Do you consider rhubarb as a fruit instead of a vegetable? Well, I was as wrong as you a few years back, until I realized. And just as I read up to unlearn, here you go: Rhubarb is a vegetable! Its structure is a long pink leaf stalk which is sour. Rhubarb grows in cold climates such as Mongolia, Siberia, and Tibet Western China. Rhubarb, also known as pieplant, tastes sour and earthy because of its association with buckwheat.
If you’ve come across rhubarb in the market, you must have noticed it’s in frozen or canned form, and it is not edible when it is raw. Its consumption can be made possible by either cooking it or taking its juice out. Its juice is not tasty enough to be consumed in isolation, so what is done usually, is to mix it with some other juice to make up for its sour flavor. The juice of rhubarb is remarkably good for health because it’s got essential minerals such as sodium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and zinc. Did you know that only the stalks of rhubarb are edible? Its leaves are not eaten or consumed at all because they are highly poisonous. To say more on its nutrients, it has some amounts of vitamin B complex. Rhubarb juice is well celebrated for its ability to enhance digestive health. Do you have a sedentary lifestyle? Then this juice suits you, as it helps prevent constipation. You’re probably wondering how that works; you’ll get to know soon.
What’s its Nutritional Value?
Half a cup of diced rhubarb consists of:
- Total Calories 15 gm
- Carbohydrates 3 gm
- Protein 1 gm
- Dietary fiber 1 gm
- Sugar 1 gm
- Minute amounts of Vitamin A, C, and K, and calcium
Now to its health benefits!
It’s Anti-Aging
Lots of antioxidants in rhubarb combat the free radicals in the body and eliminates them. Sagging skin and wrinkles can be dealt with by vitamin C in rhubarb, thereby delaying the
aging signs and also preventing premature aging.
It Reduces the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Rhubarb contains copious amounts of vitamin K which is considered to be highly essential for brain development. Its main function is to prevent neuronal damage that takes place in the brain as a result of Alzheimer’s disease, a type of dementia that occurs in aging. Consuming rhubarb juice daily not delays and prevents outright the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease.
It Cures Constipation
Have you ever heard of Anthraquinone? It is a compound which has laxative properties. It prevents excreta from getting hard and it makes defecation easier. The root and stem of rhubarb are enriched with anthraquinone, making rhubarb a hero in solving constipation issues. What’s more? It enables the intestines to work properly.
It Enhances Digestive Health
The astringent properties of rhubarb juice make it excellent for enhancing the digestive health. Now, there’s a whole lot to gain from these properties: to mention a few, they prevent intestinal issues and ease chronic constipation. The digestive health brought about as a result of a regular consumption of rhubarb juice cannot be overemphasized.
It’s Anti-inflammatory
Rhubarb promotes proper blood circulation. Its anti-inflammatory properties help heal injuries faster and reduce the pain caused by them. That’s not all, as they also reduce other causes of inflammation in the body.
It Strengthens Bones
Because it’s bursting with calcium, rhubarb juice is an ideal tonic to strengthen bones. Rhubarb stalk is enriched with vitamin K, one which is popular for bone development. People with osteoporosis and other bone-related disorders can drink rhubarb juice to their advantage.
It Reduces Cholesterol Levels
Because rhubarb has got low levels of sodium and saturated fats, it is just perfect for reducing the levels of cholesterol. Lowered cholesterol intake prevents a lot of cardiovascular diseases and ensures a healthy heart. So with rhubarb, you can boast of reduced risks of myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
It Reduces Cancer Risk
Rhubarb has got anti-tumor properties, along with copious amounts of aloe-emodin and rhein. Rhubarb combats tumor cells in the body. Rhubarb juice is super effective at dealing
with gastric cancer because it is effective at curing digestive health issues.
It Cures Diabetes
Rhubarb juice contains a compound called stilbenoid, which is highly beneficial in reducing spiked blood sugar levels, thereby curing diabetes and related health challenges.
It Boosts Immunity
Vitamin C is vital in boosting immunity because it strengthens leukocytes. Rhubarb juice is rich in vitamin C, making it splendid at enhancing immune system functioning.
It Improves Sight
Rhubarb juice is abundant in vitamin A, a necessary vitamin for eye health. It improves vision and prevents eye-related diseases.
How`s Rhubarb Juice Made?
What`s Needed?
- 2 lbs Rhubarb
- 2 quarts (64 fl oz) water
How`s it Made?
- Wash the rhubarb stems and cut them into pieces.
- Put them in a large pan with cold water.
- Bring the water, turn down the heat and simmer the rhubarb for 15 minutes.
- Allow it to cool.
- Filter the liquid into a jug, pressing down on the rhubarb to get as much juice as possible.
- Put the jug in the fridge and allow the juice to settle.
- After about half an hour, the juice will separate with some sludge on the bottom, and lovely pink juice at the top of the jug. Pour the clear pink juice into another jug and get rid of the sludge.
Your juice is ready!
Rhubarb Facts!
- Rhubarb is in the Polygonaceae family with buckwheat and sorrel.
- Rhubarb is botanically a vegetable, however, it is treated it like a fruit in cooking and often eaten in desserts. In 1947, the United States gave it the legal designation as a “fruit” to avoid the high tariffs imposed on imported vegetables. Then, it was cheaper to bring fruits in.
- Rhubarb root has been used as a laxative in Chinese medicine for ages.
- If rhubarb stalks are green, they’re actually not underripe. Some cultivars have greener stalks than others. The red color is due to the presence of anthocyanins, the same chemicals that make the leaves of some deciduous trees turn red in the autumn.
- Rhubarb was taken to Europe in the 14th century and was taken to North America by European settlers in the early 1800’s.
- In 2008, the Minnesota Legislature proclaimed Lanesboro, Minnesota the Rhubarb Capitol of Minnesota.
- Rhubarb roots produce a brown dye.
- The word “rhubarb” may also mean a loud dispute; in the 1940’s, it was commonly used to describe of the shenanigans of fans and players at raucous baseball games. In the 1930’s theatre, the repetition of the word “rhubarb” by stage actors was used to copy background conversation.
- Rhubarb can be stored in a freezer.
- When harvesting rhubarb always pull, as cutting the stalks may bring about rot.
- January 23rd is National Rhubarb Pie Day.
- June 9th is National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day.
- 1 pound of fresh Rhubarb yields about 3 cups chopped or 2 cups cooked.
Final Words…
Now you know about the rhubarb plant and the juice. How soon do you intend to savor this nourishing juice? The rhubarb facts you have at your fingertips will go a long way in helping you find your way around the plant. Congratulations, as you have just added an item to your list of healthy juices. Share the good news!
