Chicory Root Inulin: The Fibre Your Gut Has Been Texting You About

Your soda isn't the problem.

The no-fibre diet is.

Most people are walking around with a gut that's basically running on "low power mode." And then we act shocked when digestion is messy, cravings are loud, and energy is all over the place.

Enter chicory root inulin. A humble plant fibre with a big job: feed the good bacteria in your gut. No woo. No "detox tea" drama. Just real science doing real work.

This is the ingredient that makes chicory root the scientific anchor of gut health nutrition, and a key part of the ANOTHRFormula™. ANOTHR is India's first prebiotic cold drink, containing 7g of chicory root inulin per 330ml can.

What is chicory root inulin?

Chicory root inulin is a soluble plant fibre found in the taproot of Cichorium intybus, a tough little plant in the Asteraceae family. It's a fructan: a chain of fructose molecules linked by bonds your body can't break down.

Your gut bacteria can.

That's what makes it a prebiotic: food for the good microbes already living in your gut.

Let's keep this simple.

You need fibre. Your gut microbes need fibre. Modern diets don't give enough fibre.

So bacteria get hungry.

And hungry bacteria get... chaotic.

Chicory root inulin helps fix that.

How much inulin is in chicory root?

Chicory's root holds a lot of inulin. Researchers in the 1970s found the root can be about 40% inulin by dry weight.

That's why chicory went from "old-school herb" to "global functional food MVP."

At ANOTHR, we use high-purity chicory root inulin to deliver 7g of fibre in every can.

Yes, it's soda.

No, it's not the sketchy kind.

Where does chicory root come from?

Chicory didn't show up because a wellness influencer needed content.

Humans have used it for centuries. Mostly for digestion.

Ancient Egypt (around 2000 BC): Chicory was used for medicinal purposes including digestive issues. That's over 4,000 years of receipts.

Europe, for centuries: People brewed the root to support appetite and ease mild stomach discomfort.

New Orleans, 1800s: French colonial traditions brought chicory-coffee blends to Louisiana. When the Civil War disrupted coffee supplies, locals leaned harder on chicory root as a substitute. People still drink it that way today.

It's basically the "reliable friend" of plants.

How does chicory root inulin work?

Here's the key part:

You can't digest inulin.

Your gut bacteria can.

So when you drink an ANOTHR soda, the inulin moves through your small intestine untouched and lands in your colon like:

"Hello. I'm here for the microbes."

Prebiotic = food for your good gut bacteria.

Not bacteria itself.

Not a "probiotic capsule situation."

It's the fuel.

What are the gut health benefits of chicory root inulin?

Good bacteria thrive.

Bad bacteria get less room to cause trouble.

Research shows inulin selectively feeds beneficial bacteria, especially Bifidobacterium. A 2025 clinical trial found chicory root fibre increased Bifidobacterium by 4.1 times and butyrate-producing bacteria (Anaerostipes) by 3.7 times (PMC 2025).

What are SCFAs and why do they matter?

When bacteria ferment inulin, they make short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, acetate, and propionate.

These compounds do serious work:

Fuel for your gut lining: Butyrate is a primary energy source for colon cells, helping maintain a strong gut barrier.

A better gut environment: Fermentation lowers colon pH, making it harder for harmful bacteria to thrive.

Immune support: A significant portion of immune activity is centred in your gut. Feed the good bacteria, support the whole system.

That same 2025 trial measured SCFA increases directly: acetate up 56%, propionate up 18%, butyrate up 17%. Not theory. Measured in humans (PMC 2025).

Your immune system has roommates.

Feed the good ones.

How much fibre do Indians need per day?

Here's where it gets personal for India. The average Indian gets roughly 15g of fibre per day. ICMR recommends 30g. That's a 50% deficit. And 70% of the Indian population is borderline fibre-deficient, with women hit even harder (ICMR 2024 Guidelines).

Less fibre means less fuel for microbes.

And that can lead to lower microbial diversity: fewer different "good" species doing their jobs.

Diversity matters

Research suggests eating a wider variety of plant foods is linked to a more diverse microbiome. The American Gut Project, one of the largest microbiome studies ever conducted (McDonald et al., 2018, mSystems), found plant variety was the factor most strongly tied to microbiome diversity.

That's why ANOTHR doesn't rely on one fibre alone. Chicory root + other fibres (like guar fiber) helps support variety.

And again: 7g fibre per can makes "eat more fibre" way less annoying.

No spreadsheets. No sad salads. Just sip.

What are the proven benefits of chicory root inulin?

Chicory root inulin doesn't just "support the microbiome" in theory. Clinical trials back it up.

Better regularity

Inulin adds bulk and helps support normal bowel movement patterns. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approved a health claim in 2015: chicory inulin "contributes to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency" at 12g/day. That's the first and only authorized health claim for a prebiotic fibre in the EU.

No harsh stimulant laxative energy.

More like... a gentle nudge.

Blood sugar and metabolic health

Because inulin isn't digested into sugar, it has minimal impact on blood glucose.

A 2025 RCT with obese, insulin-resistant adults found 12 weeks of chicory root consumption significantly improved whole-body insulin sensitivity (p=0.032) and decreased triglycerides (PMC 2025). With 101 million Indians living with Type 2 diabetes (IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024), this matters.

Translation: fibre that doesn't act shady.

Weight management

A 2024 meta-analysis in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reviewed 32 randomized controlled trials (~1,200 participants) and found chicory inulin-type fructans led to a statistically significant 2% body weight reduction, along with reductions in BMI and waist circumference (AJCN 2024).

Not a miracle pill. Just a metabolic nudge in the right direction.

Mineral absorption

Fermentation lowers colon pH, which may improve absorption of minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Your gut sets the stage.

Minerals just show up better when it's not chaos back there.

How much chicory root inulin is safe per day?

Short answer: yes. Clinical trials have safely used 8-18g/day for up to 24 weeks. 7g sits right in the effective zone.

One thing to know: Inulin is a fructan, which means it's classified as a high-FODMAP food. If you have diagnosed IBS or IBD, talk to your doctor first. For everyone else, start slow if you're new to fibre. A little gas at the start is normal. Your gut is adjusting.

Honesty builds more trust than pretending side effects don't exist.

Chicory root inulin vs. other fibre sources

ANOTHR's chicory root inulin is specifically a prebiotic fibre. Not all fibre feeds gut bacteria the same way.

What other nutrients are in chicory root?

Chicory root also contains bioactive compounds like chicoric acid and chlorogenic acid, which are linked to antioxidant activity.

They help plants defend themselves, and in humans they may support the body's response to oxidative stress. In ANOTHR, these compounds complement other botanicals (like rosemary extract) as part of a broader formula.

Sassy on the outside.

Science on the inside.

Final word: chicory root inulin is not a trend. It's a fix.

Chicory root inulin is simple, proven, and very needed in a fibre-light world.

It feeds your good bacteria.

It helps your gut make useful compounds.

It supports regularity, metabolic balance, and mineral absorption.

And it does all that without asking you to become a different person who "loves kale." That's the chicory root benefits story in a nutshell: old ingredient, new format, real gut health results.

It's been used for over 4,000 years. It's approved by FSSAI. It's backed by dozens of clinical trials. And it's in every can of ANOTHR.

Your gut deserves better. So do you.

Do better. Drink ANOTHR.

ANOTHR is a prebiotic cold drink brand that uses chicory root inulin as a key ingredient. This article was written by our editorial team. Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical condition, consult your doctor before making dietary changes.

Last reviewed: 2026-03-14

Sources

1. ICMR. "Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024." Link

2. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2024). "Effects of chicory inulin-type fructans on weight management: systematic review, meta-analysis of 32 RCTs." Link

3. PMC (2025). "Intrinsic chicory root fibers modulate colonic microbial butyrate-producing pathways and improve insulin sensitivity in individuals with obesity." Link

4. PMC (2022). "Chicory: Understanding the Effects and Effectors of This Functional Food." Link

5. Watson, A. W., et al. (2019). "Changes in Stool Frequency Following Chicory Inulin Consumption." Food Hydrocolloids. Link

6. Global Prebiotic Association. "Prebiotic Type Spotlight: Inulin." Link

7. Global Prebiotic Association. "Prebiotic Regulatory Guide: India." Link