Brinjal, also known as Eggplant or बैंगन / بینگن is high on nutrients and should be included in your weekly diet.
It has good taste if cooked into a proper recipe and can prevent cancer, lower cholesterol.
Brinjal has no fat and its high fiber content which makes it suitable for people who wants to shed some weight.
It is also rich in minerals, boasting a large quantity of potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous.
Brinjals also prevent brain damage as it contains phytonutrients that can protect your cell membranes and also boost memory function, aid in transferring messages from one part of your body to another.
Brinjal Health Benefits and Tips to cook
Instead of using a metal knife, use a stainless steel knife to cut the vegetable as it prevents the chemical reaction between pytochemicals present in brinjal and metal.
As soon as you cut Brinjal, put them in salt water or sprinkle salt over the pieces. This removes the compounds that render bitter taste to the vegetable and helps make the cooked Brinjal delicious.
Brinjal helps prevent Cancer
Brinjal has Fibre which clear your digestive system and prevent colon cancer.
It also has antioxidants which are helpful in fighting radical damage to your cells and prevent cancer.
Eggplants are rich in Chlorogenic acid which is a plant compound that is known for its high antioxidant activity. Chlorogenic acid has a great capacity to fight free radicals, and is also able to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Chlorogenic acid is also antimutagenic, which means it can protect cells from mutating into cancer cells; and it is also antiviral.
Brinjal skin is rich in Nasunin, which is a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger that has been shown to protect cell membranes from damage.
Brinjals help Weight Loss
100g of Brinjal has just 25 calories and its high fibre gives you feeling of satiety, which will make you eat less and feel satisfied.
It will be light on your digestive system and helps you control weight.
Brinjals prevent Heart Disease
It is rich in fiber, potassium, vitamin B-6 and phytonutrients like flavonoids, which makes it lower the risk of heart disease.
Its antioxidants keeps your arteries healthy and prevents heart attack.
Brinjals help control High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Brinjals have large quantity of potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous.
These help in maintaining electrolyte balance in the body. It also helps in neutralizing the effects of sodium on the body thereby aiding in blood pressure control. Apart from this, increased intake of anthocyanins that are present in high amounts in brinjal, also lowers your blood pressure.
It also has chlorogenic acid that acts as a powerful antioxidant agent, lowering cholesterol levels in the body.
Brinjal also contains high amounts of fibre that increases the absorption of blood cholesterol by the liver to produce bile.
Brinjal Controls Diabetes
They have less carbohydrates and more fibre which helps in controlling blood sugar levels in the body by controlling the absorption of glucose from food.
Brinjals for Naturally Glowing skin
Free radical damage which comes with age can cause wrinkles and fine lines on our faces.
Antioxidants and vitamins present in brinjals can prevent this from happening. Also, it is also high in water which flushes toxins from your body and gives our skin a healthy glow.
Brinjal has Nicotine
Eggplant has very low quantity of nicotine which is harmless to human body.
10 kilos of Brinjals have nicotine equivalent to 1 cigarette.
Nutritional Information of one Brinjal or Eggplant
Total Fat – 27.5g
Saturated Fat – 5.2g
Cholesterol – 16mg
Sodium – 62mg
Potassium – 618mg
Total Carbohydrates – 17.8g
Dietary Fiber – 4.9g
Protein – 8g
Sugars – 11.4g
Precautions and Preparation methods with Brinjal
Brinjal or Eggplant is hard to digest for someone having excessive bile problem or acidity.
Pregnant woman are advised to avoid this vegetable.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, all parts of the plant can be used to stop intestinal bleeding. The fruit of the plant is used as an antidote in cases of mushroom poisoning.
Health Benefits of eating Brinjal
- Eating brinjals roasted on fire after putting some salt into it cures excessive phlegm and wind humor of the body.
- Soup made up of brinjal and tomato increases the appetite and helps in digestion.
- Eating soft brinjal after baking it on fire and with raw sugar on empty stomach in the morning, cures the enlarged spleen due to malaria.
- Taking soft and baked brinjal with honey in the evening helps in having a sound sleep. Using it for some days cures insomnia.
- The use of brinjal destroys the kidney stones in its initial stage.
- If brinjal is taken in its mashed form or as soup with asafoetida and garlic, it cures flatulation.