Artichokes are packed full of dietary fibre and antioxidants, and are widely considered to be one of the healthiest vegetables. Rich in vitamins A, C & K, as well as folic acid, one cup of artichokes may help to provide you with 10% of your daily intake of iron, making it popular with those that suffer from anaemia.
Arguably, though, their top nutrient is cynarin, a compound which can help to increase your production of bile. If you are secreting bile, you will be able to more efficiently breakdown foods in the digestive system, as well as detox your liver. Cynarin can also help to reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol and, in addition, the flavonoid compound silymarin can help to support your liver.
Health Benefits
The health benefits of artichokes are almost too numerous to count.
While they may have earned a place in history as an aphrodisiac, our founder Alfred Vogel was more interested in their potential when it comes to the liver and the digestive system, writing that “the aromatic compounds with their strongly bitter flavour” were responsible for helping to “stimulate activity in the liver.”
These aromatic compounds possibly refer to the vegetable’s high content of cynarin and silymarin, which have been shown to help detoxify the liver and help when it comes to repair and maintenance.
Cynarin isn’t just good news for the liver, though – it’s also been linked to reducing cholesterol, specifically by diminishing your levels of bad cholesterol, which is why artichokes are considered a ‘heart healthy’ vegetable!
The amount of dietary fibre packed within these small buds also makes them a popular treatment for digestive problems such as bloating, wind and constipation. This is why AVogel’s digestive remedy, Digestisan, contains extracts of freshly harvested artichokes! Artichokes are also very useful for the gallbladder, helping to promote the secretion of bile, which can help to breakdown your food for smoother digestion.
