A lot of people enjoy consuming artichokes. The artichokes are a delicious veggie, from the leaves right up to the heart. But, not a lot of people are aware of all the nutrients of the artichoke, making it a powerhouse of amazing health benefits that you can get just by adding the veggie into your regular dietary plan.
This is why we are here. We have comprised a small list of all the health benefits that come with the artichokes and we are here to enlighten you with them. We hope that you will like them as much as we have!
1. They are filled with antioxidants – the artichokes are considered to be a superfood in every sense of the word. The phytonutrients that are found in the artichokes can provide a lot of antoxidant benefits, and it has even been shown that a serving of artichokes provides much more antioxidant benefits than many other foods which are traditionally thought to be rich in antioxidants such as the red wine, dark chocolate and blueberries. The quercetin, anthocyanins, rutin, and plenty of other antioxidants which are present in the raw artichokes can offer a range of health benefits from preventing cancer to providing your body with the immune support that will keep you safe from heart diseases.
2. There are dietary fiber in them too – the men should be consuming about 30-38 grams of dietary fiber per day, and the women should consume about 21-25 grams. Currently, people consume about half of this amount, and this has started to lead to plenty of different potential health risks such as colon cancer or gut related diseases. Thankfully, 120 grams of artichokes contain about 10.3 grams of dietary fiber, making them a powerful tool that will not only keep you regular but it will also improve the overall digestive health. Just note that the artichokes are not limited to their fiber content.
3. Will support your digestive system – the artichokes have long been recommended as a gentle remedy for an upset stomach, especially the artichoke leaf extract. This is all due to a compound found in the artichokes called cynarin, which has been proven to increase the production of bile, help speeding up the movement of food as well as waste through the intestines and thus reducing the feeling of bloated belly. One of the main sources of the fiber, found in the artichokes is inulin, a known probiotic. It is able to increase the absorption of good bacteria in the gut.
4. Control your cholesterol levels – a study conducted in the year of 2001 with 143 participants suffering from high blood cholesterol were given artichoke leaf extract for a period of six weeks. The results were amazing – it has been shown that there was a clear reduction of the levels of bad cholesterol in the body for an amazing 20%, and the overall cholesterol levels had an overall of 8% reduction. This is why doctors urge you to try the artichokes before taking any cholesterol lowering medicine, mostly because the artichokes are natural, without any side effects and highly effective veggie for your overall health.
5. Improve your brain and cognitive benefits – the artichokes are able to provide you with aboout 12% of your recommended daily Vitamin K intake. This is a vitamin that can offer you a protection against any neuro damage or degeneration, thereby keeping at bay some of the cognitive diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Plenty of studies have shown that the Vitamin K rich diet was associated with better cognition with elderly people.
6. Provide a healthy liver – the artichokes, as well as the extract from the artichoke leaves have been recommended for a while now for the health of your liver. Some ongoing research has shown that the artichokes possess qualities that are able to protect the liver and decrease the blood lipids in the body, such as the cholesterol. Some researchers even believe that the mechanism for the beneficial effects on the liver can be related to the increased bile from the liver. Some of the compounds that have a positive effect on the health of the liver are cynarin and silymarin.
7. The artichokes are filled with folic acid – a serving of artichokes will provide you with 107 mcg of folic acid, a little over a quarter of the recommended daily dose of 400 mcg. The women who are pregnant should especially foocus on the folic acid, as it is able to prevent any neural tube deffects in the infant, as well as improve the fertility with both men and women. Also, the folic acid has been connected to the prevention of other complications that can occur during pregnancy or birth. Giving the fact that the list of risks during pregnancy is increasing by the minute, the artichokes are always a welcomed addition to your dietary plan.
8. They will ensure a normal blood pressure – the bananas, sweet potatoes and artichokes, which are foods high in potassium, will maintain an electrolyte balance within the body. Consuming plenty of potassium as well as magnesium is essential if you want to ward off the potential risks of having too much sodium in the body, particularly in the case of high blood pressure and hypertension. Also, people who are suffering from water retention may find the artichokes pretty useful too.
9. Maintain the bone health – we spoke earlier that the Vitamin K is able to reduce the neuro damage done to the body. Well, another interesting fact is that the Vitamin K plays an important role in the formation of bones and the general health of the bone health. The artichokes are also high in Vitamin C, which as been well known for its immune boosting properties, as it has been also directly linked to the production of collagen in the body. The collagen is a major factor that contributes to the health of the skin, bones as well as connective tissues. The potassium and magnesium are also crucial for the building of the tissues through the entire body, which clearly make the artichokes beneficial for the overall health.
10. Increase the metabolic function – finally, another interesting mineral found in the artichokes is the manganese. The manganese is used in the body to maintain the cholesterol levels, fatty acids, amino acids, and helps for the nutrients to be correctly absorbed in the body. If you are trying to lose some weight or imprve your metabolism, the artichokes are definitely the way to go.
The artichokes are one amazing veggie that you definitely need to incorporate in your every day dieting plan, so make sure you start consuming it on a daily basis now! Give your body all the benefits that it requires and make the artichoke a regular addition to your dietary plan! Build yourself up in a healthy way, now!