A Cautionary Note

Although Jerusalem artichokes are indeed a nutritious food and good alternative to potatoes, one caveat must not be overlooked. The storage carbohydrate in Jerusalem artichokes is not starch but inulin (not to be confused with insulin), which is not digested or absorbed in the stomach. It is known to cause bloating, stomachaches, and flatulence in some people. In June 2010, a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reported that most subjects experienced little discomfort—most often minor bloating, gas, and stomach cramps—but some subjects could tolerate only the smallest amount of inulin. This is not new news! In 1621, English botanist John Goodyer, in an edition of Gerard’s Herbal, wrote: “which way soever they be dressed and eaten, they stir and cause a filthy loathsome stinking wind within the body, thereby causing the belly to be pained and tormented, and are a meat more fit for swine than men.”