5 Amazing Health Benefits Of Endive

 In this article we will be looking at some important health benefits of endive and how endive can be useful to the human body. We have made a detailed guide on what endive is, it's nutritional value, health benefits, side effects and how to prepare it's recipe.

What is Endive?

Endive which is also known as escarole is a green vegetable salad plant which is leafy and has a slight bitter taste. Cooking the leaves usually helps in reducing the bitter taste of endive to some extent, the endive plant has a green outer leave which still retains it's shape even after cooked.

Endive is an herbaceous plant that belongs to the family of Cichorium which is scientifically known as Chichorium endive. The origination of endive can be traced to the Mediterranean era, endive has been recognized for several years by both the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. The name given to endive then was Belgian endive, Witlof and Witloof, in those days endive was consumed in salad and as a herb.

Vitamins and Nutritional Value of Endive

Vitamins

Endive or Escarole lettuce is very rich in vitamin K, vitamin B6 and Vitamin A. It is reported that consuming a cup of endive lettuce will provide to your body about 3,000 international units of vitamin A which is the required amount of RDA of the vitamin for both women and men. 

Endives also provides the body with 50 micrograms of vitamin K per serving supplies which is about 65 to 70 percent of the required daily amount of vitamin K for adults. Endives also contents two milligrams of vitamin C and up to fifty micrograms of folate. Two cups of endive lettuce contains one hundred and fifty micrograms of vitamin B6 which equals to thirty five percent of daily recommended intake.

Dietary Fiber

A single piece of endive lettuce contains up to fifteen to sixteen grams of dietary fiber and a cup of shredded raw endive contains one gram of dietary fiber. The amount of dietary fiber produced by endive when consumed daily can account to five percent of the daily recommended intake for adult women and three percent daily recommended intake for adult men according to recommendation by U.S. Department of Agriculture. Frequent intake of dietary fiber will help the body fight against strokes, diabetes, cardiac disease, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.

Minerals

A single cup of endive lettuce contains up to fifteen milligrams of calcium which is valued at almost two percent of the daily RDA requirements of calcium for adults men and women. A single cup of endive lettuce also contains 0.45 milligrams of iron which is equal to about 8 percent of the recommended daily intake for men and 3.5 percent of women recommended daily intake of iron. 

Endive is also very rich in potassium as it contains 115 milligrams of potassium per serving which is valued at 3.4 percent of recommended daily intake of potassium. These three minerals found in endive; calcium, iron and potassium are very beneficial for prevention of hypertension and osteoporosis.

Antioxidants

Endive lettuce contains high different carotenoids compounds ranging from saponins, flavonoids, zeaxanthin and lutein as reported by the research conducted by The Oregon Institute for Cancer Research. The carotenoids compounds found in endive protects the health of macula and eye lens and prevents the growth of cancers such as gastric, pulmonary, colon, skin and breast cancer.

Health Benefits Of Endive

In this heading we will be looking identifiable on some of the health benefits of endive.

 1. Cures Eye Related Disorders

For patients suffering from eye related problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and mascular degeneration it is recommended to take endive juice mixed with parsley and carrots as it will help effectively for the reduction of those eye complications. Regular usage of endive will greatly help decrease the effect of those kind of eye complications and save you from spending excessively for eye surgery.

 2. Effective For Constipation

Endive can be very effective for the treatment of constipation due to it's dietary fiber contents in it's green leaves which helps in decreasing bowel irritation. This works very effectively when endive is mixed with carrot or apple juice.

 3. Effective For Liver and Gall Bladder Health

Endive when combine with other juice's helps in promoting the secretion of bile, detoxifying the liver that controls cholesterol, cleans the blood, reduces fat and balances hormones levels.

 4. Effective For Loss Of Appetite

The bitter taste of endives juice helps in increasing appetite for food if taken before a meal. Endives are also added in salads to boost appetite and provide stimulating benefits.

 5. Effective For Digestive System

Endives contains a high amount of fiber up to fifteen grams of dietary fiber. This fiber usually helps in food digestion and provides cure from bowel problems and also cures kidney stones. The fiber contents found in endives also helps in removing waste through the digestive tract. Frequent consumption of bitter recipe like endives also helps in stimulating taste buds that activates the production of bile flow and enzyme, which improves digestion.

Side Effects Of Endives

As of the time of writing this article there haven't been any notable side effects of proper consumption of endive. However kindly contact your medical assistance if you derive any symptoms after the consumption of endive.

How to Prepare Endive or Escarole Juice

The endive lettuce is usually juiced due to it's numerous health benefits.

To prepare this juice simply blend endive alone or together with another fruit, herbs or vegetables to prepare a healthy elixir. The bitter taste of the juice usually contributes greatly to it's health effects so it is recommended you do not add any sweet flavor.

Conclusion

Endive is a very useful recipe that has lots of health benefits ranging from treatment of digestive problems, eye disorder, loss of appetite, liver and gallbladder disorders, constipation and so on. 

However, if you want to use endive as a medicinal supplement for treatment of any medical condition kindly contact your physician and ask for approval first so that the compounds contained in endive will not negatively interact with any medication you are taking.