Health Benefits of Arugula And Its Side Effects

Anti-oxidants present in arugula regulate the enzyme reactions within our cells and also help to destroy the free radicals within our body which are harmful and can cause diseases. Arugula contains a substantial amount of anti-oxidants and, therefore, can help you lead a healthy life.

In addition to this, antioxidants present in Arugula protect your body from various illnesses like the common cold and even safeguards your system against cancer, premature aging and heart diseases.

It has been observed over the course of the last three decades that consuming a considerable quantity of cruciferous vegetables like Arugula can lower the risk of cancer, mainly lung and colon cancer. Cruciferous vegetables have a bitter taste due to the sulfur-containing compounds (sulforaphane). But it is these compounds only which also give cancer-fighting properties to Arugula.

Researchers are trying to find out the beneficial effects Arugula of sulforaphane in fighting melanoma, esophageal, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. It has been detected by researchers that sulforaphane can inhibit the enzyme histone deacetylase, which is involved in the progression of cancer.

Arugula For Eye protection contains good quantities of the anti-oxidant Vitamin A. This is very good for your eyes. Arugula even improves the health of your bones and teeth. Vitamin A protects the surface of the eye i.e. cornea and thus it is essential for good vision.

Arugula contains Vitamin K which is essential for strong and healthy bones and delays the onset of osteoporosis. Vitamin K catalyzes osteotrophic activity in cells which means that it promotes the formation of bones. With the onset of certain diseases like Alzheimer’s, Vitamin K works to slow down the degradation of neural pathways. Arugula, being a good source of Vitamin K, can help guard oneself against these diseases.

Arugula contains a host of vitamins and minerals that is sure to boost your immunity system and guard against a variety of diseases. In addition to various immunity enhancing properties, arugula contains copper which helps to create more white blood cells. The white blood cells are the primary defense agents of your body and protect you against a whole lot of disease-causing agents.

In addition, arugula contains Vitamin C which is one of the best defenses for your body as it acts against the disease-causing inflammatory free radicals and eliminate them from the body.

Arugula contains folates, a classification that contains folic acid, which decrease occurrences of mental defects in newborn babies. Folates primarily help the body to manufacture new cells and, therefore, help guard against any anomaly that might plague a newborn child. So arugula is an excellent choice for would-be-mothers.

Arugula contains an anti-oxidant called alpha-lipoic acid that has proved to lower glucose levels, increase insulin sensitivity and prevents oxidative stress-induced changes in patients with diabetes.

Arugula also helps to decrease peripheral and autonomic neuropathy in diabetes. So it would be good to include arugula in the diet of a diabetic.

An important health benefit of arugula is that it helps to enhance metabolism. Arugula has Vitamin B-complex that aids the metabolism process in your body. Eight B-complex vitamins take part and facilitate different cell activities like energy production, fat synthesis, the production of red blood cells and also aid other many other vital processes for cell and metabolic health.

Arugula helps in the absorption of minerals by our body. This is because arugula has a very low level of oxalates when compared to other leafy vegetables. The absorption of minerals in the body system is prevented by oxalates.

So arugula, with its low oxalate content, helps to absorb the essential minerals like copper and iron which are so beneficial for your health.

Arugula is rich in nitrate which helps to improve muscle oxygenation during exercise. Regular dietary intake of nitrate facilitates exercise tolerance during endurance workouts.

Nitrate consumption helps improve the quality of life for people who find it difficult to execute the activities of daily life. So arugula can help people with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases.

Regular intake of arugula helps in losing weight in addition to the other benefits that it provides. Arugula is low in calories and rich in vitamin or nutrients and thus will provide the necessary nourishment to your body without adding to your body weight.