Artichokes look very unusual and their flowers bring exotic flair to the garden bed. Are they really safe to eat, or do they contain toxins or inedible parts? Find out here!
Not all parts of the artichoke are edible
Do not eat artichokes whole
Artichokes are completely non-toxic and even very healthy and are also available as medicinal products. However, not all parts of the artichoke can be eaten. The outer leaves of the artichoke bud are tough, as is the fibrous interior, also known as hay. This should be sorted out before or when consumed. However, these parts are not poisonous, just very tough. Here you can find out how to harvest, store and prepare your artichoke correctly.
Medicinal properties of artichokes
The bitter substances and acids, which are abundant in artichokes, stimulate the production of stomach acid as well as the liver and bile flow. The artichoke has a detoxifying effect, promotes digestion, dilates blood vessels and protects the cardiovascular system and other internal organs. It also regulates blood cholesterol levels.
Due to these properties, they are used for the following complaints, among others:
- irritable bowel syndrome
- elevated cholesterol levels
- indigestion
- increased blood fat
- indigestion
- in malaria patients
Artichokes are very healthy
Artichokes are rich in minerals and vitamins.
100 grams of artichokes contain, among other things:
- 44 mg calcium
- 11.7mg vitamin C
- 60 mg magnesium
- 1.28 mg iron
- 90mg phosphorus
- 370mg of potassium
- 13IU vitamin A
If you eat a normal-sized artichoke weighing 300 g, you have a quarter of your daily requirement for calcium (approx. 500 mg/day), a third of your daily requirement for vitamin C (approx. 100 mg/day), at least a third of your daily requirement for iron (10 - 15 mg/day), a third of your phosphorus requirement (600 - 700 mg/day) and half of your daily magnesium requirement (300 - 400 mg).