Artichoke Flower Tea
10 uses of artichokes: Comprehensive health benefits
Since ancient Egypt, artichokes have been used as a digestive aid. Today, thanks to developed science, we know more that artichoke contains many nutrients that are beneficial for health.
1. Cancer prevention
Artichokes have the highest antioxidant content of all vegetables. Also, out of 1,000 foods, artichokes rank 7th in antioxidant content. Antioxidants can fight off the effects of free radicals that lead to a number of dangerous diseases in the body. This antioxidant property comes from a number of substances found in artichokes, including polyphenols. Polyphenols have cancer-preventing properties, which means they can slow, stop, or completely reverse the effects of cancer in any patient.
In addition, the antioxidant power of artichoke also comes from its high quercetin and rutin content. These are two particular antioxidants that have been shown to reduce the risk of developing cancer.
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that is abundant in artichokes. Vitamin C can help you limit diseases such as mucositis and fibrosis, and reduce the risk of breast cancer. .
2. Limit the risk of heart disease
What are the benefits of artichokes - the use of artichokes for heart health?
In addition to its impressive ability to "fight" against cancer, artichokes are also an effective "assistant" for heart health.
Certain components in artichoke leaves can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and increase good cholesterol (HDL or omega-3 fatty acids) levels in the body. Cholesterol is a type of fat that builds up in the arteries of the cardiovascular system, blocking blood flow, raising blood pressure, and possibly leading to potentially fatal heart attacks and strokes.
3. Helps reduce blood pressure
Artichokes are an extremely rich source of potassium, a nutrient that affects many organs in the body. Potassium helps to normalize the effects of excess salt, the cause of hypertension. Thus, artichoke acts as a vasodilator and is beneficial for people taking blood pressure medication to prevent potassium deficiency.
In addition, if you have diabetes, you should also take artichokes as it can help you prevent complications related to blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease.
4. Good for liver health
Artichokes have also been used as liver tonics for centuries. Artichokes contain cynarin and silymarin, two antioxidants that have the ability to improve liver health by reducing toxins and helping to remove them from the liver and body.
Several studies have shown that these antioxidants can actively promote regrowth and repair of damaged liver cells.
5. Good for the digestive system
Artichokes are a high-fiber food, one of the most beneficial nutrients in improving digestive health and function. The fiber present in artichokes helps you to reduce the symptoms of constipation. In addition, fiber can reduce the risk of stomach and intestinal cancers, tension, bloating, and upset stomach. Furthermore, if you have problems with loose stools or diarrhea, fiber can absorb excess fluid. Fiber also acts as a cleaning group for excess LDL cholesterol, thus cleaning your arteries and reducing your risk of heart disease.
Another artichoke benefit is soothing the gallbladder and solving problems when the organs are congested. Therefore, artichoke is also a good food to help stimulate the production and secretion of gastric juice, bile, and easy digestion.
6. Relieve discomfort caused by drinking
Artichoke has great benefits for the liver and relieves congestion and eliminates the level of toxins in the blood quickly. Therefore, artichoke is also a treatment for discomfort caused by drinking alcohol.
7. Useful for pregnant women
The above still does not say all about the effects of artichokes, artichokes even help women nurture healthy fetuses and develop normally. The high concentration of folic acid in artichokes can prevent neural tube defects from appearing in babies.
8. The use of artichoke is good for bones
Artichokes are one of the best foods that provide vitamins and minerals, especially magnesium, phosphorus and manganese. These minerals are essential components of promoting bone health and density, thereby reducing the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis.
9. Helps with metabolism
Magnesium and manganese are two essential components of the body's metabolism and they are also found in artichokes. Magnesium plays an important role in protein synthesis, as well as optimizing the amount of calcium in the body, helping to build strong bones. Manganese affects the metabolic rate of cholesterol, amino acids and carbohydrates in the body.
10. Helpful for brain function
Artichoke acts as a vasodilator allowing more oxygen to flow to the brain to improve cognitive function. Phosphorus, an essential mineral found in artichokes, is found in brain cells. Phosphorus deficiency is associated with severe decline in cognitive ability.
Although artichoke has many health benefits, you should still use it with caution. Some people who are sensitive to components of artichoke may be allergic. Patients with liver disease or gallbladder disease should also not add artichokes to their diet as they can aggravate the condition.
