Table of contents:
- Myriad health benefits of arugula
- 1. Helps fight cancer
- 2. Helping fetal growth and development
- 3. Maintain healthy bones
- 4. Strengthen the immune system
- 5. Maintain heart health
- 6. Increase sex drive in men
- 7. Make the body stay in shape
- 8. Maintain eye health
Have you ever had a vegetable called arugula? This green vegetable is not widely known, even though it has almost the same nutritional content as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Because it is rich in nutritional content, arugula is said to have a myriad of health benefits. Anything?
Myriad health benefits of arugula
Arugula, which originates from the Mediterranean region, has a slightly spicy sensation when eaten. Even so, don't doubt the nutritional content in it. The reason is, arugula has been proven to contain various types of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, folic acid, potassium, and phosphorus.
Then, what are the benefits of arugula that you can get if you eat this green vegetable?
1. Helps fight cancer
Just like “brother” broccoli who can fight cancer, arugula vegetable is also proven to prevent the growth of cancer, especially colon cancer and lung cancer. In fact, a study says that arugula's ability to fight cancer is greater than other vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage.
The sulforaphane content in arugula can also block the growth of the enzyme histone deacetylase (HDAC), which is known to be involved in cancer growth. Sulforaphane substances present in arugula can trigger cancer cells to self-destruct.
2. Helping fetal growth and development
The benefits of arugula can also be obtained by pregnant women. The folate or B vitamins found in arugula can help
increase the growth of DNA and other genetic material in the fetus.
This is very good for pregnant women or women who are doing a pregnancy program because folate deficiency can cause defects in the baby in the womb.
3. Maintain healthy bones
Well, the next benefit of arugula is that it can prevent bone loss or osteoporosis. The very high content of vitamin K and calcium in arugula can keep bones healthy and keep them strong.
4. Strengthen the immune system
You can get other arugula benefits because of the high content of vitamin A and vitamin C. Vitamin C is a good antioxidant and can help absorb iron in food and maintain healthy body tissues.
While vitamin A is an antioxidant that is good for maintaining a healthy immune system and cell growth properly. Therefore, the combination of these two vitamins can make your immune system stronger against various diseases.
5. Maintain heart health
Not only good for the immune system, arugula is also proven to maintain the health of your heart. The benefits of arugula come from the content of vitamin C and vitamin K which can prevent the risk of heart disease.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition published in HealWithFood, states that people who take daily vitamin C supplements show a decrease in C-reactive protein, or protein produced by the liver if the body has an infection by 24%.
6. Increase sex drive in men
In Arab countries, this vegetable is known as an aphrodisiac, which is a natural ingredient that can increase sex drive. Both the seeds and the soft leaves can increase sexual arousal, especially in men.
A study released in March 2013 by the Al-Nahrain University Journal states that arugula leaf extract can increase the hormone testosterone and sperm production. This shows that this vegetable has an aphrodisiac and the ability to increase fertility in men.
7. Make the body stay in shape
Arugula is a vegetable that contains potassium. Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that is essential for the heart and nervous system. Apart from that, potassium also helps muscles to work properly.
Good muscle performance can increase the body's ability or defense during exercise, especially potassium can also increase oxygenation to the muscles so that the muscles do not tire easily during exercise.
With good and healthy muscles, you will not tire easily while exercising and your body will become fitter.
8. Maintain eye health
Eye health can be maintained by eating foods that contain lots of vitamin A, vitamin K and beta carotene.
The benefits of arugula for maintaining eye health are to prevent your eye's retina from free radical interference and maintain your eye health as a whole because these green vegetables, which have many benefits, contain high levels of vitamin A, vitamin K and beta carotene.
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