Eggplant or brinjal is regularly known as the ‘King of greens’ and it is not without cause. Eggplant has a big range of fitness blessings. Eggplant enables you get robust bones and offsets the onset of osteoporosis. It lets you address symptoms of anemia, will increase cognitive characteristic, improves cardiovascular fitness, and, even, protects the digestive gadget. moreover, Eggplant also lets you shed pounds, reduces stress stages, allows to guard infants from delivery defects, and also fights some strains of most cancers.
Eggplant is a popular vegetable that is widely used in many recipes and dishes. While it provides numerous benefits, eating too much of it can be harmful to your health. This article discusses the major side effects associated with eating eggplant.
This plant contains mighty nutrients that offer a plethora of health benefits. It is high in fiber, which helps keep you feeling fuller for longer and may help reduce cholesterol levels. Additionally, eggplant is rich in vitamins and minerals that support immunity, skin health and digestive health.
Despite these potential benefits, consuming too much eggplant can lead to some adverse effects on your body. These include:
- Digestive issues such as gas and bloating.
- Kidney problems due to its oxalates content.
- Allergic reactions due to its allergen content.
- Increased risk of contact dermatitis due to its urushiol content.
- Nutrient deficiencies caused by imbalances in essential minerals such as calcium and zinc.
Eggplant – Nutrition, Benefits, Uses, Side Effects
Although eggplant is most commonly known as a vegetable, it is actually a berry, related to tomatoes and potatoes. Eggplants may have a range of potential health benefits due to their impressive nutrient composition.
They are relatively low in calories yet they pack numerous essential vitamins and minerals. Most notably, eggplant is an excellent source of dietary fiber, which can help to keep the digestive system healthy by promoting regularity. In addition, eggplant contains significant amounts of vitamin B1 and copper, which play important roles in producing energy and maintaining healthy nerve cells.
Benefits of eggplant for heart
Eggplant contains Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, potassium and phytonutrient and, thus, is good for overall heart health. Eggplant helps to maintain the cholesterol level in our body by increasing the intake of good cholesterol (HDL) and lowering bad cholesterol (LDL).
Risks of heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis are substantially reduced if LDL levels are reduced in our bodies. Eggplant also is effective in regulating our blood pressure and this ultimately reduces the stress and strain on our cardiovascular system. This helps to keep our hearts in good shape.
Benefits of eggplant for cancer
Eggplant cream or extract used for skin cancer, Eggplant has polyphenols that exhibit anti-cancer effects. The anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid present in eggplant function as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory and, thus, help to fight the effects of cancer. These compounds help to eliminate the harmful free radicals in our body and thereby protect our cells.
Eggplant further helps to prevent the growth of tumors and the growth and spreading of cancerous cells. Vitamin C, also present in eggplant, stimulates the production of white blood cells, which are our body’s primary line of defense.
Eggplant for digestion problems
Eggplant contains a very low content of cholesterol or fat. It is however rich in dietary fiber. This fiber adds bulk to our stool and helps in the effective elimination of waste materials from our body. The fiber present in eggplant stimulates the secretion of gastric juices which helps our body to easily digest food and also to absorb the nutrients.
Eggplant health benefits for weight loss
You can incorporate eggplant in your diet if you are keen to lose weight. Eggplant has no cholesterol, no fat and is very low in calories. Consumption of eggplant, rich in fiber, inhibits the release of a hormone called ghrelin.
This hormone is instrumental in causing us to feel hungry again. The fiber fills us up and reduces any chance of overeating.
Eggplant health benefits for bone health
Being rich in Vitamin K and copper, eggplant helps to prevent osteoporosis, increases bone strength, and also enhances mineral density. Collagen, present in this vegetable, helps in the formation of connective tissue and bones. The potassium in this eggplant helps to absorb calcium and, thus, helps your bones to be healthy and strong.
Eggplant health benefits for anemia
People having anemia suffer from headaches, migraines, fatigue, weakness, depression and cognitive malfunction. Eggplant, being a rich source of iron, helps to fight anemia and its resultant symptoms. Eggplant also contains copper which, together with iron, helps to increase the count of red blood cells. Adequate quantity of red blood cells is required to prevent the feelings of stress and fatigue and to feel energetic and strong.
Benefits of eggplant for pregnancy
Folate is essential for pregnant women as it aids in the brain development of the baby that she is carrying. Folic acid protects infants from any defects in their neural tubes. Thus it is advisable for pregnant women to include eggplant in their diet.
Eggplant benefits for diabetes patients
Eggplants are good for managing diabetes as it is rich in fiber and low in soluble carbohydrates. Eggplant good for diabetes, this vegetable helps to regulate glucose and insulin activity in the body. Stable levels of insulin help to avert the dangerous effects of diabetes in our bodies.
Uses of Eggplant
The skin of eggplant has a number of nutritional benefits. Eggplant is ranked among the top 10 vegetables in oxygen radical absorbance capacity. This is because it is rich in phenols which help to eliminate the free radicals in our body. Fried eggplant tastes good but they absorb a lot of oil. It is better to consume baked, roasted or steamed eggplant.
Eggplant Side-Effects & Allergies
Inspite of all the health benefits that eggplant provides, consumption of this vegetable in large quantities can have some harmful effects on your body. Nasunin, present in eggplant, is a phytochemical which can bind with iron and remove it from the cells. The oxalates in this vegetable can cause stones in the kidney. Finally, eggplant belongs to the nightshade family of vegetables and may cause allergic reactions in some people if taken in large quantities.
Cultivation of Eggplant or Brinjal
Eggplant is believed to have originated in India and it has been cultivated there as well as in China for close to 1500 years. In Sanskrit, literary references to eggplant can be found dating back to 3rd century A.D. The use of different types of eggplant is also documented in Chinese history within a period of 7th – 9th century A.D. Aubergine, as it is known in the United Kingdom, first appeared in a British botany book in the 16th century. Later, this vegetable was introduced to different countries via different trade routes.
Eggplant grows best in warm climates and a temperature range of 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Rich, well-drained slightly alkaline soil is also best suited for the cultivation of this vegetable. This plant requires about 5 months of warm weather before it can bear fruits.