Rhubarb Benefits, Uses, And Side Effects
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Rhubarb, a stout plant, has been a native to the Himalayan Region and has been widely used in Chinese medicine due to its amazing medicinal properties. With bright red stalks and fresh green leaves on top, rhubarb is ideally a vegetable, although it is also considered a fruit in most parts of the world due to its inclusion in bakery items. This herb has a variety of benefits due to the numerous bioactive compounds that it contains. Check out how to freeze rhubarb for long time consumption. Here’s a list of benefits derived through these compounds:
1. Eases Digestion
Rhubarb has both a purgative/laxative effect and acts as an astringent tonic. In this manner, it is used both for constipation as well as diarrhea. However, it does not hold a long-term solution to either. If used along with ginger and lime, it can play a role in treating any form of indigestion.
2. Anti-Inflammatory
It plays an important role in reducing inflammation and swelling in several conditions, including different ulcers, cuts, wounds, musculoskeletal inflammations, etc.
3. Anti-Cancer Activity
Rhubarb may be involved in reducing the cytotoxicity in specific kinds of cancer. Most studies have been predominantly performed on breast and liver carcinoma.
4. Anti-Diabetic Activity
In diabetes, many enzymes, especially those concerning the liver and kidneys, are affected due to the effect of insulin resistance. Rhubarb extracts may play a role in improving these enzymes, thereby exerting better functioning and control of blood sugar levels.
5. Antioxidant And Immunity
Rhubarb contains many bioactive flavonoids that exert an antioxidant effect wherein they scavenge the rise in free radicals endogenously formed due to various reasons, including stress, pollution, infection, disease, etc.
6. Promotes Heart Health
Rhubarb has been shown to improve lipid profile while also playing a role in reducing platelet aggregation, exerting an anti-clotting effect. It perhaps is also significant in improving atherosclerosis.
7. Anti-Fungal And Anti-Microbial
Rhubarb has also been studied as a medium in treating various skin infections and diseases through its anti-fungal properties.
Uses Of Rhubarb
Rhubarb has a tart flavor and requires some sweetener like sugar to be cooked along with it. For this reason, it finds a place in most dessert items. You can stew/poach/ even roast rhubarb with ginger, lime, sugar flavoring. It can also be used with other fruits like apples, strawberries, etc., to make jam.
Side Effects Of Rhubarb
It is believed that rhubarb contains considerable amounts of oxalic acid, which could bind with calcium and form calcium oxalate crystals deposited in the kidneys/gall bladder. Therefore, its quantity needs to be controlled in patients suffering from renal/ gall bladder diseases.
What are the health benefits of eating rhubarb?
Nutrition. Rhubarb is rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins (which give it its red color) and proanthocyanidins. These antioxidants have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, which help protect you from many health-related issues such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Can you eat rhubarb every day?
Rhubarb stalks are a good source of fiber, which may affect your cholesterol. In one controlled study, men with high levels ate 27 grams of rhubarb-stalk fiber every day for a month. Their total cholesterol dropped by 8% and their LDL (bad) cholesterol by 9% ( 5 ).
Does rhubarb affect blood pressure?
Medicinal value of rhubarb Cooking rhubarb increases its polyphenol content and overall antioxidant capacity. Research suggests there are beneficial compounds in rhubarb that may fight cancer, lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and protect eye and brain health.
Is rhubarb good for gut health?
The tannins in rhubarb stalks have been found to improve digestion and gut health. Rhubarb is also rich in fiber to help prevent constipation. If you could use a little help in that department, check out more foods that make you poop.
Is rhubarb a Superfood?
Rhubarb is being called by some in the food industry as “the next fruit superfood,” thanks to its impressive nutritional profile. Calcium helps build and maintain strong bones. It also enables your heart, nerves, and muscles to function properly.
Does rhubarb make you poop?
Both rhubarb’s fiber content and natural laxative properties encourage regularity. Each stalk of rhubarb (1.8 ounces or 51 grams) includes 1 gram of fiber, which is mostly bulk-promoting insoluble fiber ( 24 ). Rhubarb also contains a compound called sennoside A, which has a laxative effect on the body.
When can you not eat rhubarb?
Do the rhubarb stalks become poisonous by summer? It is generally recommended that home gardeners stop harvesting rhubarb in early to mid-June. Continued harvest through the summer months would weaken the plants and reduce the yield and quality of next year’s crop.
Is it safe to eat raw rhubarb?
It’s OK to eat rhubarb raw. When thinly sliced or diced, perhaps with a little sugar to mellow out its tart bite, it can add serious crunch to a dish and a bolt of tangy flavor.
Is rhubarb good for arthritis?
We have all heard stories about rhubarb and bad joints and there’s a truth in some of the homespun wisdom — the plant is high in oxalic acid, which is reputed to inhibit the absorption of iron and calcium and can also aggravate joint problems, such as arthritis.
Who should not take rhubarb?
In fact, a supplement that contained rhubarb has been linked to one report of kidney failure. If you already have kidney disease, don’t risk making it worse by taking rhubarb. Kidney stones: Rhubarb contains a chemical that the body can convert into kidney stones. If you have ever had kidney stones, don’t take rhubarb.
Is rhubarb good for liver?
Through previous research, it has been identified that Rhubarb possessed a good hepatoprotective effect, which primarily protected the liver from oxidation, fibrosis and cirrhosis, liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, and various types of hepatitis.
Is rhubarb good for kidneys?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem worldwide. Rhubarb has been shown to have nephroprotective and anti-fibrotic activities in patients with CKD.
Does rhubarb help you lose weight?
Rhubarb Aids Weight Loss Catechins are known to boost metabolism, and this also helps burn body fat and aid weight loss. Rhubarb is also a good source of fiber, another nutrient important for weight loss. Because of its laxative properties, rhubarb is a prominent ingredient in certain weight loss formations (5).
How much rhubarb is too much?
But eating too much rhubarb too often might not be a good idea because of possible stress to kidneys and inflammation of joints. It is estimated that an adult would need to eat several pounds of rhubarb to feel ill effects, with 20 to 25 pounds (9 to 11 kg ) of fresh rhubarb as a lethal dose.
Is rhubarb a prebiotic?
Accredited practicing dietitian, Joanna Baker, recommends rhubarb as it is high in fiber and contains prebiotics. Rhubarb is a tangy-tasting vegetable, which is often mistakenly classified as a fruit! Just make sure you don’t eat rhubarb leaves as they are poisonous.
