Have you heard about rockets that are used in salads instead of the traditional lettuce? Yes, those greens that looks more like an oak leaf. Those delicious greens are called Arugula and many people use it to make their salads. Though there are many people who use the greens in their salads, only a few are aware of the true arugula health benefits.
Top 5 Arugula Health Benefits
If you think that you should learn more about arugula health benefits, then the following are the facts that you should consider reading to obtain more information about the popular salad alternative. Check it all out:
1. It is considered as a super food because of its cancer-fighting and detoxifying capabilities. Since it belongs in a family that is known as a nutrition powerhouse group called cruciferous, many people can easily determine that this is one of the greens that can provide high amount of antioxidants along with high level of fiber in the body. It is also known to be rich in glucosinolates that reduces the risk for acquiring different kinds of cancer in the body.
2. Eating the greens regularly helps in the promotion of better bone health than what you used to have. It has the calcium content of is about 8 times more than of the iceberg lettuce, and is a good source of vitamin K. Knowing that it has vitamin K will give you the confidence that your body can absorb the calcium easily due to the presence of the vitamin. Furthermore, vitamin K also helps in the prevention of any heart disease.
3. It also has high amounts of chlorophyll that will help in preventing and liver or DNA damage that may be caused by carcinogenic substances.
4. Promotes the reduction in chronic inflammation cases. Given that there are aging people who struggle with the inflamed joints causing unbearable pain and soreness, eating these leaves will help in the reduction of the severe inflammation that anyone may have. it contains isothiocyanates and indole-3-carbinol that works in suppressing the production of any inflammatory mediators. This will help in decreasing the soreness that you would feel from sever inflammation that you may feel in the different parts of your body.
5. Regular inclusion of arugula in your diet will help in protecting your brain from cognitive decline as well as aging. These greens are found to contain a lot of B vitamins as well as folate that helps the aging brain of adults. To prevent cognitive decline in older adults that are high functioning, folate is an important part of their diet. Including arugula will provide the right amount of folate needed and help these older adults in acquiring cognitive decline.
All of these arugula health benefits are sure to give you an idea on why it is better to make use of the leaves as an alternative for lettuce when making salads. Aside from its health benefit, it also has this peppery taste in it that will give you the advantage of getting that kick of peppery taste without over seasoning your salad.