Aubergine (eggplant) health benefits

I’ve tried out some aubergine recipes lately because they are so beautiful with their smooth, dark violet skin.

This beauty also contains health benefits for humans because in the skin of aubergines there are special compounds.

These special compounds are strong antioxidants and the most studied ones are called chlorogenic acid and nasunin.

In the past, it was thought that eating aubergines would cause insanity. 

I’ve had aubergine food for the last four days and feel just fine…

Research shows that aubergines when eaten with the skin, have several health benefits; here are the two most interesting ones

   1. Fights cancer

Aubergine skin protect cells from damage and may slow-down, or even prevent cancer growth and the spread of cancer cells.

The nasunin in the aubergine skin also disrupts a cancer growth’s ability to grow new blood vessels. No fresh blood for the cancer growth– and it will wither away.

   2. Improves brain function

Protects brain cell membranes and helps transport nutrition into the brain cells as well as transporting waste-products out.

Increases blood flow to the brain, improving memory and may slow down development of dementia.

Aubergines also contain a lot of vitamin B1, B3, B6, folic acid, copper, manganese, and vitamin K.

Some warnings:

Nasunin catches iron and removes it from the body. This is good for most of us because excess iron works as an oxidant -causing harm to vital organs.

Our bodies have no way to get rid of too much iron (unless you are a woman with heavy and frequent menstruation, or a very active blood donor), hence aubergines are helpful for all, but not necessarily for those with severe iron deficiency or anemia.

Aubergines contain oxalates (like spinach and rhubarb), and people prone to kidney stones are usually encouraged to avoid oxalate-rich food.  

The oxalates also inhibit the absorption of calcium, but here the trick is to consume calcium-rich foods at a separate meal.

Look at their beauty:

Have a violet day!

Recipes:

Aubergoatses

Baba Ganoush (Aubergine dip)

Aubergines in the oven

Lovely laborous lasagna

Pickled aubergines 

Health benefits of turmeric (curcuma)

You have seen and will see that I add turmeric powder into nearly all my dishes. Ever wondered why?

Well, it's because it tastes good and has a nice colour!

and...

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains curcumin, which is a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.

It is believed to protect against cancer and heart disease. 

Curcumin is a brain booster, improving cognitive 

performance.

Curcumin is also a neuroprotective agent, so it may help prevent some brain diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and even stroke.

It may preserve our precious mitochondria (the little energy factories in our cells), hence prevent aging.

Curcumin has been used for a long time as a herbal 

medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, digestive

problems (such as stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating), 

diabetic ulcers, allergies, cough, fever and colds.

It is currently being tested in an enormous variety of different diseases, such as:

• Several types of cancers
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Irritable bowel disease
• Peptic ulcers
• Crohn’s disease
• Reflux disease
• Renal fibrosis
• Liver damage, fatty liver
• Testicular damage
• Lung infections
• Fibromyalgia
• Eye infections

Curcumin has been shown to increase sperm motility -yes, that's the speed of sperm! (at low to moderate doses, so take it easy -because high doses decrease the speed...). And strictly speaking sperm motility is describing how well the spermatoza move.

Must reflect over this a little more -imagine one and the same compound to work both as a male fertility enhancing agent AND a male contraceptive; all depending on the dose.
All women between the fist and the stove; make sure you stash up on this spice!

Curcumin is better absorbed by the body when taken together with black pepper and it is fat soluble so a source of fat is helping, too. A great source of good fat is of course avocado, as are also nuts, olive- or coconut oil.

If something works, it may also cause some unwanted effects. Overall curcumin is considered very safe and when using it as turmeric the spice, it is even more harmless.

Should you inspired by these benefits decide to start supplementing with purified curcumin, do first some research and talk to your doctor.

Turmeric has very few side effects; but it can cause stomach upset or dizziness in sensitive people or worsen gallbladder problems

Curcumin might slow blood clotting. Do not use curcumin supplements prior to surgery, if you have a blood clotting disorder, or if you use anticoagulants. 

If you take low dose Aspirin, you should talk to your doctor prior to supplementing with curcumin. 

...and it's a very beautiful plant. Wonder if one can grow it in a pot at home? 

Update: A study published in June 2015; "Curcumin inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in human osteoclastoma cell through MMP-9, NF-κB and JNK signaling pathways" adds to the anti-cancer evidence of turmeric. 

The apoptosis promotion (=programmed cell death) is especially encouraging!