Impressive health benefits of artichoke A series of PresentationByMr. Allah Dad Khan former DG Agriculture Extension KP Province and Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar allahdad52@gmail.com

5. Artichoke
Artichokes are a versatile food, and although some
would consider them a vegetable, they are actually an
unusual variety of thistle! For nutritional purposes, they
are primarily consumed due their associated benefits of
protecting against various forms of cancer, bolstering
immune system strength, lowering cholesterol, and
protect against diseases such as diabetes,
artherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. Artichokes
have also long been famous for detoxifying the body and
improving the health of the liver, and aiding in digestive
issues like indigestion, constipation, Irritable Bowel
Syndrome, and diarrhea. Furthermore, this miraculous
little thistle can reduce blood pressure,
eliminate hangovers, and stimulate urination.

6. Artichoke
Artichokes are known in their natural form
as cardoon, and their scientific classification
is Cynara cardunculus, and it is native to the
Mediterranean region, which is primarily why
artichokes play such a major part of their
cuisine on a number of levels. Artichokes
can be found throughout Europe, the Middle
East, and the Americas, but they are less
frequently encountered in Asian nations.

7. Artichoke
The edible part of the artichokes is buds that
form within the flower head, before it fully
blooms. Timing is key in cultivating artichokes,
as they turn hard and nearly inedible once the
flower has fully bloomed. Also, one of the most
sought after parts of the thistle is the “heart”,
which is the base from which the other buds
spring. It is often considered a delicacy, or at
least the most delicious part of the plant, and is
typically more expensive.

8. Artichoke
Jerusalem Artichoke – It isn’t an Artichoke and it
doesn’t come from Jerusalem. The jersalem
Artichoke is actually related to the sunflower.
The bit we eat is an ugly little tuber (like a small
thin and knobbly potato) that tastes amazing. It
has a smoky taste that really excites the palette.

9. Nutritional Value Of Artichokes
Artichokes are low in saturated fat and
cholesterol, while being a rich source
of fiber, vitamins and minerals. It contains
vitamins which include vitamin C,
thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B-
6,B-12, A, E, D and vitamin K. Artichokes
also provide minerals such
as calcium, iron, zinc, sodium, potassium, m
anganese, phosphorus and zinc.

11. 1.Artichoke Reduces Cancer
Artichokes have the highest antioxidant
levels out of all vegetables, according to a
study done by the USDA, and out of 1,000
plants different types of foods, they ranked #7
in antioxidant content. Antioxidants are one of
the primary means of defense for the immune
system against the effects of free radicals,
natural byproducts of cell metabolism that
can lead to a number of dangerous
conditions and diseases in the body,
including cancer and heart disease, among
others. The antioxidant properties of
artichokes come from a number of sources,
one of which are polyphenols, which are
found in high numbers in
artichokes. Polyphenols have
chemopreventive qualities, which means they
can slow down, stop, or completely reverse
the effects of cancer in patient. Their
antioxidant ability comes from another source
as well, their high levels of quercetin and
rutin, two specific antioxidants that have been
proven to reduce the chances of developing
cancer.

12. 2.Artichoke Improves Heart
Health:
Aside from its impressive abilities at
fighting cancer, artichokes are also
considered a heart-healthy addition to
your diet for a variety of
reasons. Certain ingredients in the
leaves of artichokes have been found
to reduce the levels of bad cholesterol
(LDL) and increase the levels of good
cholesterol (HDL, or omega-3 fatty
acid). Cholesterol is a type of fat that
builds up within the arteries of the
cardiovascular system, blocks blood
flow, increases blood pressure, and
can lead to potentiall fatal heart
attacks and strokes. Any method of
reducing bad cholesterol is
worthwhile, so give artichokes a
chance at improving your heart
health.

13. 3.Artichoke Regulates Blood
Pressure:
On a related note, artichokes are rich
sources of potassium, the essential
mineral that has an impact on
numerous organ systems throughout
the body. Potassium helps to
neutralize the effects of excess
sodium, which is notorious
for increasing blood pressure.
Artichokes therefore act as a
vasodilator and is particularly useful
for those already taking hypertension
medicine to prevent the effects of
potassium deficiency. Diabetics are
also encouraged to eat artichokes to
prevent the complications associated
with blood pressure and that disease.
Finally, a reduction in blood pressure
can reduce the chances of heart
attacks and coronary heart disease!

14. 4.Artichoke Can Be used as a
Liver Tonic
:Artichokes were used as traditional
liver tonics for centuries, but the exact
mechanism of their impact was never
full understood until modern science
could properly research this versatile
plant. Two antioxidants (again!) found
in artichokes, cynarin and silymarin,
have been shown to improve the
overall health of the liver by reducing
the presence of toxins and facilitating
their elimination from the liver and the
body. Some studies have even shown
these antioxidants to actively promote
regrowth and repair of damaged liver
cells, which is one of the slowest
organs in the body to regenerate. It
seems that modern medicine finally
caught up with what traditional
medicine has known for generations!

15. 5.Artichoke Detox Digestive
System :
Artichokes are a rich source of dietary fiber,
which is one of the most beneficial nutritional
staples for improving the health and
functionality of your digestive system. Fiber
adds bulk to the food you eat, which helps to
keep your bowel movements regular and
normal, and decreasing the symptoms of
constipation, fiber can reduce chances of a
variety of stomach and intestinal cancers, as
well as bloating, cramps, excess flatulence,
and general discomfort in the stomach.
Furthermore, if you have problems with loose
stool or diarrhea, fiber can absorb excess
liquid and form healthy, predictable bowel
movements in patients. Fiber also acts as a
clean up crew for excess LDL cholesterol,
thereby cleaning your arteries and further
reducing your chances of heart disease.

16. 6.Arichoke Better in Hangover
Cure:
As mentioned earlier,
artichokes can be a great
salve to the liver, and can
reduce any blockage, as
well as reduce the levels of
toxins in the blood by
eliminating them quickly
from the body. Therefore,
artichokes make for a
perfect hangover cure, and
some people choose to
chew on a few artichoke
leaves after a night of heavy
drinking!

17. 7.Artichoke Reduces Birth
Defects:
As if all of these other health
benefits weren’t enough,
artichokes even help pregnant
women have healthy, normally-
formed children. The high
levels of folic acid found in
artichokes can prevent neural
tube defects from occurring in
newborns. The neural tube
closure process in vitro
requires a certain amount of
folate to occur properly, so folic
acid is an essential part of a
pregnancy diet.

18. 8.Artichoke Enhance Brain
Function:
There are a number of aspects of
artichokes that make
them beneficial for brain health,
including their quality as a
vasodilator that allows more
oxygen to reach the brain for
elevated cognitive function, for
phosphorous an essential mineral
that is found in artichokes and is
also packed into brain cells.
Phosphorous deficiencies have
been associated with a serious
decline in cognitive ability, so if
you want to keep your brain
healthy and firing on all cylinders,
eat the next artichoke you see!

19. 9.Artichoke Aid in Weight Loss
Artichokes are great for
dieters, as they’re low in
fat and high in fiber. And
because it’s labor-
intensive to consume,
you pace yourself while
eating it, which allows
your stomach time to
tell your brain it’s full.
This can prevent you
from overeating.

20. 10. Artichoke Prevent Cancer
Artichokes high levels of
polyphenol-type antioxidants are
known to ward off various types of
cancers, including breast cancer,
prostate cancer, and leukemia.
Research at the Comenius
University in Slovakia concluded
that specific antioxidants in
artichoke leaf extract aided in
cancer cell death and slowed
cancer cell growth. And another
study released by the University
of Georg-August found that the
phytonutrients in artichokes
helped inhibit the release of
cancer agent reproduction.

21. 11. Artichoke Manages Diabetes
Artichokes reduced not
only the fasting and
postprandial blood
glucose but also the
total cholesterol level

22. 12. Artichokes Can Boost Bone Health
Osteoporosis is a
degenerative bone
disease that causes bone
tissue loss and fragility,
increasing the risk of
injury and fracture.
Sufficient intake of foods
that are rich in vitamin K
such as artichokes can
prevent this from
happening.

23. 13.Artichokes Are Good for the
Gallbladder
Artichokes can help by
making sure that there’s
sufficient bile
transported to the
gallbladder.
Contributing to this
beneficial effect is the
phenolic acid in
artichoke known as
cynarin.

24. 14.Artichokes Have Anti-Aging
Properties
Artichokes can be your
modern-day fountain of
youth, inhibiting the
aging of the skin caused
by excessive sun
exposure

25. 15.Artichokes Can Fight Viral
Infections
• Viral infections can be
combated with frequent
intake of artichokes.
• Artichokes’ virucidal
activities lie on their
ability to suppress the
growth and spread of
viral cells.
• Artichokes also work as
a potent anti-allergenic
and anti-inflammatory.