There are many layers to an artichoke, just like there are many layers to its health benefits. If you start unpeeling the layers, here’s what you’ll find…
An amazing and delicious superfood that can give you a healthy heart, liver, gut and immune system. In fact, this close relative of the flowering thistle plant can even protect you from cancer…
Artichokes are also one of the most antioxidant-rich foods around, which is why they’re so powerful when it comes to cancer prevention. In fact, artichokes ranked seventh in antioxidant content out of a 1,000 different types of food in a list compiled by the USDA.
Their antioxidant content comes primarily from potent cancer-fighting polyphenols. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Cell Physiology found that artichoke polyphenols killed breast cancer cells like nobody’s business. Artichokes also contain the flavonoids quercetin and rutin, which have been shown in study after study to fight cancer cells.
Now, artichoke’s anti-cancer benefits are great. But the health benefits this odd-looking vegetable is best known for are its ability to give you a healthy liver and gut…
Like its close relative milk thistle, artichoke contains the plant compound silymarin, which can help cleanse and detoxify the liver. Artichoke also encourages the liver to produce bile, which helps your intestines digest their food. That’s why it’s so great for your gut health. In fact, it was shown in one study to improve gastrointestinal symptoms like stomach pain, nausea and vomiting by a whopping 85 percent.
So are you ready to reap the health benefits of the amazing artichoke? Great because it has even more to offer… it’s filled with fiber and a long list of vitamins and minerals, including:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K
- Calcium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Potassium
- Zinc
It’s easy to start eating more artichokes — you can grill them, bake them, add them to pasta, put artichoke hearts on your salads and even stuff them with your favorite vegetables, meat or rice. Check out this great and super easy low-carb crockpot artichoke recipe.
You can also take an artichoke extract supplement. If you’re planning on going the supplement route, try taking one teaspoon of liquid artichoke extract mixed with water or a 320 mg standardized artichoke extract capsule to see what the amazing health-boosting artichoke can do for you.
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Sources:
Bowden, Jonny. The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why. Beverly, MA: Fair Winds Press, 2007.
“Health Benefits of Artichokes.” Organic Facts. https://www.organicfacts.net. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
M. Mileo. “Artichoke polyphenols induce apoptosis and decrease the invasive potential of the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB231.” Journal of Cell Physiology, 2012 Sep;227(9):3301-9.
Yang, et al. “Chemoprevention studies of the flavonoids quercetin and rutin in normal and azoxymethane-treated mouse colon.” Carcinogenesis, 2000 Sep;21(9):1655-60.
“Top 10 Ways to Enjoy Artichokes.” Fruits & Veggies— More Matters. http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
“Artichoke Leaf.” Whole Health Chicago. http://wholehealthchicago.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
