You may have experienced the joy of savoring artichokes in dip or roasted form, but the consumption of artichoke water as a bloating remedy is slowly gaining popularity in France.
Artichoke water is typically prepared from a concentration of artichokes, including its stem, leaf, flower, and heart. While artichoke water can be prepared at home, bottled artichoke water is also available at many health food stores.
You may have it hot or cold (or as artichoke tea), this concoction is now touted as a delectable and nutritious beverage with many benefits—it can eliminate toxins from your body, improve digestion, and is rich in minerals, iron, and magnesium, calcium, zinc, and vitamins B1, A, and C.
Particularly, French women are popularizing another benefit of artichoke: this nutrient-rich food—when consumed in water form—can help debloat and treat indigestion. To learn more about its effectiveness and other health benefits, keep scrolling!
Artichoke water comes with an anti-bloating remedy. Cynarin is a dietary supplement that is extracted from artichokes, and it soothes bloating by stimulating bile production, helping your gut to break down fats, and absorbing vitamins after every meal or food you have.
Artichokes contain two antioxidants (silymarin and cynarin), both play a vital role in boosting liver function, specifically the liver’s detox properties and elimination of toxins—which in turn—helps relieve bloating.
If you feel your bloating is caused by veggies such as cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, or cauliflower—you should avoid artichoke water, as it might result in similar symptoms. Also, people suffering from fiber deficiency or constipation should avoid artichoke water because your body will not receive the fiber it needs from consuming the broth. Instead, eat whole artichokes to stimulate bile movement.
Get whole artichokes, boil them, and use the water to treat bloating while you can still eat the artichoke to derive beneficial fiber. Boil the artichokes until they are fully cooked—and preserve the broth. You can also make artichoke tea by boiling its leaves in water and drinking it as tea or a concoction.
Several studies have revealed that artichoke supplements can minimize diastolic and systolic blood pressure in those with high blood pressure levels.
How artichoke extracts regulate blood pressure levels is still not fully understood. However, some studies suggest that artichoke extract contains the eNOS enzyme, which helps blood vessels to widen.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a medical condition that adversely impacts our digestive system and can induce stomach aches, cramps, bloating, constipation, flatulence, and diarrhea. But artichoke leaf extract can help soothe IBS symptoms by treating muscle spasms and boosting the sustenance of beneficial bacteria in our gut.
Artichoke leaf extracts are rich in luteolin—an antioxidant that prevents the formation of cholesterol. The leaf extract also boosts your body’s ability to efficiently process cholesterol—thereby regulating the overall level. It may also reduce triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol, promoting better heart health.
While more studies need to be conducted on artichoke water, it indeed aids in debloating due to silymarin and cynarin—the antioxidant compounds that stimulate bile production and regulate digestion. However, artichokes can worsen some people’s symptoms, so you must tread carefully. If you are bloating due to insufficient fiber, having artichoke water is futile. Instead, have the whole artichoke—with some butter.
