11 Amazing Health Benefits of Endive

Endive health benefits includes detoxifying the liver, promoting healthy pregnancy, improving oral health, maintaining psychological health, boosting eye health, treating asthma, promoting digestion, preventing gallstone disease, lowering high cholesterol level, and improving skin condition.

Endive can become an excellent food option when it comes to making healthy dietary choices. This lesser-known vegetable is widely used in Western-styled salads. Endives are low in calories so you can eat them on a daily basis.

Natural food sources like endive contain various nutrients, which make them effective for your overall health. So, incorporate endive into your diet and treat issues like indigestion and high cholesterol without hurting your health.

What is Endive?

Endive or Cichorium endivia belongs to the Asteraceae family. Endive plants have three types that are escarole endive, curly endive, and frisee endive. Moreover, the leaves of endive are wide and spherical with a smooth surface. You can find a slight curve on the edge of these leaves.

Endive is a common ingredient in several salads. It tastes well when you cook and combine it with other vegetables. The leaves of endive also make a nutritious garnish option. However, do not overcook it as endive leaves might lose the nutrients.

Nutritional Value of Endive

One cup of raw endive contains the following nutrients.

  • Dietary fiber 8g
  • Folic acid 5%
  • Iron 9mg
  • Niacin 4mg
  • Pantothenic acid 3%
  • Potassium 9mg
  • Thiamin 5mg
  • Vitamin A 2%
  • Vitamin E 8%
  • Vitamin K 4%

11 Amazing Health Benefits of Endive

11 Amazing Health Benefits of Endive

1. Detox Liver

You can maintain a healthy liver by consuming endive either raw or drink its juice. It is a great way to detox your body. The nutrients in the vegetable stimulate your gallbladder which is necessary for the secretion of bile. This bile helps remove toxins from your liver and allows it to function properly. Accumulation of toxic or waste material in your liver leads to the onset of chronic diseases so it is essential to protect the organ.

2. Ensures Healthy Pregnancy

Doctors recommend regular doses of folic acid to expectant mothers. Folic acid is crucial to promote the healthy development of the fetus.

Moreover, lack of nutrients can also lead to congenital diseases. Therefore, to avoid risks during pregnancy, you should incorporate endive into your diet. It does not only provide folic acid, but a slew of other vitamins and minerals as well; these are essential for the fetus.

We suggest that pregnant women seek medical advice before making dietary changes to steer clear of health complications.

3. Improves Oral Health

Maintaining oral health is as important as maintaining your cardiovascular health. Poor oral health can allow bacteria to transfer in your body via your mouth. Apart from ensuring oral and dental hygiene, you need to eat foods that contain anti-bacterial properties such as endive.

You should know that in most cases bacteria in mouth lead to mouth sores which are a debilitating. Regular consumption of endive can even stop the occurrence of mouth sore in the first place.

4. Maintains Psychological Health

Age-related cognitive decline or memory deterioration is quite difficult to deal with. Many external or internal factors like free radicals affect the brain which leads to chronic disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Studies have concluded that nutrients like antioxidants and minerals can strengthen brain cells and tissues, which prevent health-damaging elements significantly. You can obtain potassium, folic acid, and Pantothenic acid just from a single serving of endive and improve your brain health.

5. Boosts Eye Health

Rich in essential nutrients, endive can do wonders for your eyes. From preventing weak eyesight to fighting factors that lead to eye diseases, endive can do it all. Senior people are likely to develop glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration. You can eat cooked or raw endive to keep age-related eye complications at bay. Moreover, adding it to the diet of children can ward off the risks of weak eyesight as well.

6. Treats Asthma

Asthma attacks are an acute respiratory condition that affects children and adults alike. You can control this condition with the anti-inflammatory component of endive. Although endive works well in any form, you should drink endive juice in the case of asthma.

Simply blend an equal portion of carrot, celery leaves, and endive leaves and add ½ teaspoon of honey for flavor. This nutritious juice is ideal to reduce respiratory disorders. Take note that asthma is a serious health condition and you should also seek proper medical assistance to treat the problem.

7. Promotes Digestion

Dietary fiber in endive makes it an excellent laxative that treats many gastric issues. Endive also prevents the risk of indigestion. You can consume a moderate quantity of endives on a daily basis to treat constipation.

Moreover, munching on some raw endives can combat appetite issues as well. If you do not like its slightly bitter taste, you can always eat cooked endives to get the all the benefits.

8. Prevents Gallstone Disease

High calcium levels in the gallbladder or cholesterol levels in the blood lead to the onset of gallstone disease. You should add some endive leaves to different recipes or endive juice to treat gallstone disease. The enzymes and acids in endive can also improve the functioning of your gallbladder.

9. Lowers High Cholesterol

Processed foods or dishes that contain excessive fats can disrupt cholesterol levels in your body. If cholesterol levels increase in your bloodstream, it leads to hypertension and other cardiovascular problems. Vegetables like endive are great food sources as they do not contain excess fats and calories. So, incorporate some into your salads and soups and make the most of endive.

10. Helps with Anorexia

Although anorexia is a psychological disorder where a patient thinks he/she is overweight and ends up starving. This mental state leads to constant weight loss that makes them very thin. Not eating properly affects a patient’s health and quality of life alike.

In this case, eating endive does not only increase their appetite, but also give them a sense of eating food with limited or not calories and help them overcome anorexia.

You should also consult with a psychiatrist if you constantly imagine yourself as an obese person. With the help of proper guidance and dietary plan, you can maintain weight and health successfully.

11. Improves Skin Condition

Endives are a powerhouse of vitamin E which is one of the vitamins that are required to maintain healthy and glowing skin. It is evident that when you consume a nutrient-dense diet, it appears on your face.

Like other vegetables, endive salad can become your beauty secret and a safe way to obtain vitamin E. The vitamin E in the vegetable makes your skin firm and provides it a natural glow.

Bottom Line

Natural sources are free from chemicals and preservatives which make them health-friendly. Make sure to purchase only organic endives to get a dose of nutrients.