artichoke

The term artichoke is equivalent, according to region, to artichoke, artichoke or alcarcil. It is a plant whose flower heads (flowers found in a receptacle) are used as food.

In general, the idea of ​​artichoke refers to the plant species whose scientific name is Cynara scolymus. Originally from the area of Mediterranean, is plant perennial can reach a height of two meters.

The leaves of the Cynara scolymus they are pinnate lobed with a length exceeding 60 cm; Its lobes do not have spines and its underside is tomentose (that is, its surface it is covered with a layer of hairs). With respect to its chapters (racemose or open inflorescences in which the peduncle widens and forms a disk of a certain thickness called common receptacle), we can say that they are large and have bluish flowers, which makes them very showy.

The artichoke contains high amounts of carbohydrates and of Water. It also features several vitamins (as the vitamin B3, the vitamin B1, the vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamine and niacin) and minerals (calcium, match, iron, potassium, sodium, magnesium and others).

Among its components that are beneficial for the organism, the sterols (which minimize the cholesterol absorbed by the intestine), cynarin (a bitter principle acts as a diuretic and increases bile secretion), the inulin (a class of complex carbohydrate), the mucilage (a type of soluble fiber also found in carob, flax, and mustard seeds), acids (caffeic, caffeoylquinic, ferulic, and dicafeylquinic), and flavonoids (cinnaropicrin and cininoside, a glucoside derived from luteolin ).

There are various Benefits of the artichoke for the correct functioning of the liver, since its active principle, cynarin, protects it and makes this plant a suitable complement for treatments against liver diseases such as failure, hepatitis, jaundice, or fatty liver.

The cynarin present in the artichoke also enhances biliary function so that fats can be digested correctly and is used to treat problems such as indigestion, gas and dyspepsia caused by gallstones.

The cholesterol It can also be regulated with the artichoke, since it is a liver tonic with ideal properties to reduce it; We must not forget that the liver is the organ that most influences the metabolization of fats. To achieve the reduction of the level of cholesterol in the blood, the main actors are cynarin and the acids of this plant, which can also help in the prevention of arteriosclerosis and the treatment of hypertension.

Another application of the artichoke is in the subsistence allowance to lose weight. For this, it is advisable to complement it with other foods low in fat and rich in fiber; It is precisely the fiber of the artichoke that is responsible for the body not reabsorbing the fats from the bile, but eliminating them through the feces.

There are various gastronomic preparations that are made with artichokes. The usual thing is that, as a first step, the artichokes are washed with abundant drinking water. Then the outer leaves that, due to their hardness, are not suitable for consumption are extracted, and the stem is also scraped to remove the toughest fibers. Finally they are introduced into boiling water with Salt Y lemon juice until it is easy to remove the sheets.

Once the artichokes are cooked, they can be consumed in different ways, both the leaves, the stem and the heart. Many people they choose to eat the artichokes after boiling them adding a sauce or a dressing. It is also possible to perform artichoke tarts or prepare Stuffed artichokes, among many other preparations.