The Jerusalem Artichoke has many beneficial properties. Probably, as for many decades it has been used as a substitute of potato, it is also known as “American potato”. The Jerusalem Artichoke is a perennial plant that blooms at the end of summer and is characterized by beautiful golden yellow colour. The varieties of Jerusalem Artichokes are two: the early white that we can find available in shops from the end of august and the Bordeaux that we normally find from October to the beginning of spring.
It contains an active substance with a bitter taste that owns digestive properties. This substance stimulates the secretion of gastric juices and the bile, helping the digestion and preventing intestinal problems.
The Jerusalem artichoke has a high content of nutrients such as iron, copper and vitamin C. These substances are essential to maintain the hair in good health. The iron transports the oxygen to the hair and keeps the hair follicles healthy. The copper prevents the hair fall and stimulates the growth. The vitamin C helps the absorption of iron and the production of collagen maintaining the skin and its blood vessels healthy.
The Jerusalem artichoke appeared for the first time in Italy in the XVII decade and its origin is to be traced back to north America.
In addition to food production, the Jerusalem artichoke is also used to produce ethanol. From its tuber we can also obtain flour.
It can be well conserved in the fridge inside paper bags or in fresh and dark places. We also observed that its assumption in pregnant women can stimulate the milk production.
The Jerusalem artichoke is gluten free and for this reason it is suitable for coeliac.