Artichoke Has Excellent Nutracetuical Properties
December 23, 2008
In the modern world, many people take dietary supplements not because they are suffering from any disease but because they are in good health and are worried to stay in good health. This number of people interested to consume healthful diets and dietary supplements, which would ensure them to follow and lead healthy as well as active lives, is increasing day by day. The quest for consuming dietary supplement is eventually a desire to live a longer and healthier life.
In this context, a very important medicinal plant, that has become a part of the life style is artichoke. In the present article, we would try and have a look at some aspect for utilization of artichoke as a nutraceutical and dietary supplement.
Functionality and properties of artichokes
In the traditional Greek society, artichokes were used for their potential properties of improvement of digestive functions as well as for the enhancement of immune function. Aqueous extract of artichokes were found to improve the colonic functions as well as enhance the flora of the colon, which in turn is beneficial in faster degeneration of fats and lipids.
The major chemical constituent of artichokes are important inulin type fruct-oligosaccahrides which are better known as FOS’s they also contain caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, including caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cynarin (1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid). These compounds have stimulatory activity.
FOS’s and their lipid lowering property
Fructo-oligosaccharides are a distinct group of polysaccharides that are useful in providing nutrition with high energy but lipid lowering property. Apart from this the FOS’s are also effective in preventing the diabetic conditions.
In a very interesting research conducted at University of Natural and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna a bread from globe artichoke was developed and evaluated for its health benefit and effects on various health parameters. The results clearly showed a very promising future for the usage of artichoke in health products.
In total artichoke holds a lot of promise and potential for being used as a dietary supplement to improve health and fitness performance.
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