Artichokes

I got acquainted with artichokes in Morocco, where several plants grew in our backyard. I found nothing special about them then and was somewhat annoyed there wasn’t much to it than the artichoke heart. But contrary to what I thought, artichokes are packed with nutrition.

Highlighted Benefits

• Artichokes may help reduce blood sugar spikes as they contain inulin, a type of sugar shown to stabilize blood sugar levels.

• A compound called caffeoylquinic acid in artichokes may help to protect the liver from inflammatory damage.

• It contains a substance called cynarin that has been shown to increase the production and flow of bile.

Cooking Tips

• Salads - Cut artichokes into halves, boil them, and add the heart to salads

• Appetizers - Drizzle extra virgin olive oil, add minced garlic, and season with crushed sea salt and peppercorn

• Dips - Grill, then pulse in a food processor with herbs and spices to create dips

Fun Fact

One artichoke plant can produce up to twenty artichokes per year.