Jerusalem artichoke (or Jerusalem artichoke, ground pear, bulb) is a fleshy, bumpy root crop of the Sunflower genus. This fragrant, rich, nutty starchy vegetable is widely eaten in Western Europe and the Mediterranean regions. The Jerusalem artichoke should not be confused with the artichoke, which is the edible flower bud. This vegetable is native to Central America. Outwardly, it is a tuber of gray, purple or pink color with a sweet and delicate texture of white color inside. The weight of each tuber is approximately 75-200 g.
Jerusalem artichoke was brought to Europe at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. This is currently
- Jerusalem artichoke is quite high-calorie. There are 100 calories per 73 g of vegetable, which is roughly comparable to potatoes. With a small amount of fat, Jerusalem artichoke contains zero cholesterol.
- It is one of the best sources of fiber, high in inulin and oligofructose (not to be confused with insulin, which is a hormone). Inulin is a zero-calorie saccharin, an inert carbohydrate that is not metabolized by the body. Thus, Jerusalem artichoke is considered an ideal sweetener for diabetics.
- Soluble and insoluble fiber allows you to moisturize the intestines, which is very important for people suffering from constipation. In addition, dietary fiber helps reduce the likelihood of colon cancer by removing toxins from the intestines.
- Jerusalem artichoke tuber contains small amounts of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C, A, and E. These vitamins, along with flavonoid compounds (such as carotenes), help scavenge free radicals.
- Jerusalem artichoke is a very good source of minerals and electrolytes, especially potassium, iron and copper. 100 g of fresh root contains 429 mg or 9% of the daily value of potassium. The same amount of Jerusalem artichoke contains 3,4 or 42,5% iron. Perhaps the most iron-rich root vegetable.
- Jerusalem artichoke also contains some B-complex vitamins such as folate, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, thiamine and riboflavin in small amounts.