The Sunchoke (aka. Jerusalem Artichoke; Helianthus tuberosus) is a sunflower that is native to North America and also now naturalized in parts of the UK.
It is cultivated in temperate areas for its tuber which is consumed as a root vegetable, somewhat resembling ginger in appearance and varying in color from tan to red, white or purple.
Native Americans cultivated the Sunchoke before the arrival of the colonists, who later began doing the same and sent tubers back to Europe, where it became popularized.
Although it fell out of popular use in North America, more recent attempts to revive it as a vegetable have been increasing its popularity.
The common name “Jerusalem Artichoke” has nothing to do with “Jerusalem”, but is thought to have been a case of mis-pronunciation of the word for sunflower in Spanish.
The Sunchoke has a similar consistency to potatoes, but instead of storing their energy in the carbohydrate called starch (as in potatoes), they store theirs in the carbohydrate called inulin, which is a type of dietary fiber.
Sunchokes can be eaten raw, are crisp and make a great addition to salads when sliced thin, but they are more often consumed cooked. However, the inulin may become mushy if boiled and is better if steamed.
Sunchokes also contain about 2% protein and no fat. As the tubers are stored, the inulin converts to fructose, and results in a sweeter food. Sunchokes are also rich in potassium, high in iron and are good sources of fiber, niacin, thiamine, phosphorus and copper.
The roasted tubers are sometimes used as a coffee substitute. They also make a high quality alcohol (better than that from sugar beets), and the plant can quickly grow to create a high screen in the summer.
The consumption of the Sunchoke in the diet has been shown by several studies to lower plasma glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, likely due to the effect of inulin present.
Inulin is a known prebiotic, which is able to lower plasma glucose and intestinal pH, resulting in a higher calcium bioavailability.
With its content of inulin and fructose, Sunchoke is known to be safe for diabetics, and for these reasons it is often promoted for the diets of obese and type 2 diabetics.
There are several traditional medicinal uses of Sunchoke plants, including aphrodisiac, blood sugar balance, joint and liver health.
Warning- as some people become very flatulent when consuming high amounts of inulin!
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*This post is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, cure or treat any disease. Always seek medical advice directly through consultation with a health professional.