Want to lose weight or improve brain function? Research suggests that you could get that (and more) from eggplant.

The eggplants journey to the Pacific Islands is not known, some scholars have suggested, through DNA sequence data, that eggplants arose in Africa and were dispersed throughout the Middle East to Asia. So, most probably, shipped in those tiny outriggers by our non-Austronesian ancestors thousands of years ago.

Back to the subject at hand, eggplants are now known to have a unique range of health benefits, including an ability to help build strong bones, reduce the symptoms of anemia, and increase cognition.

Eggplant is also good for those wanting to lose those love handles, manage diabetes, improve cardiovascular health and as a boon to the digestive system.

According to USDA National Nutrient Database, eggplants have a high-water content with almost no cholesterol or fat and are a source of vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, dietary fiber, folic acid, potassium, and manganese.

Sounds abit technical, but what it means is it is good for your health!

So, health benefits of eggplant include the following:

Aid in Digestion

Eggplants, like many other vegetables, are good sources of dietary fiber, a necessary element in any balanced diet. Fiber is essential for gastrointestinal health, as well as for regular bowel movements. It bulks up your stool, so it passes more easily through the digestive tract, while also stimulating peristaltic motion, the contraction of the smooth muscles that help food pushed out of the body.

So, basically, good for taking a poop!

Weight Loss

My personal favorite! Always fantasied about eating my way out of my weight issues. A study in Nutrition Reviews confirmed what most of us already known, which is that dietary fiber intake–us in the Pacific Islands too–is lacking.

At only 15 grams per day, the American Heart Association recommends 25–30 grams per day, many efforts are being made to increase dietary fiber intake. Consuming 25 grams of fiber daily or more may help to decrease the currently high national prevalence of obesity. Since eggplants contain a minimal amount of fat or cholesterol and high-water content, they are very healthy food for people trying to lose weight or battling obesity.

Basic message is that it is filling!

Improve Bone Health

Eggplants are very good for people at a high risk of bone degradation and osteoporosis. Why? They contain phenolic compounds, which are what give eggplants and many other fruits their unique coloration. These compounds have also been linked to reduced signs of osteoporosis, stronger bones, and increased bone mineral density in certain populations. Eggplants also have significant amounts of iron and calcium, also integral to bone health and overall strength.

Good for gym junkies!

Prevent Anemia

A deficiency in iron can be very dangerous to overall health, and it can manifest as a condition called anemia. Anemia is characterized by headaches (some at a migraine level), fatigue, weakness, depression, and even cognitive malfunction. Therefore, eating foods high in iron may help combat anemia, and eggplants are iron-containing food. Eggplants are also very rich in copper, another essential component of red blood cells (RBCs), just like iron. Without these two minerals, the red blood cells in the body cannot function normally. With healthier red blood cells coursing through your veins, you will see a noticeable boost in energy and strength, which will eliminate feelings of fatigue.

Improve Brain Function

Eggplants are wonderful sources of phytonutrients, which have long been thought to assist in boosting cognitive activity and general mental health. They not only defend against the free radical activity but also increase blood flow to the brain. Phytonutrients and potassium–which acts as a vasodilator assisting in widening blood vessels–could be considered “brain boosters,” delivering more oxygen-rich blood to the brain.

So, next time, instead of waiting for those leaked exam papers, maybe consider eating eggplants before an exam.

A word of caution to readers, eggplants are a part of the nightshade family – which also include tomato and bell peppers – and in some cases are known to cause severe allergic reactions.

So eat in moderation, more is not always better!

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With https://www.organicfacts.net