Eggplant is a nutrient-rich food, including fiber, vitamins and minerals. This type of eggplant brings many benefits to overall health and protects against the risk of cardiovascular disease. The article below will summarize 7 reasons to add eggplant to your diet more often to improve your health, let’s find out now!
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
Eggplant contains nasunin – a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent inflammation and minimize damage from free radicals. Research shows that nasunin has the ability to prevent inflammation and fight free radicals, thereby reducing lipid oxidation in the body. This not only helps the body absorb iron more effectively but also helps eliminate toxic metals such as mercury, arsenic and lead, contributing to purifying and detoxifying the body.
Eggplants contain antioxidants that help protect the body from the effects of free radicals.
Furthermore, nasunin is also known for its ability to protect cell lipid membranes, prevent cell damage and mutations, thereby reducing the risk of premature cell death. If antioxidants such as nasunin are lacking, the body is prone to the accumulation of toxins and waste, leading to dangerous diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and other diseases related to cell damage.
Improve the digestive system
With a high water content and low calories, eggplant helps purify the digestive system by removing waste and toxins. The water and fiber in this food play an important role in supporting intestinal motility, helping stool move more easily.
Regular consumption of eggplant, combined with a sufficient water intake, also helps prevent diseases related to the digestive tract such as constipation, enteritis and other digestive disorders. Not only that, this food is also considered an effective support method in reducing inflammation and treating autoimmune diseases thanks to its ability to purify the digestive system.
Effective weight loss support
Thanks to its high water and fiber content, eggplant is considered the perfect food for a diet. Not only low in calories, this food also provides many essential phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals, helping the body stay healthy without worrying about gaining weight.
The fiber in eggplant helps prolong the feeling of fullness, reduces appetite and limits the consumption of other unhealthy foods. This is especially important for those who are in the process of controlling their weight. In addition, eggplant also helps increase metabolism and supports energy burning, contributing to sustainable weight loss.
Control blood sugar levels
Eggplant is one of the vegetables with a low glycemic index (GI), very suitable for people with diabetes. Consuming foods with a low GI helps increase blood sugar levels slowly, preventing spikes in blood sugar after meals.
Eggplant has a low glycemic index (GI), making it suitable for people with diabetes.
In addition, the fiber content in eggplant also helps slow down the absorption of sugar into the blood, helping the body maintain more stable blood sugar levels. For people with diabetes or at high risk, eggplant can be added to the diet as a safe and nutritious food to include in the daily menu.
Protect and enhance brain health
The compound nasunin found in eggplant also brings significant benefits to brain health. By reducing inflammation and improving blood circulation to the brain, nasunin helps protect nerve cells from damage and aging. This can prevent neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s – a common form of dementia in the elderly.
Nasunin also helps enhance communication signals between nerve synapses, ensuring effective functioning of the central nervous system. Therefore, adding eggplant to your daily diet not only helps improve memory but also reduces the risk of brain and nerve-related diseases.
Cancer prevention support
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, including eggplant, has been shown to help reduce the risk of cancer. Antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins in eggplant can protect cells from damage, thereby preventing the development of malignant tumors.
Notably, the compound solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides (SRG) in eggplant has been found to have the ability to kill human colon cancer cells. However, scientists still need to conduct more studies to confirm the specific anti-cancer effects of eggplant, as well as the role of SRG in other types of cancer.
Boosts Overall Health
Eggplants contain large amounts of B vitamins, especially vitamin B6, which plays an important role in the production of amino acids – the main building blocks of protein in the body. Vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to many serious problems, from anemia, chronic fatigue to neurological dysfunction.
Eggplants contain large amounts of B vitamins that help support overall health.
Vitamin B6 is also involved in the formation of hemoglobin, which helps transport oxygen in the blood and regulates mood through the production of neurotransmitters. Meanwhile, vitamin B1 plays a role in maintaining a healthy metabolism, supporting heart and brain function, helping the body function more effectively.
Thanks to the combination of important nutrients, eggplant not only brings health benefits to each organ but also contributes to improving overall health. Adding this food to your daily menu is a simple but effective way to improve overall health.