The Surprising Benefits of Artichokes

Artichokes are funny looking vegetables that grow from seed into a large plant. The edible part of the plant is the flower base. An artichoke can look a little bit intimidating and the pokey leaves will make any consumer a little weary. Never fear, this vegetable is so good for you and packed full of flavor!

You can buy artichokes fresh from the produce section of your grocery store. You can also find them canned labeled as artichoke hearts, and also frozen. Fresh artichokes are obviously the best choice as any vegetable looses nutrient content as it is processed. If you don't want to buy them fresh, frozen is the next best choice. Some nutrients are lost during the freezing process, but there are many left in the vegetable. Canned artichoke may be the easiest to find and keep the best, but it will have the lowest level of nutrients when compared to the fresh or frozen artichoke.

If you buy a whole artichoke fresh from the produce aisle, you will only need to wash the artichoke well and then peel off the outer petals that are hard. You also want to cut off the stem and not eat that. As you peel off the outer petals of the artichoke you will eventually come to the artichoke heart. This is the most delicious part of the vegetable and packed full of nutrients.

Artichoke hearts are becoming very popular because of their great flavor and the increased awareness of their health benefits. Many people add them to pizza, casseroles, lasagna, pasta dishes and stir fry. You can also steam the vegetable alone and dip the petals into butter as a tasty snack. You can also boil the artichoke in some salted water to cook it. If you like to use your microwave you can place the artichoke in a bowl with some water, salt and olive oil. The flavor will be so rich!

One artichoke contains approximately one fourth of an average sized adults fiber needs. The artichoke is also rich in vitamin C, potassium, folic acid and magnesium. An artichoke is naturally fat free and very low in calories.

Artichokes have also been proven in the past to lower cholesterol. If you suffer from high cholesterol, try adding artichokes to your diet. The fiber and nutrients can help clear the cholesterol from your bloodstream as well as improve your over all health.

Research has also shown that there is a chemical naturally contained in the artichoke that may help lower blood fat levels. They believe this chemical causes your liver to release more bile which minimizes fat in your blood. Any food that increases the bile that is released into your digestive tract will result in less fat being absorbed into your blood.

While the artichoke may look a little funny and leave you wondering how to prepare it, don't be afraid. Once you try this vegetable and find your favorite way to eat it, you'll be coming back to the produce section for another soon! If you are looking to improve your heart health, an artichoke is a great food for you to try!