Commonly known as the eggplant, brinjal is one of the most easily available and affordable vegetables. In its unripe form, Brinjal is a large greenish-whitish vegetable and when ripe, it turns a deep violet. Brinjal can be cooked in many different ways and provides many essential nutrients that are needed for overall well-being of the body.
Brinjal plant is erect and herbaceous plant with branched stems. It can grow to a height of 28 inches or more. The alternate, petiolate leaves are ovate-elliptic with an acute apex; they are entirely or lobate-dentate and slightly woolly haired. The flowers, which are carried on pedicels and arise from the leaf axils, have a many-lobed calyx and a many-lobed tubular, violet corolla. The fruit is a large, ellipsoid or globose berry containing firm, fleshy material and a great many brown
Brinjal is high in water content and potassium. It is supposed to possess many medicinal properties and is used as a remedy for cancer, hypertension and diabetes.
Eating brinjals roasted on fire after putting some salt into it cures excessive phlegm and wind humor of the body.
Eating soft brinjal after baking it on fire and with raw sugar on empty stomach in the morning, cures the enlarged spleem due to malaria.
Taking soft and baked brinjal with honey in the evening helps in having a sound sleep. Using it for some days cures insomnia.
If brinjal is taken in its mashed form or as soup with asafoetida and garlic, it cures flatulation.
Brinjal is not beneficial for person having excessive bile humor and one who has acidity problem. Pregnant woman should avoid its use. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, all parts of the plant can be used to stop intestinal bleeding. The fruit of the plant is used as an antidote in cases of mushroom poisoning.
Medicinal Uses & benefits
1. Brinjal is very nutritious and is sometimes referred to as poor man’s meat.
2. Brinjal is anti-diabetic and used to check diabetes.
3. It reduces swellings of legs; its decoction is applied gradually over the parts.
4. Crush the fruit and squeeze juice. Apply juice on the palm and sole. It will check perspiration acting as sweat preventive.
5. The Brinjal is an excellent cholesterol regulator.
6. Brinjal is very effective too, when used externally in a fat or oil-based preparation to relieve hemorrhoid discomfort.
Nutritional Value of Brinjal
Given here is the nutritional value of a serving of 100 grams of brinjal.
· Calcium – 525 mg
· Cholesterol – 16mg
· Dietary Fiber – 4.9g
· Iron – 6mg
· Potassium – 618mg
· Protein – 8g
· Saturated Fat – 5.2g
· Sodium – 62mg
· Sugars – 11.4g
· Total Carbohydrates – 17.8g
· Total Fat – 27.5g
· Vitamin A – 6.4 mg
Next health-tips
