Natremed

Neither from Jerusalem, nor a member of the artichoke family, the Jerusalem artichoke is a bulb/tuber that looks quite like a ginger root and is actually related to the sunflower!

This delicious tuber came from North America and can be consumed both raw and cooked. The health benefits of including this obscurely named vegetable in your diet are enormous, especially for vegetarians. Jerusalem artichoke has the texture and taste of a radish – a crunchy, sharp flavour, though it is not quite as peppery. Once cooked it becomes slightly sweet and is more comparable to parsnip.

Preparation:

Avoid buying/eating Jerusalem artichokes that are slightly green in colour, sprouting, shrivelled or mouldy. They are in season during the winter and autumn months and make yummy stews and soups. They can be stored for up to one week in the fridge and for the best nutritional benefits simply scrub the dirt of your tuber and cook it with the skin still on.

Medicinal actions:

Rich in iron

Each little artichoke tuber is full of delicious tasting iron. Iron is required to carry and utilise oxygen in the body, to help heal and repair and to fight infections. Vegetarians are more at risk of low iron as it is harder to absorb and utilise the iron found in plants than it is the iron from animal sources. Menstruating females and those going through periods of growth (pregnancy, children, teenagers) also need higher amounts of iron.

Useful for the following conditions:

Iron deficient anemia, vegetarian diet

Inulin

Inulin is a carbohydrate that promotes good intestinal health. It does this by providing a food source for our probiotic intestinal flora. Inulin also fills you up and helps to regulate blood sugar patterns.

Useful in the following conditions:

Diabetes, blood sugar irregularity, any gut problems.

Fibre:

A great source of fibre to regulate and promote healthy bowel function.

Useful in the following conditions:

Diarrhoea, constipation

Cautions:

May cause wind if your digestion is not working to it’s full capacity!

Recipes ideas:

Roast them, soup them, stew and salad them (see recipe section for more details). Just remember you can not go wrong if you add olive oil, sage, thyme or cheese!