Eggplant is a perennial plant of the Solanaceae genus. Around him there are many different rumors about the dangers and benefits, as well as that the blue ones (their second name) are correctly called a berry.
The benefits of eggplant
First, eggplant is one of the low-calorie foods. 100 g of raw product contains 24 kcal, 1.2 g of proteins, 0.1 g of fat, 4.5 g of carbohydrates. In addition, eggplant activates the body's metabolism. This is why people who follow a diet to lose weight often include it in their diet. In this case, it cannot be fried under any circumstances, but only stewed or steamed. And the fiber it contains helps ensure long-term satiety.
Secondly, eggplant is rich in vitamins (groups B, K, A, P, C and folic acid) and minerals (manganese, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper).
Thirdly, this vegetable will be very useful for heart and spleen diseases. It also helps to normalize the hematopoietic system and activate the bone marrow. Doctors also recommend adding eggplants to the diet with low blood pressure and cholesterol levels, to prevent kidney disease and atherosclerosis. And with a disease such as cancer, eggplant should be consumed regularly, since the polyphenols and anthocyanides contained in them prevent the formation of new free radicals.
Eggplant harm
The most important disadvantage is that overripe eggplants are saturated with solanine, which is considered a poison. Poisoning is manifested by nausea, vomiting, colic, diarrhea and even cramps.
Fried eggplants should be limited as much as possible due to their ability to absorb large amounts of vegetable oil. With diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such a delicacy will be dangerous.
Eggplant is a berry or vegetable
Occasionally, eggplant is called a berry. For many, this statement sounds strange, because they are already accustomed to the fact that this is a vegetable. It is called a berry only from a botanical point of view, since eggplant fits this definition.
"Berries are juicy-fleshed fruits that develop from the ovary of a flower and are covered on the outside of the shell."
But botany also disputes this fact, since vegetables (zucchini, tomatoes) and fruits (oranges, tangerines) fall under this definition. Conversely, raspberries and strawberries are missed.
