Eggplants are one of the most underrated vegetable out there. There is a myth that eggplants do not contain any health benefit or nutrients at all. Eggplant has been given the reputation of being non-nourishing and something that should not be fed to children. This is a load of bologna. Whoever started this myth should say a big apology to this delicious and healthy vegetable. This humble food is not only cheap, easy to cook and delicious. It is also filled with nutrients, minerals and health benefits. We’ve compiled some of these health benefits below.
Reduce Cholesterol
Research has shown that eating eggplants can help reduce cholesterol. This is said to be mostly due to the nasunin. This a powerful free radical fighter that can help prevent the lipid peroxidation. This can help prevent atherosclerosis and other cholesterol related diseases. A test was done on rabbits with high cholesterol. They were given eggplant juice with their regular diet and it showed a lot of difference in their bad cholesterol level. It showed a great decline in the cholesterol level. This is said to be due to the terpenes and nasunin in the eggplant. It is said to best to consume steamed or boiled.
Aide with Weight Loss
Eggplants are one of the best food to eat when you are trying to lose weight. Not only is this delicious vegetable, easy to cook and versatile. It is also incredibly low in calorie. The eggplant can be prepared in numerous ways. It can be steamed, stir fried, boiled and so on. It is mostly used in Asian cuisine, but can be used in different cooking styles too. Another great reason why eggplants are great for weight loss is its texture. It tends to be smooth, but heavy on the stomach, making you feel like you’ve eaten more than you actually have. It also absorbs a lot of moisture in the digestive track this helps make you feel fuller longer. Eggplants also contain soluble fiber and cholorogenic acid that is known to fight obesity.
Great for The Bones
Eggplants are rich in minerals such as iron and calcium that can help strengthen the bones. This nutrient is also required by the body to remain strong and healthy. This is a great snack too. It can be grilled, used as a dip, steamed, used in pastas, stir fried and so on. You can be incredibly creative with eggplant. It is a versatile food that can be used in different ways.
Great for Diabetic
Eggplants contain low soluble carbohydrate and high fiber that are essential to a diabetic diet. These ingredients are known to help manage some of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Eggplants also contain antioxidants that can help prevent hyperglycemia induced pathogenesis. It is best to eat this snack steamed, boiled or grilled; instead of deep fried. The heat can help reduce the nutrients in the snack and since eggplants are very absorbent. It can absorb a lot of oil from frying. If you really want to keep it healthy, avoid using oils with eggplants.
Helps with Cancer
An ingredient in eggplants that are known to reduce cancer is solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides. This ingredient is known to induce apoptosis that can help anticancer agents in the body and fight off cancer cells. Solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides is known to be used in anticancer therapies. It has been used
intravenously, topically and orally. This is a great food to add to your diet. It is easy to swallow and can be eaten in smooth and liquid form.
Improving The Mood
Eggplants are known to improve mood. This is said to be due to the chlorogenic acid in the eggplant. Studies revealed that this acid is known to boost the mood and reduce stress levels. This ingredient is present in mood booster medication. There are so many more health benefits to this vegetable. The myth that eggplants are unhealthy was said to have started a few decades ago. It was believed that eating this purple vegetable can cause insanity, cancer and leprosy. It was only 50 years ago that this was disproven. There is now a lot of scientific proof that shows that eggplants contain nutrients, minerals and antioxidants that can benefit the body.
