What is Chicory Root

Chicory Root comes from a bright blue-flowered plant in the dandelion family. It’s characterized by a tough, hairy stem, light purple flowers, and leaves that are commonly used in salads. While it's been used traditionally in herbal medicine and coffee alternatives, its biggest superpower lies in what it feeds—not just you, but your gut microbiome. This root is rich in inulin, a type of prebiotic fiber that nourishes the good bacteria in your gut, helping them thrive and support everything from digestion to immunity.

Although it's currently having a “glow-up” moment, Chicory Root has been around for centuries. It's had historical applications for food, medicine, and even ceremonial purposes. Fun fact: Chicory Root started becoming a coffee alternative around the Civil War era in America when coffee shipments were sparse.

 

Health Benefits and Uses of Chicory Root 

Chicory Root presents several health benefits:

• Improves Digestive Health: Chicory Root has inulin fiber, a type of prebiotic fiber that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Additionally, studies also show that Chicory may improve bowel function and reduce constipation
  
• Lowers Blood Sugar: Chicory Root contains inulin that has been shown to help manage blood sugar levels in both human and animal studies. In fact, Chicory Root extract could delay or prevent the early onset of diabetes mellitus
• Supports Weight Loss: Chicory Root inulin is a prebiotic fiber that may support weight loss. A study also found that Chicory-derived oligofructose, similar to inulin, helped decrease levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates feelings of hunger and helps reduce weight
  
• Complements Overall Health: Chicory Root provides trace amounts of vitamins and minerals such as manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamin C which are essential for overall health

  

Chicory Root in Shift

At Shift, we’re reimagining soda—from a guilty pleasure to a fitness companion. Every can is carefully crafted with functional ingredients that help you feel good and still taste great. At Shift, we’ve tapped into this powerhouse plant for a reason. We extracted the inulin fiber from the root and included it in our soda for its prebiotic-fiber properties that support gut health and weight loss. 

 

References

Guess, N.D., Dornhorst, A., Oliver, N. et al. (2015), "A randomized controlled trial: the effect of inulin on weight management and ectopic fat in subjects with prediabetes," https://nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12986-015-0033-2

Micka A, Siepelmeyer A, Holz A, Theis S, Schön C (2017), "Effect of consumption of chicory inulin on bowel function in healthy subjects with constipation," https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27492975/

Nishimura M, Ohkawara T, Kanayama T, Kitagawa K, Nishimura H, Nishihira J (2015), "Effects of the extract from roasted chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) root containing inulin-type fructans on blood glucose, lipid metabolism, and fecal properties," https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26151029/

Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD (2019), "5 Emerging Benefits and Uses of Chicory Root Fiber," accessed April 2, 2025, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/chicory-root-fiber