Arugula: Health Benefits and Risks.

Arugula: Health Benefits and Risks.

More and more often, in pursuit of health and in an effort to prolong the youth of our bodies, we choose a green lifestyle, carefully considering our daily diet.

The truth is simple: the more purely we feed ourselves, the more gratefully our body will respond to us.

Arugula is quite popular among green ingredients. We see it on the shelves of produce stores and find it included in the list of ingredients needed to prepare many salads.

But let's figure out if everything green is inherently healthy. Could the romantic name "arugula" conceal a secret pest for the human body? Whose camp will this pretty arugula ultimately occupy?

Benefits of arugula.

In fact, in addition to the green leaves of the arugula plant, you can also eat the oil, which comes from the seeds of the plant.

So, let's try to imagine a magic scale, on one side of which we put all the "arugula" PROs, and on the other side - the "arugula" CONS.

First, and perhaps most importantly, its composition! Arugula, so simple on the surface, yet so rich on the inside. Arugula offers a surprising variety of beneficial elements: a complex of vitamins (A, B, C, E, and K) beneficial for blood and skin, as well as minerals (for example, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium, all essential for cell growth). It also contains tocopherols, flavonoids, and tanning agents.

With these characteristics, arugula is a true expert for those looking to improve their health and lose weight. It removes excess cholesterol, lowers blood sugar, and acts as a powerful tool for regulating our metabolism.

Regularly including arugula in your diet has a beneficial effect on the functioning of our main organ—the heart—because it strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

In addition, a causal relationship has been found between the consumption of arugula sprouts and a calming effect, which can certainly be considered an advantage.

Why is adding arugula to salads considered beneficial? Because its low calorie content and rich fiber content help neutralize other fatty components, thereby reducing stomach heaviness.

Arugula is also described as a product that can interfere with and restore the salt and water balance in the body.

In addition to the properties listed above, it's worth noting that arugula can also be beneficial from a medicinal perspective. Its seeds are brewed to combat various skin conditions (this beneficial effect is due to the vitamin K it contains), and its juice is taken internally to treat ulcers.

Arugula is truly beneficial for colds, as it has a diuretic and expectorant effect. Arugula is also useful as a preventative measure during cold season due to its rich vitamin C content.

Women will especially appreciate the beneficial effects of regularly consuming arugula due to its positive effects on nails and hair.

For a specific category of women, such as those planning a pregnancy, the benefits of consuming arugula are expressed in the simultaneous consumption of folic acid contained in it, which, as is known, is simply necessary as a building material in the early stages of pregnancy.

Arugula is recognized as a natural aphrodisiac, which is why it is also considered beneficial for the male body.

Often, when following a diet, regardless of its focus, people who follow it experience a decrease in performance and simply experience a lack of energy, since little new energy is received with food, and the expenditure, as a rule, does not decrease.

A useful secret: eat arugula regularly; it will help you stay on schedule and avoid missing deadlines.

Another unique property, not found in every food, is its ability to target cancer cells, which is why interest in arugula is growing. Remarkably, arugula outperforms broccoli in its anti-cancer properties.

One of the minor and curious properties of arugula is its pain-relieving properties. As evidence, one can consider the fact that people sentenced to flogging endured the lashes much more easily after drinking wine laced with arugula.

The harm of arugula for the body, contraindications.

Is arugula as perfect as it might seem after listing its beneficial properties and qualities?

It's undeniable that a detailed analysis of the plant's composition reveals a high percentage of saccharides. Sugar, by its very nature, cannot provide any health benefits and can even be harmful to those predisposed to or already diagnosed with diabetes.

Those with allergies should also exercise extreme caution when consuming arugula. It turns out that arugula can be dangerous for them, literally, due to its significant phytoncides. To avoid harm, it is strongly recommended to rule out any intolerance before consuming it for food or cosmetic purposes.

Why is arugula so important for women's health?

The best assistant for weight loss.

Arugula is an excellent weight loss aid. It's low in calories, with only 25 calories per 100 grams. The protein in the salad actively helps burn fat from food. The fiber helps cleanse the intestines of waste and toxins, promoting a feeling of fullness, which prevents overeating. Arugula also has a diuretic effect, preventing excess fluid retention, which in turn accelerates weight loss.

Pregnancy and lactation.

Arugula is a natural source of folate, which is essential for pregnant women. Eating this salad early in pregnancy can help prevent neural tube defects.

Many people doubt whether arugula can be eaten while breastfeeding. It can, and even should. Due to its rich vitamin and mineral content, arugula improves the mother's metabolism, which helps increase lactation.

A remedy for varicose veins.

The flavonoids found in arugula have a beneficial effect on strengthening blood vessels. Eating mustard salad is an excellent preventative measure against thrombosis, high blood pressure, and venous insufficiency. Arugula is often prescribed to patients suffering from varicose veins.

Protection from stress.

In the modern world, people are often under stress. Every woman wants to be a good wife, housewife, mother, and employee all at once. Naturally, this affects their emotional state. The B vitamins found in arugula help normalize the nervous system and improve brain function. Regular consumption of arugula helps cope with unexplained irritability during menopause and hormonal changes.

Improving vision.

It's known that women's vision begins to deteriorate earlier than men's. Therefore, it's crucial to include foods that promote vision improvement in your diet. Arugula is a source of natural pigments called carotenoids. These pigments help slow the deterioration of a woman's central visual field. Thus, arugula helps prevent premature vision loss.

Prevention and treatment of gastric diseases.

Arugula is an effective remedy for stomach ulcers. American scientists have found that an extract from this plant can heal ulcers and prevent new ones. Furthermore, arugula strengthens the stomach lining and protects it from harmful effects. Its high antioxidant content also makes it an effective tool in the fight against intestinal diseases and food poisoning.

Prevention of oncological diseases.

Arugula contains glucoraphanin, an effective cancer preventative. This component enhances the action of molecules involved in the body's antioxidant processes and inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. Regular consumption of arugula can prevent breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and other internal organ diseases.

Arugula against aging.

This plant is rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, which effectively combat fine wrinkles and moisturize the skin. Lettuce leaves also contain essential oils, linoleic and oleic acids, which combat rashes, papillomas, and warts.

Arugula can be used not only in salads but also in homemade face masks. The juice from this plant can deeply moisturize the skin, lighten age spots, reduce flaking, and smooth fine lines.

Home care with arugula.

Regular use of arugula-based masks will make your skin smooth, radiant, and healthy. The recipes are very easy to prepare, don't take much time, and produce results from the very first application.

Rejuvenating and moisturizing mask

To prepare this mask you will also need lemon and aloe.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp finely chopped arugula
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon of aloe pulp

Chop the arugula with a sharp knife, squeeze the lemon juice, peel the aloe vera, and extract the desired amount of pulp. Mix the ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Let the mask sit for 5-10 minutes.

Apply to cleansed face and décolleté. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and set with a moisturizer.

Whitening mask

This mask brightens the skin, makes age spots less noticeable, and evens out skin tone.

Ingredients:

pulp of 1-2 cucumbers
2 tbsp. grated zucchini
3 tbsp chopped arugula

Peel the cucumbers and zucchini, grate them finely, and drain any excess liquid. Finely chop the arugula leaves and add to the remaining ingredients. Spread the mask evenly over your face and leave it on for 20-30 minutes. Rinse gently with water, then apply toner and set with cream.

Nourishing mask

This mask helps smooth out expression wrinkles and prevents their appearance.

Ingredients:

3 tbsp chopped arugula
1 banana
1 cucumber

Finely chop the lettuce leaves, mash the banana with a fork or blend with the chopped arugula, and add the peeled cucumber. Apply the mask to your face and décolleté, leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse with cool water and apply a nourishing cream. Apply the mask 2-3 times a week for best results.

As you can see, arugula is an indispensable aid for women's health and beauty. Add it to your favorite salads, smoothies, toasts, and croissants. But remember that to achieve maximum benefits, your diet should be complete and balanced, as all the vitamins and minerals, like the building blocks of a house, complement each other, creating a strong foundation for your health.