Great Reasons to Eat Eggplant

Rebecca Lewis December 21, 2016

Eggplant is a widely available produce that’s long prized for its unique taste and texture, and beautiful, glossy purple colour. It’s delicious when grilled, fried or steamed and can be added to many dishes and specialties. But apart from all these, did you know that eggplant is also considered a superfood? From boosting your brain power to strengthening your cardiovascular health, eggplant is really a great addition to your diet.

Here are some of the amazing health benefits of this superfood:

Brain food

Like all other vegetables, eggplants are packed with vitamins and minerals that nourish your body. But eggplant is specifically rich in nasunin, an antioxidant found in the peel of the vegetable. It’s a potent antioxidant that is beneficial to the brain, particularly the brain cell membranes. Cell membranes are composed of lipids that protect the cell from free radicals, and is responsible for allowing nutrients to come in and the waste, out.

Antioxidant

Apart from nasunin, eggplants also contain phenolic compounds that function as antioxidants. These compounds fight oxidative stress, which causes cellular damage in the body, leading to a host of chronic illnesses. A predominant phenolic compound present in eggplant is chlorogenic acid which has anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-LDL (bad cholesterol) and antiviral activities.

Cardiovascular Health

Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in Britain and elsewhere. Fortunately, there are simple lifestyle changes that one can do to fight heart problems. And they include eating eggplants. Juice extracted from eggplant has been shown in clinical studies to lower bad cholesterol and relax blood vessels, which in turn improve blood flow. Meanwhile, apart from being a potent antioxidant, nasunin is also an iron chelator. It works by balancing the amount of iron in the body, as too much of it can boost free radical production and is associated with heart disease and cancer.

Weight Management

Eggplant is very low in calories, with just 35 a cup. It has no fats and has very high fibre content, which makes it a great food for weight loss. And since it has lots of fibre, consuming eggplant can help you manage your blood sugar levels and protect you from developing diabetes.

Eggplants have a lot to offer when it comes to health and wellness. Stuff, grill, bake, roast, and stew your eggplants. They are delicious in every way. Just don’t fry them. Eggplants soak a lot of oil when fried, which makes them unhealthy and less flavourful.

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