7 Benefits of Eggplant for Health and the Right Way to Process It
Eggplant is often processed into various types of processed food and drinks. However, who would have thought that there are various benefits of eggplant for health. This purple vegetable contains a number of nutrients that are believed to protect the body from various diseases.
Not only purple, actually eggplant has various types and colors, such as green, black, white, and orange. However, the most widely known and consumed eggplants are those that are oval in shape and purple in color. Even though it tastes a little bitter, this vegetable has a soft meat texture.
Benefits of Eggplant for Health
There are various nutrients that can be obtained from eggplant, namely calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. In addition, eggplant also contains various vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium.
With its nutritional content, eggplant is believed to have a number of health benefits, including:
1. Reducing the risk of heart disease
Eggplant is a nutritious vegetable that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is low in calories and fat, and high in fiber, making it a great choice for those looking to reduce their risk of heart disease. Eggplant is rich in potassium, which helps to reduce blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke. It is also high in magnesium, which helps to reduce cholesterol levels and improve heart health.
2. Prevent diabetes
Eggplant is a nutritious vegetable that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is a great source of dietary fiber, which can help to reduce cholesterol levels and improve digestion. Eggplant also contains a compound called nasunin, which has been shown to help protect cells from damage and reduce inflammation. Additionally, eggplant is a good source of magnesium, which can help to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
3. Lose weight
Eggplant is a great food for weight loss because it is low in calories and high in fiber. It is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. Eating eggplant can help you feel full longer, which can help you eat fewer calories and lose weight. Additionally, eggplant is a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage and reduce inflammation.
4. Launching the digestive system
The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients from it. Eating eggplant can help to launch the digestive system by providing dietary fiber, which helps to move food through the digestive tract and promote regularity. Eggplant is also a good source of antioxidants, which can help to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and protect against damage from free radicals.
5. Maintain bone health
Eggplant is a nutrient-dense vegetable that is packed with vitamins and minerals that are essential for maintaining bone health. It is a good source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, all of which are important for bone health. Eggplant also contains vitamin K, which helps to regulate calcium levels in the body and is important for bone health.
6. Protects the body from bacterial infections
Eggplant is a nutritious vegetable that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is also a great source of dietary fiber, which helps to keep your digestive system healthy. Additionally, eggplant contains compounds that can help protect the body from bacterial infections. The skin of the eggplant is rich in polyphenols, which are compounds that have been shown to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds can help to reduce the risk of infection and inflammation in the body.
7. Prevent cancer
Eggplant is a nutritious vegetable that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is a great source of dietary fiber, which can help to reduce cholesterol levels and improve digestion. Eggplant also contains compounds that may help to prevent cancer. These compounds, called polyphenols, have been shown to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, including colon, stomach, and breast cancer.
How to Process Eggplant Properly
There are many cooking methods you can choose to get the most out of eggplant nutrition, for example by baking, sautéing or steaming. The following is a recipe for cooking baked eggplant that you can try at home.
Baked eggplant recipe
Materials needed:
• 400–500 gr eggplant, diced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
How to make:
• Preheat the oven to 425o C
• Put the diced eggplant into a bowl
• Add the olive oil, salt and pepper, then mix it into the eggplant until the spices are evenly distributed
• Place the eggplants into the grill pan
• Bake the eggplants in the oven for 15 minutes on each side
• Baked eggplant is ready to eat
Eggplant is one of the vegetables that has many health benefits. Even so, the various benefits above certainly will not be obtained optimally without maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating pattern as a whole.
The healthy lifestyle in question includes exercising regularly, meeting the body's need for fluids by consuming at least 8 glasses of water every day, managing stress, getting enough sleep, and avoiding smoking and alcoholic beverages.
In addition to the various benefits of eggplant as previously mentioned, further studies still need to be developed to prove the effectiveness and safety of eggplant when consumed regularly by people with certain diseases.
If you want to regularly consume eggplants and are still unsure how to process them so that the nutrients and benefits of eggplants can be optimally obtained, don't hesitate to consult a doctor. That way, the doctor can determine the right amount of eggplant intake and according to your condition.
