Eat Me: Relieves depression, aids weight loss… 10 reasons to love eggplants

Eggplant is a small, round, purple member of the nightshade family, grown for its edible fruit and widely used in cooking.

It is available in different varieties, ranging in shape and size from small and round to long and skinny and in colours from indigo to white.

Eggplants are a rich source of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, vitamin K,vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, dietary fiber, folic acid, potassium, and manganese. It is also contains almost no cholesterol, or saturated fat.

Below are 11 healthy reasons to love eggplants.

Improves digestion

Eggplant is a great source of dietary fibre, an essential nutrient for gastrointestinal health, as well as for the regular movement of the bowels.

Fiber stimulates the secretion of gastric juices that facilitate absorption of nutrients and the processing of foods.

Relieves depression

Erotonin is a chemical that causes imbalance in moods, leading to depression. But eggplant contains a compound called scopoletin that regulates serotonin levels in the brain, reducing the feeling of anxiety and other symptoms of depression.

It also contains vitamin B often called “antistress” vitamins group that  improves the body’s ability to withstand stress. Its thiamin content also gives your mood a boost and fights against depression and anxiety.

Replaces lost body fluid

An eggplant is more than 90% water. This high water content makes it an ideal vegetable to prevent dehydration and boost your energy level.

Helps in weight loss

In addition to aiding digestion, the fibre content of eggplant inhibits the release of ghrelin, the hormone which tells our mind that we are hungry again. Fibre fills you up and reduces your appetite.

Eggplants contain almost no fat or cholesterol, making it a good vegetable to aid weight loss and tackle obesity.

Boosts immunity

Eggplants contain vitamin C, an antioxidant vitamin that boosts the immune system.
This vitamin stimulates the production and activities of white blood cells, which fights and keeps infection at bay.

Prevents anaemia

Anemia arises from a deficiency in iron, characterised by headaches and migraines, fatigue, weakness, depression, and cognitive malfunction.
But eating eggplant which has a decent amount of iron and copper in its meaty, edible fruit, will help you prevent anaemia.

Improves brain activities

Eggplant is a wonderful source of potassium and phytonutrients which serve as boosters for cognitive activity and general mental health.

They not only defend against free radical activity and keep the body and brain safe from toxins and diseases, they also increase blood flow to the brain.

By delivering more oxygen-rich blood to the brain, it stimulates neural pathways to develop, boosting the powers of memory and analytic thought.

Promotes good heart health

Eggplant, which in itself has no cholesterol, contains vitamin E, a protective antioxidant that can fight cholesterol oxidation.

Eggplant balances cholesterol in the body by producing HDL (good cholesterol) and reducing LDL (bad cholesterol) that could lead to heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure.

Manages diabetes

Due to its high fiber content and low amounts of soluble carbohydrates, eggplant is an ideal take for managing diabetes. It regulates and stabilises glucose and insulin activity within the body, thereby preventing drastic plunges and spikes in blood sugar.

Prevents birth defects

Eggplant contains folic acid, an essential part of diet beneficial for pregnant women. Folic acid directly protects infants from neural tube defects.

Keeps cancer at bay

Eggplant contains polyphenols, which have anti-cancer properties. Also, the anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid in eggplant work as antioxidants, fighting inflammation and oxidative stress-related damage in the body. These acids stimulate the detoxification of enzymes within cells and prevent tumor growth and stop the invasion and spread of cancer cells.