Many people believe that eggplants are not very useful for your health and that they are good only for garnishing food.
However, this is not true because eggplants are packed with different nutrients that help the body work better and improve your overall health.
Eggplants are known under different names like guinea squash, aubergine, and garden egg. No matter what name we use, the fact is that eggplants are one of the most nutritious foods that we can use.
Eggplant Nutritional Value
An average eggplant has 20 calories. In addition, this is the list of nutrients that you will consume when you eat one eggplant:
- 0.15 grams of fat
- 0.8 grams of protein
- 4.82 grams of carbs
- 2.5 grams of fiber
In addition, one cup of eggplants can provide:
- 5% of the recommended daily allowance or RDA of potassium
- About 10% RDA of fiber
- 3% RDA of vitamin C
- 5% RDA of vitamin B6
- 2% RDA of magnesium and
- 1% of the recommended daily allowance of iron
Health Benefits of Eating Eggplant
Eating eggplants regularly can protect you from various negative health issues. If you include eggplant in your daily menu you can expect the following health benefits:
Balanced Cholesterol Levels
Many studies have confirmed the hazards of high cholesterol levels. Thanks to eggplants, especially eggplant juice, you can lower cholesterol levels. Studies conducted on animals have shown the positive effects of eggplant juice on blood cholesterol and weight stabilization.
This is possible thanks to the chlorogenic acid found in eggplants. This is a strong acid that can eliminate free radicals which ultimately lowers LDL levels in the system. This means that eggplants also protect your body from bacteria, viruses, and carcinogenic formations.
Good For Your Heart
Eggplants are excellent for the heart because they are rich in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and many phytonutrients. These substances promote the health of your heart and protect you from cardiovascular diseases.
In addition, this plant can lower the chances of developing heart attacks and strokes thanks to the flavonoids it contains.
Reduce The Risk of Cancer
Eggplants contain polyphenols too and these compounds are known for their anti-cancer properties. Anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid are some of the polyphenols found in eggplants that act as antioxidants important for the protection of your body from oxidative stress an occurrence that leads to the destruction of cells.
In addition, polyphenols keep your body safe from free radicals and prevent the development of cancer cells and tumor growth.
Better Cognitive Function
The skin of eggplants is packed with anthocyanins, especially nasunin, which is an antioxidant that supports blood flow in the brain. In this way, you protect yourself from premature aging and the effects of this process on your cognitive function.
Remember that these are only some of the health benefits that eggplants provide. They are one of the most nutritious foods that you can include in your diet and their specific taste will make your meals more interesting.