Where am I from?
I'm an Aubergine and originally from Southeast Asia, I'm mentioned in a Chinese agricultural treatise in 522 and was introduced to Europe by Arabs in the Middle Ages. This is why my name(s) originate from Arabic while there's no record of me in ancient Roman and Greek cultures. These days I'm grown around the world particularly China, India and Egypt, but usually Real Foods get me in from Spain because they like me organic with as few air-miles as possible.
What do I look like?
Usually I'm purple! Reddish purple, dark purple, black purple are all ways of describing my remarkable hue. I do come with stripes of green or white sometimes and I've been known to be completely white or show a rainbow of colours, but usually I'm purple. I should also be taut and shiny skinned, if I'm wrinkly I'm not as fresh as an aubergine should be.
And on the inside?
Creamy, almost spongy white flesh with some seeds when I'm raw, and soft when I'm cooked. Don't cut me open until you need me, I go brown quite quickly. People used to salt me before cooking, but actually my new improved modern varieties mean that I'm far less bitter than I used to be. Do still salt me if you're frying me, as I soak up oil like a sponge and the salt helps reduce that.
What do I do?
Aubergines are high in fibre and low in fat and therefore recommended for those managing type 2 diabetes or managing weight concerns. Initial studies indicate that phenolic-enriched extracts of eggplant may help in controlling glucose absorption, beneficial for managing type 2 diabetes and reducing associated high blood pressure (hypertension).
So you wanted to learn information all about Aubergines, I hope this page helped and did you know I may also help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels? These positive effects are likely to be down to nasunin and other phytochemicals in me.
Nasunin is a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger that has been shown to protect cell membranes from damage. In animal studies, nasunin has been found to protect the lipids (fats) in brain cell membranes. Nasunin also helps move excess iron out of the body.
Click here to buy organic Aubergine from Real Foods.