Have you ever heard about the health benefits of artichokes?
Nowadays, taking good care of ourselves has become a daily duty. So, not only do we need to follow our medical prescriptions and go for regular check-ups: it’s also essential to care for our diet.
We need to include in our diet certain foods that offer us important nutrients, well-being, quality of life and even beauty.
There are countless lists, articles and opinions about which fruits, vegetables and cereals we should eat, how to combine them and what time of day to eat them depending on the benefits that we’re seeking from them.
Today, we’re going to introduce you to the world of artichokes, a green vegetable which hides in its leaves an immeasurable treasure chest of vitamins, which has been sought after and venerated throughout history.
In the Middle Ages, it was one of the most expensive vegetables around, which important people paid large sums of money for.
Now, we’re lucky to have easy access to this great vegetable!
Curious facts about artichokes
- Believe it or not, you can eat the entire artichoke. This is great, because it has so many benefits and its structure is so rich in nutrients that nothing should get left out.
- You can even find artichoke capsules in some shops, and you can also buy it in its natural state.
- When buying natural artichokes, you should choose the heaviest ones with the thickest leaves and a light green color. This means they are fresh and will offer you more vitamins of better quality.
6 Health Benefits of Artichokes
Now that you know how important they are, we’re going to list the six main health benefits of artichokes:
1. Excellent choice for digestion
Artichokes have stupendous digestive benefits. This makes them ideal for treating rheumatic diseases, gall bladder stones and imbalances in uric acid levels.
They also control imbalances in bowel movements, helping with both constipation and diarrhea.
2. Reduces triglycerides and cholesterol
The nutrients founds in artichokes help reduce triglyceride levels.
They also help reduce the levels of cholesterol in your blood, especially bad cholesterol (LDL), as well as increasing good cholesterol (HDL).
This characteristic makes them a wonderful ally for fighting conditions like arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure.
3. A favorite in diets
Thanks to their high vegetable fiber content, artichokes are perfect for controlling the appetite correctly.
They absorb water from your stomach, which makes them increase in size and fill the space. This way they create a pleasant sensation of being full and stop you over-eating other foods due to anxiety or gluttony.
4. Incredible diuretic properties
This green wonder also helps fight liquid retention and eliminates waste from the body, including dangerous toxins and poisons.
Artichokes are an ideal option for naturally treating conditions like:
- Arthritis
- Circulation problems
- Liver problems
- Reducing fat
5. Prevents cancer
Several scientific studies have focused on artichokes thanks to their important role in our diet and all the nutrients they contain.
This interest has been rewarded with fascinating discoveries. The caffeic acid and flavonoids found in artichokes are great for preventing cancer and can even help as part of the treatment to fight this disease.
6. Abundant with vitamins
We’ve already mentioned a few times that artichokes offer many nutrients, and we can’t help but list the vitamins that they provide as one of their benefits.
Among the vitamins and minerals found in artichokes, the ones which stand out most are vitamins A and B, magnesium, potassium, sodium and iron. They also transform sugar into energy.
Are you still doubting whether to include artichokes in your diet? Don’t hesitate! Add artichoke to your daily meals to get all these benefits. Their innumerable properties make this vegetable an essential on your dinner table.
Via: ServingJoy | DoveMed
