TOPINAMBUR. Also called sunroot, sunchoke, or earth apple originates from North America. Jerusalem artichoke (lat. Helianthus tuberosus) are certainly one of the options to bring something new, special and healthy to everyday menu. We can find it in home gardens, parks, at the edges of forests, along roads, on the banks of rivers and so on. Although the plant is related to sunflower, it hides many hunchbacked tuber in the soil. From them we can prepare various dishes that can be eaten raw or cooked. Due to its similar consistency, many Jerusalem artichokes use the same as potatoes, but its taste is sweeter and somewhat reminiscent of nuts. Compared to potatoes their meat is juicier and tastier.

Jerusalem artichoke tubers contain:

• 78 % water
• 20 % inulin
• a maximum of 2.5 % protein
• 0.2 % of vitamins A, B1, B2 and C.
•  minerals calcium, iron, phosphorus, silicon and potassium.

Inulin – polysaccharide has quite a few properties that can have a good effect on our health and well-being:

• lower blood cholesterol levels
• stimulates the activity of bifidus bacteria
• increases the absorption of minerals from the gastrointestinal tract into the blood
• does not work dental plaque
• acts preventively against colon disease
• lowers blood cholesterol
• beneficial effect on blood sugar.
• Due to the fiber, it works well on digestion.

Due to the listed positive effects on our body, jerusalem artichoke is recommended in the diet of diabetics, people who have digestive problems, with elevated blood lipids and in the implementation of slimming diet therapy. It also greatly enriches vegetarian menus and other alternative forms of diet. Jerusalem artichoke is one of the nutrients from the neutral part of the spectrum. Because it is rich in minerals, it has an alkaline effect on our body and helps to restore the balance between acids and bases. All our organs can function normally only when the amounts of acidic and basic substances in the body are balanced.