Is it a fruit or a vegetable? Is it poisonous or fit for human consumption? Rhubarb is a conundrum to many, however vitamin marketing consultant Fiona Hunter can shed some gentle and supply us loads of causes to offer it a strive…
What’s rhubarb?
The pink fleshy stalks of rhubarb have an intensely tart flavour, which may be why rhubarb attracts such sturdy opinions. Though most frequently used for candy dishes – rhubarb crumble and rhubarb & custard being two favourites – it additionally works effectively in savoury dishes, baked items like muffins, and makes scrumptious jam and chutney.
Compelled rhubarb, grown in a darkened shed, below an upturned bucket or a pot, is harvested by candlelight in mid-January to early February. It has a sweeter, extra refined flavour than predominant crop rhubarb which is grown open air and harvested in spring and early summer season. Solely the stalks of the plant are edible: the leaves include very excessive ranges of oxalic acid which is toxic.
Well being advantages of rhubarb could embrace:
- Serving to to maintain bones wholesome and reduces the danger of osteoporosis
- Helping wound therapeutic
- Defending in opposition to coronary heart illness
- Aiding digestion
- Decreasing blood strain
- Decreasing the danger of most cancers
- Decreasing irritation
- Decreasing the danger of sort 2 diabetes
- Sustaining eye well being
- Antibacterial properties
Uncover our full vary of well being profit guides and take a look at a few of our rhubarb recipes, from rhubarb & elderflower cake to pork chops with rhubarb & grains.
Vitamin profile
1 serving (140g) rhubarb, stewed with out sugar, incorporates roughly:
- 15 kcals
- 0g fats
- 1.3g protein
- 2.4g fibre
- 0.9g carbohydrate (0.9g sugar)
- 0g salt
What are the highest well being advantages of rhubarb?
1. Can assist maintain bones wholesome and cut back the danger of osteoporosis
Rhubarb is an efficient supply of vitamin Ok, a key nutrient obligatory for wholesome bones. Vitamin Ok prompts a protein known as osteocalcin, which inspires bones to put down calcium. Research present that individuals with a better consumption of vitamin Ok had been much less more likely to undergo from hip fractures.
2. Can assist with wound therapeutic
Vitamin Ok is important to make the proteins obligatory for blood clotting, permitting wounds to heal.
3. Can assist shield in opposition to coronary heart illness
A research printed within the American Journal of Medical vitamin discovered taking vitamin Ok dietary supplements slowed the development of coronary artery calcification (CAC), a situation by which calcium builds up within the arteries, limiting the move of blood. Polyphenols, a gaggle of phytochemicals, present in rhubarb, tea, berries and crimson wine, could supply extra safety.
4. Aids digestion
Rhubarb incorporates a gaggle of compounds known as sennosides (additionally present in senna), which might act as pure laxative, serving to to forestall constipation. It’s additionally a helpful supply of dietary fibre which helps maintain the digestive system wholesome.
5. Could assist decrease blood strain
Rhubarb is a supply of potassium, which helps to counter the damaging results of consuming an excessive amount of salt. A research printed within the European Coronary heart Journal revealed that ladies who had the very best intakes of potassium had been 13 per cent much less more likely to have a coronary heart assault or a stroke.
6. Could assist cut back the danger of most cancers
A bunch of phytochemicals known as anthocyanins, which give rhubarb its attribute pinky-red color, are believed to assist neutralise free radicals – which in flip could assist to guard in opposition to sure sorts of most cancers. Varieties with vibrant crimson pores and skin present greater ranges of anthocyanins.
7. Can assist cut back irritation
Anthocyanins have been proven to have an anti-inflammatory impact within the physique. Persistent irritation has been linked with a number of illnesses together with coronary heart illness, Alzheimer’s illness and arthritis.
8. Could assist cut back the danger of sort 2 diabetes
One serving (140g) of stewed rhubarb gives 20 per cent of the advisable each day quantity of the mineral manganese, which has been proven to assist enhance glucose tolerance. A research printed within the journal Diabetes Care discovered that, in postmenopausal girls, a better consumption of manganese was related to a decrease threat of sort 2 diabetes.
9. Can assist maintain eyes wholesome
Rhubarb incorporates vitamin C and the phytochemical lutein, each of which assist to guard the eyes from harm from free radicals which improve the danger of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
10. Believed to have antibacterial properties
The roots of the rhubarb plant have been used for hundreds of years in Chinese language drugs for his or her antibacterial properties. Research at the moment are underway to find if the stalks additionally supply the identical advantages.
Is rhubarb toxic?
The leaves of rhubarb are toxic: they include very excessive ranges of oxalic acid; the stalk is edible although. Rhubarb is excessive in calcium oxalate which might improve the danger of kidney stones in prone individuals. The excessive ranges of vitamin Ok may additionally intervene with the blood thinning treatment warfarin.
Is rhubarb a fruit?
Though we are inclined to suppose if it as a fruit, and it’s principally generally utilized in candy dishes, rhubarb is in reality a vegetable belonging to the identical household as sorrel.
In conclusion…
Rhubarb is excessive in numerous vitamins, serving to it to offer an excellent vary of well being advantages. One threat, although, is that its tart, acidic style means it’s typically eaten with a number of sugar. You possibly can cut back the quantity of sugar you should use by teaming it with naturally candy fruits like bananas or strawberries or by utilizing a sugar-free sweetener like xylitol, stevia or aspartame.
Additional studying:
A information to rhubarb
Rhubarb recipes
April recipes
The best way to cook dinner rhubarb (video)
