Contents:
- Medical Video: Top 5 Health Benefits Of Eggplant
- What plant is actually eggplant?
- Health benefits of eggplant
- 1. Maintain heart health
- 2. Control cholesterol levels
- 3. Improve brain function
- 4. Prevent cancer
- 5. Make skin softer and radiant
Medical Video: Top 5 Health Benefits Of Eggplant
If you are a fan of authentic Indonesian cuisine, maybe you are already very familiar with what is called eggplant. Eggplant is a versatile cooking ingredient. The methods for processing it are various, ranging from being seared, fried, to making chili sauce. You can also find eggplant dishes easily everywhere. However, did you know that eggplant turned out to offer a variety of properties that are good for health? Apart from being delicious, you have 5 more reasons to routinely eat eggplant. To find out more about the benefits of eggplant for the body, just look at the information below.
What plant is actually eggplant?
Eggplants are widely grown in tropical and subtropical countries such as South Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Africa. Although eggplant is more often processed as a vegetable or side dish, eggplant is actually a fruit. The fate is the same as cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, or chili which are more often cooked than consumed as fruits.
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If you hear the word eggplant, you may immediately imagine dark purple fruit that looks like cucumber. In fact, there are still various other types of eggplant that are not so popular. The types include green eggplant and round eggplant. Round eggplants are usually served as a complement to fresh vegetables. However, whatever type of eggplant you like, its usefulness for your health is still good and should not be missed.
Health benefits of eggplant
During this time eggplant is rarely seen as a source of nutritious food. In fact, the benefits of eggplant are so diverse, ranging from maintaining heart health to making skin glow naturally. Here is a full explanation.
1. Maintain heart health
The content of fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and phytonutrients make the benefits of eggplant so great for your heart health. In addition, flavonoids or water-soluble pigments in eggplant can also prevent various types of heart disease. According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2012, one type of flavonoids that is effective for protecting the heart is anthocyanin. This pigment can also reduce your blood pressure. So, you are at risk of developing heart disease or hypertension should start eating eggplant which is rich in anthocyanins.
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2. Control cholesterol levels
A study conducted by experts in Brazil shows that eating eggplant regularly can help you control cholesterol levels. Because the research team at the US Department of Agriculture found that eggplant is rich in chlorogenic acid compounds. This compound is proven to be able to reduce weight and levels of bad cholesterol or LDL (low density lipoproteins) in the body. Eggplant itself does not contain cholesterol at all so it is safe for people who need to maintain a balance of cholesterol levels.
In addition to reducing bad cholesterol levels, chlorogenic acid also functions as an antiviral, antimicrobial and anticarcinogen. You will also avoid various other dangerous diseases if you regularly eat eggplant.
3. Improve brain function
The benefits of eggplant can also be obtained from the skin. Eggplant skin is rich in nasunin, an antioxidant that is good for brain health. Nasunin can protect brain cell membranes from attacks by free radicals and accelerate the process of distribution of nutrients in the body's cells. Another nutrient in eggplant that is good for your brain is anthocyanin.
According to a study in The British Journal of Nutrition in 2010, the pigment is responsible for triggering blood circulation to the brain and preventing nerve inflammation of the brain. This can prevent various diseases and impaired cognitive function of the brain caused by the aging process. In addition, your memory will also become stronger if you get used to eating eggplant.
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4. Prevent cancer
Not many have highlighted one of the benefits of eggplant which is preventing cancer. In fact, eggplant is rich in polyphenols, anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid. These substances are good for preventing tumor growth and stopping the spread of cancer cells in your body. In addition, these three substances will trigger the production of special enzymes in cells that are responsible for removing various poisons and killing cancer cells. Chlorogenic acid is also antimutagenic, which means this compound can counteract the mutation of cancer-causing genes.
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5. Make skin softer and radiant
Unexpectedly, eggplant can be the answer to your dull and dry skin problems. This fruit is rich in antioxidants and consists of about 92 percent water. So, eating eggplant can help moisturize and nourish the skin from the inside. Antioxidants will also counteract free radicals that can kill your skin cells so that the skin becomes supple and looks darker.
