First, let’s talk about eggplant, it is said that the origin of eggplant is India. Eggplant is a gentle annual plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. It is called Chachaeja (弔菜子). Branches have gray, star-shaped hairs all over the plant and sometimes thorns. The stems are dark purple with a blackish tint, and the branches are purple. Eggplant flowers bloom from June to September. Eggplant flowers have a diameter of about 5cm, and a flower stalk appears between the stem and the node of the branch, and several light purple flowers hang on it, and the calyx is a purple plant.
Eggplant is 93% water. Eggplant nutrients include protein, calcium, phosphorus, carbohydrates, vitamins A and C, and it is said that a large amount of vitamins and nutrients such as calcium are aggregated in eggplant stems. The fruit is the part we eat, and the rhizome, the root of the branch, is used for medicinal purposes. So let’s take a closer look at the branches.
1. Anti-aging, anti-cancer effect
Eggplant is rich in powerful antioxidants such as anthocyanins and polyphenols. These ingredients prevent cell damage by removing harmful free radicals that are the main culprit of aging in our body and cause various diseases. It is effective in preventing cancer.
2. Diabetes improvement, antipyretic treatment
The anthocyanin component, which is abundantly contained in eggplant, not only removes free radicals but also increases insulin production to help control blood sugar, so it is an effective vegetable for improving diabetes. Eggplants also have a cooling effect, lowering heat in people who usually have a lot of heat, and stabilizing the mind and body. Eggplants are said to help relieve fever and clear the mind, especially when there is a fever caused by a cold.
3. Prevention of vascular disease
Eggplant is rich in potassium and has a blood pressure regulating effect because eggplant is rich in potassium and excretes sodium from the body. It has the effect of improving blood circulation. In addition, it helps to prevent vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, and stroke.
4. Diet, intestinal health
Eggplant is a low-calorie food with 17kcal per 100g, and has a high water content of over 90% and is rich in dietary fiber. Some people try to lose weight using eggplant, and among the benefits of eggplant, it has the effect of promoting bowel movement. Eggplant is effective in improving constipation because it helps bowel movements, and it is also effective in intestinal health by removing waste products from the intestine.
5. Skin beauty
Eggplant also contains lupeol. Lupeol reduces the production of sebum and inflammation, which is the cause of acne. In addition, anthocyanin, one of the components of eggplant mentioned earlier, helps to prevent skin aging by protecting cells. Rich in vitamin C, it prevents blemishes such as freckles and blemishes, and helps to beautify the skin by calming the skin.
6. Eye Health
Rhodopsin is a pigment protein in the retina of the eye. If the activity of this rhodopsin is slowed, the eyes may become tired easily and the symptoms of decreased vision may appear. Among the effects of eggplant, it is a story that comes out because anthocyanin, which is abundant in eggplant, promotes the resynthesis of rhodopsin, thereby relieving eye fatigue, improving eyesight and preventing various eye-related diseases.
7. Improving immunity, recovering from fatigue
Eggplant’s antioxidant polyphenols not only remove harmful free radicals from the body, but eggplants are rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, which relieve fatigue and relieve stress.
Eggplant side effects
As I mentioned earlier about the effects of eggplant, it is not always possible to expect this effect for everyone. Eggplant has a cold nature, so it is not good for people who are usually cold, pregnant women, and people with cough or asthma, so it is recommended to eat it in moderation. In addition, if you consume eggplant in excess, side effects such as abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur, so please be aware of those who have experienced these side effects when eating eggplant.
