Artichoke is a thistle plant cultivated as a food. It is commonly known as French Artichoke and Green Artichoke across the US. In recent times, artichoke water has gained a lot of popularity due to the benefits associated with it.
In this article, we will be looking at the facts about artichoke water, and we will see how it is beneficial for your health.
Facts about Artichoke
- Scientifically artichoke is termed as Cynarascolymus, and it is a vegetable belonging to the sunflower family.
- It is called “artischoke” in German, “artichaut” in French, “alcachofa” in Spanish, and “chaoxianji” in the Chinese language.
- The antioxidant activity in artichoke is the highest in all the vegetables, and it is rich in compounds such as apigenin and luteolin. Both of these compounds are bioactive agents.
- There are around 140 varieties of artichoke globally; about 40 of them are grown commercially for business purposes.
- The leaves of the plant are more beneficial as compared to the plant itself because polyphenolic compounds are found in higher concentrations in leaves as compared to the main plant body.
- The first known use of artichoke dates back to 1530 in England, and it was used to treat Jaundice. At present, artichoke is frequently used to gain a variety of health benefits linked with it.
Nutritional Profile
The nutritional profile of artichoke is quite an interesting one. It is amazing to know that you can get a lot of healthy minerals, just in one vegetable.
| Nutrient | Nutrient Value |
| Energy | 47 Kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 10.51 g |
| Protein | 3.27 g |
| Total Fat | 0.15 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.4 g |
| Vitamin C | 11.7 mg |
| Vitamin A | 13 IU |
| Vitamin E | 0.19 mg |
| Vitamin K | 14.8 µg |
| Sodium | 94 mg |
| Potassium | 370 mg |
| Calcium | 44 mg |
| Copper | 0.231 mg |
| Iron | 1.28 mg |
| Magnesium | 60 mg |
| Manganese | 0.256 mg |
| Phosphorus | 90 mg |
| Selenium | 0.2 µg |
| Zinc | 0.49 mg |
All these nutrients are present in a 120-gram artichoke flower and its leaves. When you consume artichoke water, you get all the above nutrients in your drink.
Health Benefits of Artichoke Water
Now that we know about the nutritional value of artichokes, Let us look at the benefits of consuming artichoke water.
Promotes Digestive Health – As you have seen, artichoke contains all the nutrients needed to maintain a strong digestive system and keep you away from constipation. It has high fiber content, and fiber is known to cure constipation and keep the bowel movements steady and smooth. It also brings good bacteria to your intestines, which keep you away from digestive tract infections.
Helps Control Cholesterol Levels – Artichoke water has been used traditionally to control the cholesterol levels. Drinking artichoke water for 12-13 weeks regularly helps in controlling the cholesterol levels. It is very helpful for people trying to control their cholesterol levels and on a diet plan. Artichoke deals with cholesterol through luteolin, which prevents cholesterol formation, and it encourages your body to deal with cholesterol molecules more efficiently. Low cholesterol levels in the blood also lead to better heart health.
Helps in Blood Pressure Regulation – Artichoke has the perfect ingredients you need to control blood pressure. Instead of consuming costly BP medications, try artichoke water for a couple of months. Artichoke contains potassium, which helps in regulating blood pressure.
Helps in Controlling the Blood Sugar Levels – The nutrients in artichoke are believed to control blood sugar levels. There is no research or hardcore evidence associated with it. Still, tests conducted on a group of diabetic patients drinking artichoke water resulted in better insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels as compared to people who didn’t. The best way to control blood sugar levels after a meal is to consume artichoke water or boiled artichoke half an hour after the meal.
Improves Liver Health – Artichoke water helps in improving your liver’s health. The antioxidants cynarin and silymarin are believed to be the reason behind the improvement of your liver’s health. These substances are responsible for new tissue growth and the production of bile. Bile is associated with removing harmful toxins from your liver.
Boosts Immunity – Artichoke contains all the nutrients you need for an immunity boost. Drink it regularly to enhance your immunity. Strong immunity is required to protect you from foreign disease-causing microorganisms.
Improves Skin Health – Consuming artichoke in any form leads to better, smooth, and shiny skin. The vitamins inside it give your skin a young feel. Vitamin E is known to control aging signs, and it keeps wrinkles away from your skin.
Strengthens Your Skeletal System – Artichoke is rich in calcium, and calcium is needed to maintain the strength of your skeletal system. Phosphorus is also present in hefty amounts, which works along calcium to give you strong bones.
Give your Hair a New Life – Vitamins, calcium, and phosphorus are needed for better hair growth and strength. Luckily, artichoke contains all of these in handsome amounts. To get this benefit, you need to boil the artichoke in water and let it get thicken over time, once it cools down, massage into the scalp and wash it with your regular shampoo.
May Control the growth of Cancerous Cells – Though there is no solid research that can justify this, artichoke contains a lot of ingredients that can kill dead cells in the body. It promotes good bacteria in your intestines, which keeps the intestine cancer away from your body.
Dosage and Precautions
You can consume artichoke in a variety of ways; you can boil it with water, cook it, steam it and eat it with other foods. However, the best and easiest way is to boil it with pure water. You need to make sure that you use pure and hygienic water for boing it. Contaminated water can interact with the nutrients inside it. You can consume around 300-640 mg of artichoke daily or a couple of glasses. The beat time to consume artichoke water is in the morning on an empty stomach. If you are allergic to sunflower plants, you may be allergic to artichoke as well, pregnant and breastfeeding women must not consume artichoke water, people suffering from severe gastric disorders must not consume artichoke water as well. If you are taking medicines for chronic disease, please consult your doctor before drinking artichoke water.
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