Do you want to know about rhubarb benefits and contraindications. Here we explain it to you, but first it is convenient to know what rhubarb really is?
Rhubarb (scientific name – Rheum rhabarbarum) is technically a vegetable, but botanically it is considered a fruit of the Polygonaceae family. It has a sour, lemony taste, due to its malic acid content.
The plant dates back more than 5,000 years, when it was cultivated and used medicinally in China. From there it spread to America in the 1700s, landing in Maine and then reaching Massachusetts.
Currently, it is cultivated throughout the year in different parts of the world, so it is available in almost any season.
Note
The flowers and stems are the only edible parts of the plant. This is crucial to know as the leaves are poisonous.
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Nutritional information
This plant is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins, such as – A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, E, K, minerals including: calcium, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, manganese and magnesium.
In terms of organic substances, it is a good source of polyphenolic flavonoids such as zeaxanthin and lutein.
The color results from the presence of anthocyanins.
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Rhubarb Health Benefits
Relieves constipation constipation diarrhea toilet paper
In traditional Chinese medicine, the roots of Rheum rhabarbarum have been used as a laxative.
The plant contains the phytochemicals called anthraquinones, including emodin and reina, which have powerful laxative properties.
weight loss fat weight loss Today, many people trying to lose weight get discouraged and frustrated, turning to pills, supplements, meal replacements, unhealthy fad diets, and surgery.
This plant contains 21 kcal / 100 g, which makes it perfect for losing weight.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that your body stores in your liver and fat tissue.
It is one of the main vitamins involved in brain function and metabolism, prevents excessive bleeding and type 2 diabetes, and maintains blood clotting and bone mineralization.
It also plays an important role in protecting against cancer. Low levels of vitamin K have been found in people with osteoporosis (a disease in which bones become weak and more likely to break), while higher levels of vitamin K help maintain higher bone density (1).
wound healing Manganese is an important mineral that is present in small amounts in the body. It is found mainly in the liver, bones, pancreas, and kidneys.
Wound healing is a complex process that requires increased production of collagen, the most abundant protein in the body.
Manganese is required for the activation of prolidase, an enzyme that functions to provide the amino acid, proline, for collagen formation in human skin cells (2). 100 g of this plant contain 9% manganese of the recommended daily intake.
Keeps skin healthy Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant with increasingly diverse uses in disease prevention and health promotion. This antioxidant limits the damage induced by exposure to ultraviolet light.
Once the sun’s rays enter the skin, vitamin C slows the rate of free radical damage to collagen and aids in skin repair by factors associated with reducing oxidative damage to skin cell DNA. (3).
100 g of this fruit contain 9% of vitamin C of the recommended daily intake.
Reduces blood pressure. The doctor takes the woman’s blood pressure
Potassium is an important electrolyte and mineral in the diet. Too much sodium, usually in salt-intensive Western diets, can increase the need for potassium.
Many studies have shown a link between low potassium intake and increased risk of stroke and increased blood pressure.
This mineral relaxes the walls of blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and protects against muscle cramps. 100 g of this plant contain 6% potassium of the recommended daily intake.
prevents cancer This plant is a reservoir of antioxidants like lutein, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin that neutralize free radicals throughout the body.
Damage to cells caused by free radicals, particularly DNA damage, may play an important role in the development of cancer and other chronic diseases (4).
anti-inflammatory properties It has potent anti-inflammatory effects and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a treatment for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and appendicitis (5).
Low levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood There are two types: insoluble and soluble, although most high-fiber foods contain some of both. Dietary fiber is found exclusively in plant foods.
Studies have shown that increasing fiber intake by 5-10g per day lowers bad cholesterol by about 5% by binding to LDL cholesterol particles in your digestive system and moving them out of the body before they are absorbed. One hundred g of this plant contain 5% fiber of the recommended daily intake.
Leukemia A pigment found in this plant called parietin is known to have killed half of human leukemia cells over 2 days in the laboratory.
Also, parietin slowed the growth of other human cancer cells in animal studies.
Helps with intestinal-stomach digestive problems In 2011, scientists at Tisco General Hospital, Taiyuan, China, established that this plant can help protect the intestinal wall (which is made up of 4 layers of specialized tissue) through increasing the secretion of gastrointestinal hormones (such as cholecystokinin , secretin or substance P) while providing normal contraction of the muscles that mix the contents of the gastrointestinal tract (6).
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Contraindications and side effects of rhubarb
The leaves of the plant contain high amounts of oxalic acid (especially if the plant is damaged by severe cold), a toxic and potentially deadly poison. However, to really activate this poison, you must consume large amounts of leaves.
People who are susceptible to forming calcium oxalate kidney stones should consult with their health care specialist to avoid foods high in oxalates.
Also, this plant can interact with different drugs, such as digoxin, a drug used for heart failure. Also, it should not be taken at the same time as other constipation medications.
Pregnant or lactating women and young children should not take this root due to its anthraquinone content.
Also know Rhubarb remedies for fatty liver, weakness and more
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Selection and storage
Select a plant that has firm, fresh, crisp stems that are bright red in color. It’s also available in a frozen form, but choose one that doesn’t contain added refined sugar.
You can store it in the refrigerator and consume it within 2-3 days. Also, you should keep the leaves until you are ready to eat, as they will help keep it fresh.
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how to eat
The leaves contain oxalic acid, so they should not be eaten. So, cut off the leaves and discard them. The health benefits are enhanced when cooked in the oven for 20 minutes rather than eaten raw.
Due to its sour taste, it is mainly used in cakes, crumbles, tarts, jams and sauces or with other sweet fruits. It can also be consumed in the form of juice.
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