Cleansing flower: artichoke

2001/03/01 Lorenzo, Arantza | Uranga, Ane Miren Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Dietetika/Elikagaiak

The artichoke is the set of small flowers united by a flower or a stem of a type of thistle. The edible pieces of this flower are its heart and the most fleshy parts of its protective leaves.

The artichoke has 47 kcal per 100 grams, 84.9% water, hardly contains oil (0.150%), but the amounts of carbohydrates (5.11%) and proteins (3.27%) are also not negligible. It is also rich in some mineral salts (magnesium, iron, potassium) and vitamins, especially folates. But the most remarkable of its composition are the following substances, present in very small quantities but with multiple physiological effects:

* Cinarine, with multiple properties, acts on different cells of the body:

• When it affects liver cells called hepatocytes, they increase bile production. The bile that flows after eating the artichokes is lighter and relieves or disappears hepatic congestion. This increases the function of liver detoxification. Therefore, the artichoke is considered protective of the liver and is highly recommended in any problem or liver disease (hepatitis A and B, cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, intoxications by drugs, etc. ). Liver detoxification has a body-wash effect, so dermatitis, allergies, and skin eczema also improve or disappear after eating many artichokes.
• Artichoke kinarin also increases diurosis (urinary production) and urinary concentration. For any kidney problem (infection, inflammation, etc.) A kidney disease occurs, increasing the level of blood urea. In any case, it is recommended to increase the consumption of artichoke, since the kidneys facilitate the elimination of urea and, therefore, detoxifies the body. It is also recommended in case of accumulation of fluids (edema) and oliguria (little urine production).
• Cinarine causes hypoglycemia, so it is also recommended in diabetes. In addition, the artichoke also contains inulin, which is a carbohydrate that diabetics assimilate perfectly.

* Sterols (beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol): substances of vegetable origin similar to the chemical structure of cholesterol. They limit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, so it is highly recommended for people who have suffered cholesterol, arteriosclerosis or infarction.

* There are other substances that are still being investigated (pectin, trace elements…): what is clear is that the medicinal properties of artichoke are not supplied by one or another substance, but by the interaction of all of them.

In view of all this, we only have to recommend at least once a week to the reader, artichoke. In each case, and depending on the disease, it would be possible to analyze the possibility of a treatment with artichoke.