Topinambour

Jerusalem artichoke, known also as sunroot, earth apple or topinambour, is a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Its tuber, which looks like a small potato with an irregular form, can be eaten. The topinambour is remarkable for its immune-stimulating properties, it increases indeed the resistance of the body and the immune system. In addition to this, it helps to improve the functions of the intestine against constipation, contains inulin and, thanks to this property, can be integrated in the diet of people who have diabetes or are obese, because it has a lower glycemic load and controls the sense of hunger, moreover, it results helpful against the formation of intestinal gas. The tuber contains vitamins, especially vitamin A, B and H, the last one results very useful in order to keep the body healthy and to protect it from fatigue, muscle pain and loss of appetite, and minerals including potassium, important for the regulation of blood pressure, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, zinc. This tuber helps to reduce the excess of cholesterol and sugar levels in the blood by reducing their absorption in the intestine. With its energizing properties the topinambour results an important food to be inserted in the diet of old people or during convalescent. You can eat topinambour raw, cut into thin slices and added to salads, or cooked, for example, you can steam it for about ten minutes.