some bowel discomfort, in the

longer experiments of 2-4 weeks duration, the 'good' bacteria (mainly

lactobacillus and bifidobacteria) eventually won the game and

established themselves properly as the dominant flora.

 

Some of the short-term drawbacks, gas, bloating etc. from feeding the

native inulin from Artichoke, Dahlia, or Chicory, and FOS, can be

avoided. Native inulin contains about 8% sugar and some short-chain

FOS, but by going to the 'long-chain' sugars and leaving out the

problematic short-chain selections, you won't feed candida or

the 'bad' bowel bacteria. They just don't produce the enzymes to

break it so they can't use it as food.

 

But then it wouldn't be a sweetener would it? I'd say the best

sweetener is Stevia, and the best bowel food is inulin.

 

On my website there is an HTML document called " Inulin: A

Comprehensive Scientific Review " by researcher Bryan C. Tungland.

It's an excellent course in bowel bacteria and feeding it and I have

posted the only electronic copy so you can have it.

 

The recommended daily intake of inulin from all sources is about 12-

15 grams.

 

Duncan Crow

 

 

> " When sun chokes are eaten, the inulin they contain serves as a

> source of lactobacteria food for which the body does not compete.

> Most of the inulin eaten reaches the colon intact. An enormous

> amount of lactobacteria growth can be supported by 3-4 ounces

> (75-100 grams) of sun chokes per day. " (This author is against

> lactobacteria obtained from yogurt.)

>

> And two possible drawbacks:

>

> Sunchokes " also feed candida yeast and can aggravate the

> condition of anyone having a candida yeast infection, which many

> people chronically have and they " promote heterofermentation

> rather than homofermentation " (smelly gas)

>

> Claire

[Guest guest]

Jerusalem Artichoke: The Answer to Sugar Cravings?

http://www.healthywaymagazine.com/issue27/08_artichoke.html

 

Not necessarily anything straightforward in the way of information. From

the name of this plant, you'd think it was an artichoke from Jerusalem.

Not only is it not from Jerusalem, it's not even from nearby - it hails

from North America. Neither is it an artichoke, but a member of the

sunflower family. There is some notion that it got its Jerusalem

nomenclature from its Italian name, which is 'girasola'. This translates

as 'rotate towards the sun' and relates to its habit of following the

sun through its orbit. A distortion of 'girasola' probably landed the

plant with 'Jerusalem' as a name.

 

Jerusalem artichoke (JA) should equally not be confused with Globe

artichoke, which is used for managing cholesterol and lipids in the

blood. Jerusalem artichoke can also help with weight control, not

through better metabolism of fats but through better management of

sugars. The tuber of JA contains inulin, which is an oligosaccharide -

there's a name for you. Oligosaccharides are dietary fibres and have

sweetening properties, but despite their sweetness they don't need the

pancreas to produce insulin to deal with them, so they don't have an

adverse effect on blood sugar levels like most sugars do.

It is wobbly blood sugar levels that trigger sugar cravings, causing

people to feel hunger pangs that drive them towards sweet foods. If your

blood sugar levels are more stable, you will experience fewer cravings

and less need to snack frequently. Just what you need when on a diet.

 

So what else does this American Jerusalem sunflower artichoke do?

Remember the inulin? Due to its status as a dietary fibre, it shares the

actions of other fibrous substances that swell in the colon to move

everything in the right direction. This means that more waste products

leave the body and there is less unnecessary weight hanging around in

the gut - another bonus for those wanting to lose weight. Having a

happily working gut is one of the best ways of feeling energised and

active, so exercising is less likely to be a drag.

 

The other benefit of the 'bulking' action is that it creates a feeling

of fullness, which helps to decrease the urge to go and eat your entire

larder.

 

There are no drawbacks to using this herb, although those with a

sensitive digestive tract may find that the bulking action is too strong

and they need to decrease the dose if they experience intestinal

discomfort.

 

Overall, then, this particular member of the sunflower family could

potentially bring not a little sunshine into your life, as it helps you

to control sugar cravings, regulate your eating habits and feel more

active.