2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Does it sound surprising to add raw artichokes to your juice or smoothie recipes? Well, you will soon be even more surprised by the powerful disease-fighting compounds contained in artichokes.
But first, let's take a brief look at the fascinating story and the latest research on this unique vegetable.
A little history
It is easy to be frightened by this member of the donkey thorn family, but almost all artichokes are edible!
In recorded history, artichoke dates from the Mediterranean about 3,000 years ago, from where it spread north to Italy, Spain and France, and south and east to North Africa and Arabia.
Artichokes were used by the ancient Romans and Greeks as food and for medicinal purposes, especially as an aphrodisiac. The ancient Greeks believed that the artichoke was created when Zeus was angered by a beautiful woman who fooled his attention and turned her into a thorn!
In the 1800s, this wonderful food broke into the United States through French and Spanish immigrants.
Recent exciting research
Studies have shown that artichoke relieves a number of problems by acting as an analgesic for pain associated with indigestion and acid reflux, but also relieves constipation and stomach upsets.
Another study, reported by Langon Medical Center at New York University, found that artichoke consumption relieved dyspepsia, bloating, stomach problems and diarrhea.
Studies also show that the powerful compounds in artichokes lower bad (LDL) cholesterol while increasing good (HDL) cholesterol.
Other studies show that artichokes contain cancer-preventing compounds.
Incredible benefits
Low in calories and fat, artichoke is rich of fiber, antioxidants, folic acid, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals.
The nutritional benefits of artichokes it ranks among the superfoods. The vitamins it includes are A, C, E, K, D and a wide range of B-complex compounds.
The richness of minerals in artichokes range from calcium and iron to phosphorus, potassium, manganese, zinc, sodium and copper. Surprisingly, artichoke ranks among the foods with the highest content of antioxidants. In fact, science ranks artichoke as №7 among the top 20 foods that deliver the most antioxidants!
In the following lines, see how to prepare uniquely useful artichoke smoothie:
Necessary products: 1 apple; 2 carrots; 1/4 cup chopped raw artichoke; 3 to 4 leaves of greens (cabbage, spinach (); 1 to 2 tablespoons seeds or nuts (walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds or almonds); 1 to 2 cups of cow's milk (or rice, almond, oats or coconut).
Method of preparation: Mix the ingredients. Add only 3 to 4 leaves of greens because they are bitter and also because too much can upset your stomach.
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