Recently, people are so into herbal tea. The reason is simple because according to them anything herbal is good for their healthy lifestyle. One of the herbal plants that is recently becoming popular is burdock and the burdock root is now widely consumed as herbal tea, herbal spice, root vegetable and health supplement. It is true that people are starting to realize that healthy lifestyle is really matter now, not only for their physical health and beauty but also mental health.
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What is Burdock?
Burdock scientifically is well known as biennial plant from genus Arctium and among the large variety, Arctium lappa is the most popular one. Some most popular cuisines made from Burdock comes from Japan and Korea because though burdock is a flower plant and mostly cultivated for its root but Japanese and Korean are also consuming the flower stalks and the leaves. Today, the popularity of burdock has reached worldwide because this herbal plant is packed with some nutrients and well known as the excellent source of dietary fiber and has been used as part of macrobiotic diet that was once popular in the early 20th century.
Nutritional Value of Burdock
| Burdock Root (Raw)
Serving Size: 100 g |
|
| Energy | 72 kcal – 3.5% |
| Carbohydrate | 17.34 g – 13% |
| Protein | 1.53 g – 3% |
| Total Fat | 0.15 g – <1% |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.3 g – 8% |
| Vitamins | |
| Folates | 23 µg – 6% |
| Niacin | 0.3 mg – 2% |
| Panthothenic Acid | 0.321 mg – 6% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.24 mg – 18% |
| Riboflavin | 0.3 mg – 2% |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg – 1% |
| Vitamin C | 3 mg – 5% |
| Vitamin E | 0.38 mg – 2.5% |
| Vitamin K | 1.6 µg – 1% |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium | 41 mg – 4% |
| Iron | 0.8 mg – 10% |
| Magnesium | 38 mg – 9% |
| Manganese | 0.232 mg – 10% |
| Phosphorus | 51 mg – 7% |
| Selenium | 0.7 mg – 1% |
| Zinc | 0.33 mg – 3% |
| Sodium | 5 mg – <1% |
| Potassium | 308 mg – 6.5% |
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As mentioned above, one of the properties that relatively high found in burdock is dietary fiber and then followed by some vitamins and minerals that are great for human health. To find out more about health benefits of burdock, below is the list.
- Solution to Blood Pressure
As rich of potassium, burdock is a natural solution to control blood pressure by eliminating the excess amount of sodium in the blood stream to keep blood pressure always under control.
- Aids Digestion
Burdock contains some compounds that are not only able to flush all toxins from your digestion but also could act as mild laxatives to aid digestion and improve its bowel movement to optimize the excellent absorption of nutrients.
- Gets Rid of Constipation
One of the main causes of constipation is when your digestion could not move in normal pace, the factors that cause it could be vary but whatever it is, burdock which is rich of fiber will help you deal with this condition in much easier way than you’ve expected.
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- Friendly Food for Diabetic Patient
As it is so low in calories, burdock is great to keep your glycemic index and at the same time burdock is also able to keep your sugar level under control just by taking a cup of burdock tea in daily basis.
- Excellent Source of Fiber
From the table mentioned above, you could see that burdock is relatively high in dietary fiber. Surely you have known how important fiber for your health is.
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- Lowers Blood Cholesterol
As rich of fiber, controlling and lowering blood cholesterol is just a piece of cake because fiber will bind the ‘bad’ cholesterol and the body system will automatically increase the production of ‘good’ cholesterol.
- Protects Cardiovascular System
If you want to protect your cardiovascular system, you should make sure first that your heart is not forced to work to hard. Cholesterol and coronary conditions could be the main factor to heart problem. Well, burdock is excellent solution to keep cholesterol level under control and keep away blot clot that could cause coronary conditions.
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- Detoxifies Your Liver
Liver is one of the important organs in human body and burdock contains compound to detoxify your liver from toxins and dangerous chemical while at the same time increase and release the bile to optimal performance of your liver.
- Promotes Skin Health
Burdock is packed with some healing properties and antioxidants. Those combinations are not only keeping your skin clean and healthy but also effective to treat some skin conditions like pimples, acne and even eczema.
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- Natural Cancer Treatment
When it comes to cancer, there is no easy way but the combination of anti-inflammatory, antioxidants and could act as detoxifier is possible for burdock to keep cancer away from your body and prevent it to recurrence.
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- Regulates Hormonal Activities
When you think your body is fine but not with your hormonal condition and keep it always in good activity will maintain its balance and burdock is one of the foods that is for you.
- Promotes Immunity System
As rich of vitamin C and vitamin E, those vitamins are great to promote your immunity system because they could act as antioxidants as well.
- Natural Cure for Cold and Fever
Since ancient time burdock root has been used as natural remedy for cold and fever. The decongestant and expectorant properties are effective to treat cold, sore throat, cough and of course fever.
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- Acts as Blood Purifier
As blood purifier, the depurative agents found in burdock could keep your blood clean from toxins and free radicals, while at the same time also lower the risk of accumulation of unnecessary blood clot in arteries and veins.
- Good for Lymphatic System
If you’re not familiar with lymphatic system, it’s like body’s inner drainage system. As detoxifier, some compounds found in burdock is essential to keep your lymphatic system in its good condition.
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- Promotes Kidney Health
Being a natural detoxifier, surely burdock is great for kidney health because it will make sure all toxins and unnecessary stuff inside your body will be washed off completely and ease up the work of kidney.
- Natural Diuretic
Dehydration could be dangerous for your body as well as the reverse condition, too much water could be as dangerous as well. Burdock contains some compound to keep your body from excessive amount of water.
- Contains Anti-inflammatory Properties
One of the amazing benefit of burdock for human health is; it contains some powerful anti-inflammatory properties which is not only treating all kind of inflammatory conditions efficiently but also keep yourself away from dangerous diseases caused by inflammation.
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- Soothes Arthritis
Actually not only to soothe arthritis, burdock is also great to ease up some inflammatory condition like rheumatism because as mentioned in previous point, burdock contains some powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
- Treats Tonsillitis Naturally
Tonsillitis is caused by certain inflammation viruses and as herbal plant that contains anti-inflammatory properties, burdock is perfect solution to treat tonsillitis.
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- Aids Weight Loss
Burdock is very low in calories, so it is perfect food during your weight loss diet. Furthermore, as detoxifier, burdock will make sure optimal absorption of nutrients to keep your body always in good shape.
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- Solution to Neurologic Conditions
Sometimes people just forget that their neurologic system is also as important as other systems and burdock contains some vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C and Vitamin E that could keep yourself away from some neurologic conditions.
- Promotes Healthier Mind
What you need for healthier mind and super memory booster is healthy diet that is rich of vitamin B6 and burdock is one of the herbal plants that are on the top of the list when it comes to brain food.
- Appetite Stimulant
Do you have problem with your appetite? Burdock could ease up the acid refluxes and acidity issue and in no time your appetite will be improved as well.
- Contains Some Powerful Antioxidants
As packed with vitamins like Vitamin C and Vitamin E makes burdock root as one of the main source of powerful antioxidants.
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- Enhances Sexual Function
Not many people know about this yet but recent studies have shown a significant effect of burdock in enhancing sexual function both in men and women.
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- Could Act as Anti-bacterial and Antiseptic
What’s more health benefits of burdock? Burdock is the source of anti-bacterial and antiseptic agents because it is packed with Polyacetylense and phytochemicals that could act as excellent solution to all kinds of conditions caused by fungal and bacterial infection.
- Combats Hair Loss
The hair loss case is mostly suffered by men but some women could suffer it too, burdock could aid in conditioning dry scalp which becomes one of the factors that causes hair loss and promote healthier hair growth.
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- Natural Solution to Dandruff
One of the effects of dry and unhealthy scalp is dandruff. Burdock is not only eliminating the dandruff from your scalp but at the same time also deal with the itching.
- Homemade Leave-in Conditioner
From now on you could say goodbye to your expensive hair treatment products because you could make homemade leave-in conditioner from burdock to keep your hair healthy and completely nourished naturally.
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Cautions of Burdock
Burdock is one of the powerful herbal plant with relatively long list of health benefits of burdock. However, there are some cautions of burdock you should aware as well and some of them might be fatal, so don’t put them for granted.
- The number one caution you should know about burdock is it could damage the fetus, so pregnant mother is not allowed to consume from burdock at all cost.
- Allergic reaction may occur to those who are allergic to daisies or chrysanthemums.
- Due to its diuretic properties, people who are currently suffering dehydration should avoid it.
- Consuming burdock after and before big surgery could increase the risk of bleeding, so if you have a surgery schedule, you should stop consuming at least two week before the schedule.
- You should aware from where your burdock root comes from because burdock is closely look alike belladonna which is very toxic.
- For those who are currently taking potassium supplement as part of medication therapy should avoid taking burdock because its high quantity of potassium could cause potassium toxicity.
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Well, even if you don’t suffer from any conditions mentioned above, still the key to optimal health benefit of burdock, you should only consume it in moderation only or the reserve effects may occur.
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