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The Artichoke, Cynara scolymus, is a vegetable native to southern Europe and North Africa where the weather hot favors its growth, it is a plant with thick leaves with an edible part that corresponds to the buds or rounded shoots of the stems that are usually eaten fresh or in preparations of the preserves.

Artichokes are a source of various minerals and antioxidants

It is composed of more than 80% by Water, has a high contents of carbohydrates and is a good source of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin B1. It also contains substances such as cynarin and flavonoids that have a series of effects on the body.

The artichoke has several benefits for your liver

Liver protector. The artichoke has the ability to reduce the loss of a substance called glutathione, which protects the liver from damage from various substances such as chemicals and medications.

Increase the production of bile. The cynarin present in artichokes stimulates the production of bile by the liver as well as its release into the intestine, this has a facilitating effect of the

digestion, especially from fats, helping to relieve symptoms such as abdominal pain, heaviness and flatulence after eating. This effect is beneficial for people who have conditions such as biliary sludge or small stones as it helps to expel gallstones to be eliminated in the feces, in the case of large stones should rather be avoided to avoid the risk of a bile drainage duct obstruction.

Decreases the production of cholesterol. Cholesterol in the blood comes from part of the food ingested and, on the other hand, its production at the level of the liver, this last process is diminished by some components present in artichokes, the which have a similar effect to drugs called statins (including atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, and pravastatin).

Stimulates urine production. This diuretic effect is very useful in cases of fluid retention, as well as in disorders such as cellulite and localized accumulation of fatty tissue known as lipodystrophy.

How to prepare artichokes

This vegetable can be prepared in different ways, the first thing to do is remove the hard superficial leaves and chop the sharp tips with a knife or scissors, then they are boiled in salted or steamed water for 30 to 45 minutes and then they can be eaten by dipping them in a sauce or they are used to prepare them as a salad, fill them, batter them or bake them.

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