Rhubarb is one of those tricky medicinal plants that provide
us with a great amount of conflicting research and evidence. It has some great
benefits that include soothing cold sores as well as easing digestive
complaints but there are also a string of negative side effects linked to the
consumption of rhubarb (not to mention that the leaves are considered highly poisonous).
When talking to the owner of the Health Food Shop where we
buy most of our ingredients, he advised us that rhubarb was a bad food for arthritis
sufferers but he didn’t go in to any specific detail. We decided to do some
research of our own...
From combing through an abundance of studies and articles we
have concluded that Rhubarb should only be avoided on the arthritis diet if you
are also taking anti-inflammatory medication and here is why:
Some medications
for inflammation are known to decrease potassium levels in the body. Taking
rhubarb along with these medications might be dangerous as rhubarb is a type of
laxative called a stimulant laxative, these laxatives may also decrease
potassium levels.
So taking
them together could cause a great drop in your body’s level of potassium, which
in turn can lead to a number of symptoms including muscle cramping, nausea and
bloating.
It is
however important to note that symptoms from low potassium are usually very
mild and it would be best for you to consult your doctor or dietician if you have
any further questions. But for us, it stays in the category of foods to AVOID.
For more
information please visit http://www.webmd.com/
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You are here: Home » Six top reasons to eat rhubarb
June 3, 2013 | 1 Comment
Six top reasons to eat rhubarb
My garden
Rhubarb taking over my garden!
The appearance of rhubarb leaves peeking through the ground in my garden is one of the first signs of spring sets my heart aflutter: it brings anticipation about the bounty of local produce soon to come.
Local rhubarb, along with asparagus and strawberries, is just one of the treats that start off the parade of goodies. And it’s not only the taste buds that benefit.
Research is showing that there is a cornucopia of nutritional perks found in rhubarb. While it does contain nutrients like vitamin C, calcium, potassium and fibre, the stalks appear to pack quite a phytochemical punch. The leaves, though, are poisonous and therefore should be discarded.
Rhubarb has a long history of medicinal use dating back to before the Middle Ages. It’s still used as an herbal remedy on its own and as part of medicinal mixtures. Rhubarb’s medicinal appeal in the past likely had to do with its ability to fight off infections. It has been shown to have both antibacterial and anti-fungal effects, making it especially popular when antibiotics and the like were not yet available.
Nowadays when we’re battling lifestyle-related diseases, rhubarb still hasn’t lost its luster. It’s chock full of a range of different phytochemicals with varying action.
Here are six top reasons to put rhubarb on your menu.
• Contains anti-inflammatory compounds
Scientists have isolated a number of different stilbenes, a group of substances which belong to the polyphenol family which have anti-inflammatory properties. Resveratrol, the compound responsible for red wine’s health halo, is also a stilbene. Getting your fill of anti-inflammatory agents may help to halt some disease processes before they start as inflammation is thought to be behind ills such as heart disease and some cancers.
• Supplies antioxidants
Rhubarb also contains a range of different antioxidants. Consider that oxidation is another prime culprit in the development of disease. For example, oxidized cholesterol is much more likely to be deposited in arteries, potentially leading to heart disease and stroke.
• Has anti-cancer effects
Scientists have been investigating both extracts of rhubarb as well as certain compounds contained and discovered an assortment of actions. Not only do they induce cancer cells death both with colon and stomach cancer cells, they also seem to reduce the spread of lung cancer cells.
• Provides blood cholesterol lowering action
For many people, it’s not just what they eat that affects their blood cholesterol profiles. Their body produces cholesterol on its own. Here’s where foods such as rhubarb come in. It contains compounds known as galloyl esters which appear to actually inhibit cholesterol production.
• Decreases risks of bloods clots
Research shows rhubarb contains a number of compounds that reduce the stickiness of blood, leading to lower risk of having blood clots and having a heart attack or stroke.
If you are taking blood thinning medication such as, warfarin or Coumadin, eating large amounts of rhubarb, together with the medication, can lead to excessive bleeding so keep amounts consumed in check.
• Is delicious
As kids, we used to pull rhubarb stalks from the garden and roll them in sugar and sit and munch. The sweet satisfaction of having picked them ourselves was enough to endure the tartness.
For many, the only way to eat rhubarb is in the form of pie but this vegetable – while it’s thought of as a fruit, it’s really not – is much more versatile. While an occasional piece of pie can fit into any healthy eating regime, going for a crumble or fruit crisp with an oatmeal and nut topping or in a compote or salsa fits in better with rhubarb’s nutritional profile.