Eggplant is a versatile and nutritious vegetable. It can be prepared in many ways, making it a popular choice. However, there are some things to be aware of when eating eggplant. What are the dietary restrictions associated with eggplant? What are the potential problems with eating eggplant? Let me tell you about the dietary restrictions of eggplant and what might be harmful about eating it.
Does eating raw eggplant really help with weight loss?
Whether eating raw eggplant is beneficial to health, and whether it can help with weight loss, lower blood pressure, and lower blood lipids, has been questioned by some health experts.
Actually, the main oil-absorbing substance in eggplant is dietary fiber, and whether eggplant absorbs oil has little to do with whether it's raw or cooked. Oil absorption is accomplished by dietary fiber, and temperature doesn't change the physicochemical properties of dietary fiber. If you need to use a lot of oil when cooking or stir-frying eggplant, you can eat steamed eggplant; there's no need to eat raw eggplant.
Not all vegetables are suitable for raw consumption. Some vegetables, when eaten raw, can easily cause poisoning or even produce carcinogens. Generally speaking, solanine content is higher in older, raw eggplants. If you eat young, tender eggplants in small quantities, you may not experience obvious acute poisoning symptoms. However, this does not mean that eating raw eggplant will not cause poisoning. If you experience numbness in your lips, you should be alert. The claim that raw eggplant has better weight-loss and fat-reducing effects than cooked eggplant is scientifically unfounded, and replacing breakfast with raw eggplant is clearly illogical and without any basis.
What kind of eggplant has the highest nutritional value?
Purple eggplants have the highest nutritional value, as their purple skin is rich in vitamins E and P. When choosing eggplants, select newly harvested, tender fruits. At the junction of the calyx and the fruit, there is a light-colored ring. The wider and more prominent this ring, the faster the eggplant is growing and the less mature it is. If the ring is not prominent, it means the eggplant has stopped growing at harvest time, and the flesh has already begun to coarse, the seeds have hardened, and it is not edible.
Nutritional benefits of eggplant:
Lowering blood lipids and blood pressure: Eggplant has a good effect on lowering high blood lipids and high blood pressure. The specific method is as follows: Select dark-colored long strips, cut them into sections or shreds, mix them with sesame paste and soy sauce, and take them at dinner time to effectively lower and heal blood lipids.
Protects the cardiovascular system and combats ascorbic acid: Eggplant is rich in vitamin P, which strengthens the adhesion between human cells, enhances the elasticity of capillaries, reduces capillary fragility and permeability, prevents microvascular rupture and bleeding, and maintains normal cardiovascular function. In addition, eggplant also helps prevent scurvy and promotes wound healing. >>View cardiovascular and cerebrovascular nutritional supplements
Eggplant contains solanine, which can inhibit the proliferation of digestive system tumors and has a certain effect on preventing and treating stomach cancer. In addition, eggplant also has the effects of clearing heat, stopping bleeding, reducing swelling, and relieving pain.
Dietary precautions for eggplant
1. Eggplant can be prepared in various ways, both vegetarian and meat-based. It can be stir-fried, braised, steamed, boiled, deep-fried, used in cold dishes, or added to soups. It's best not to peel eggplant, as the skin contains vitamin B. Vitamin B and vitamin C work synergistically; vitamin C metabolism requires the support of vitamin B, and eating eggplant with the skin on helps promote vitamin C absorption. Never eat raw eggplant, as this can lead to poisoning.
2. Although there are many ways to cook eggplant, most methods involve high temperatures and long cooking times, resulting in oiliness and significant nutrient loss. Frying eggplant can cause a vitamin loss of over 50%. Of all the ways to eat eggplant, making eggplant puree is the healthiest.
3. Eggplant and crab meat are both cold foods. Eating them together often makes the stomach and intestines feel uncomfortable, and in severe cases, it can lead to diarrhea. People with weak spleen and stomach should especially avoid eating them.
4. Eating raw eggplant can cause poisoning. Raw eggplant contains a toxin called solanine (also known as glycoalkaloid). Sprouted potatoes contain a lot of solanine, which is poisonous! Solanine is not only found in potato sprouts, but also in raw eggplant; you can even see that its name is "glycoalkaloid".
5. Pregnant women should choose fresh eggplants. It's best to avoid old eggplants, especially those harvested in autumn, as they contain more solanine, which is harmful to the body and should not be eaten in large quantities.
