Eggplant Benefits for Health – Eggplant is known for its health benefits. However, there are also some things to watch out for because there are side effects if you eat eggplant.
The content of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in eggplant is beneficial for health. Eggplant intake can help improve heart health, improve diabetes conditions, reduce cancer risk, and improve cognitive function.
In addition, eggplants can also help you lose weight, fight certain types of cancer and help protect children from birth defects.
Benefits for Health
This is Eggplant Benefits for Health
1. Improve heart health
Raw and ripe eggplants have cardioprotective properties as found in a study by the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Eggplant turns out to be beneficial for the heart because it contains Nasunin which is a polyphenol component.
Another study found eggplant juice to lower cholesterol levels in rabbits with high cholesterol. Individuals who are stressed can control high blood pressure by consuming eggplant every day.
2. Control blood sugar levels
Eggplant can help control glucose absorption and regulate blood sugar levels because eggplant is low in soluble carbohydrates and rich in fiber. A study found that the phenolics in eggplants act as inhibitors of enzymes involved with type 2 diabetes.
3. Reducing the risk of cancer
Solasodine Rhamnosyl Glycosides (SRGs) found in eggplant skin extracts have cancer-fighting properties and can help treat skin cancer.
4. Improve cognitive function
Brain cell membranes can be protected from damage by the phytonutrients found in eggplant. In addition, Phytonutrients can maintain memory function by facilitating the transfer of messages from one cell to another.
5. Helps lose weight
Another health benefit of eggplant is losing weight. In eggplant, there are benefits of low calories and high water content.
6. Improve eye health
Lutein found in eggplant functions as a color pigment in the human eye (macular and retina). Antioxidants can prevent age-related macular degeneration, which is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment.
7. Improve bone health
The nutrients contained in eggplants such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and help increase bone mineral density.
8. Helps treat anemia
One of the most common causes of anemia is iron deficiency. Eggplant can help reduce the risk of developing anemia because eggplant is a vegetable that is rich in iron and copper. The production and effective distribution of red blood cells is obtained from these two minerals thereby increasing energy levels and hemoglobin.
9. Prevent birth defects
Eggplant contains folic acid which is very useful for pregnant women. A deficiency of folic acid can cause abnormalities in the fetus. Birth defects can be prevented by consuming foods rich in folic acids, such as this vegetable.
10. Improve skin health
Eggplant contains many vitamins, anthocyanins (natural plant compounds), minerals, and antioxidants. Besides being able to help slow aging, these compounds also help skin more radiant. However, verifying this claim has not found scientific evidence.
Side Effects of Eating Eggplant
Eggplant has many health benefits, but eggplant also has risks if consumed in excess.
1. Cause Allergies
Eggplants belong to the nightshade family of vegetables that are associated with allergic reactions.
However, allergic reactions rarely occur in some people due to certain protein-lipid transfers after consuming eggplant. Please note, the symptoms include itching, difficulty breathing, and swelling.
In rare cases, eggplant can also cause anaphylaxis (hypersensitivity condition). If you experience an allergic reaction, stop eating eggplant and consult a doctor.
2. interfere with the absorption of iron
Nasunin is an anthocyanin in eggplant skin that binds iron and removes it from cells. In other words, it can reduce iron absorption.
People with low iron levels are advised to limit their intake of eggplants.
3. Cause poisoning
Eggplants contain a natural toxin called solanine. If eggplant is consumed in excess it can cause nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness.
4. Increase the risk of kidney stones
Oxalates contained in eggplants are known to increase the risk of kidney stones. However, the available data is insufficient to prove this.
If you are at risk of kidney stones, limit eggplant consumption and consult your doctor.
