The Health Benefits of Eggplants

This purple vegetable increase your immunity and protect your arteries.

Eggplants, one of the few purple vegetable aren’t very popular with consumers. In fact, they don’t even rank in the top veggies sold in the Market. But, after reading about the nutritional benefits of it, you may want to use it regularly. Here’s the information on this plant, and easy ways to incorporate it into everyday eating routine.

Eggplant nutrition facts: One cup of eggplant provide just 20 calories(not much), but offers up some important nutrients. Anthocyanins(the pigments that give eggplants their purple color), have antioxidant properties linked to anti-inflammation and obesity protection. Another, called nasunin, who stops free radicals, and protecting cells from damage that can lead to premature aging and disease.

A cup of eggplant also provides about 10% of the daily target for Manganese, a mineral that helps produce collagen and promote skin and bone health. It also supplies smaller amounts of folate and other vitamin B, potassium, and vitamin C and K.

Eggplant benefits: In addition to the antioxidants, nutrients, and fiber eggplants provide, protection against heart disease. Eggplant reduce artery stiffness and central blood pressure in women. Central blood pressure, the pressure in the aorta, which sends blood from the heart out to the body. It also help prevent the heart attack or stroke.

Carbohydrates in eggplant: Eggplant is a non-starchy, or low-carbohydrates vegetable. A one cup portion, contains around 5 grams of carbohydrates. Eggplant fiber helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels, and supports weight loss.

The nightshade problem: Eggplants are a member of the nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes and potatoes. If you have an existing inflammatory condition, such as arthritis or osteoarthritis, avoiding nightshades may help your symptoms. But there is no solid research to show that nightshades cause inflammatory conditions to develop.

It’s also important to know that steaming, boiling, and baking all help reduce the alkaloid content of nightshades by about 40% to 50%. In addition, you lose out on the anti-inflammatory antioxidants and other nutrients nightshades provide when you avoid the entire group.

Ways to enjoy eggplant: When cooking eggplant, try to include the skin, which is entirely edible, as it contains many of the beneficial nutrients. Eat as a side dish, add to salads, Cut eggplant into rounds and cook on the grill, alongside other veggies.