Health Benefits of Brinjal or eggplant

Eggplant or Brinjal, is a very low calorie vegetable and has healthy nutrition profile; good news for weight watchers! The veggie is popularly known as aubergine in the western world.

Botanically, aubergine belongs to Solanaceae family and named as Solanum melongena. This perennial plant is native to Indian subcontinent and now grown in many tropical and semitropical regions.

Nutritional/ Medicinal Value of Brinjal

A 100 grams of brinjal contains the following nutritional value

Total Carbohydrates – 17.8g

Protein – 8g

Saturated Fat – 5.2g

Dietary Fiber – 4.9g

Total Fat – 27.5g

Cholesterol – 16mg

Sugars – 11.4g

Iron – 6mg

Vitamin A – 6.4 mg

Calcium – 525 mg

Sodium – 62mg

Potassium – 618mg

Health Benefits of Brinjal or eggplant

Great for weight loss

Brinjals are great for weight loss as they are low in calories with 100g of the vegetable containing just 25 calories. It is also rich in fibre which helps in promoting the feeling of satiety which means that eating a small serving will make you feel full and prevent you from overeating.

Good for diabetics

As brinjals are low in carbohydrates and high in fibre content, they are known to be good for people suffering from diabetes. This is because, the high fibre causes helps in controlling blood sugar levels in the body by controlling the absorption of glucose from food.

Good for your brain

Eating brinjals can prevent brain damage as it contains phytonutrients that can protect your cell membranes. These phytonutrients are also known to boost memory function and aid in transferring messages from one part of your body to another.

Gives your skin a natural glow

As we age, our skin undergoes free radical damage which can cause the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on our faces. The antioxidants and vitamins present in brinjals can prevent this from happening. Additionally, it is also high in water which flushes toxins from your body and gives your skin a nice and healthy glow.

Blood pressure Control

Brinjal contains potassium, an important mineral, which plays a key role 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.

Insomnia

Brinjal cures insomnia. For this eat baked brinjal with honey evening for a sound and beautiful sleep.

Important Note:

·       Avoid eating brinjal if you have acidity problem or excess bile humor.

·       Avoid eating brinjal during pregnancy.