Ice plant refers to a succulent plant that is native to the Namib desert coastal area in southwestern South Africa. It lives mainly in desert areas or alpine areas such as the western part of America including Africa and southwestern Australia. . It is also called Barahu, which means crystal because of its ice-like shape.
The ice plant, which has a slow growth rate and low germination rate, has the characteristics of a halophyte similar to green tea, has a salty taste and has a unique texture. It is mainly consumed raw or in the form of juice after washing thoroughly under running water. In addition, it is rich in pinitol, inositol, beta-carotene, and dietary fiber, as well as various minerals. Now, let’s take a closer look at the main effects of the ice plant and various information on how to eat it.
Main effects of ice plant
1. Blood sugar control
The most representative effect of iPlant is blood sugar control. It is known that the pinitol component, which is abundantly contained in ice plants, controls the absorption of glucose, thereby suppressing the rapid rise in blood pressure, helping to manage blood sugar, prevent diabetes, and improve symptoms.
In addition, the ice-shaped blood cells distributed in the leaves and stems of ice plants contain moisture, salt, and various inorganic components to survive in harsh and barren environments. Among these ingredients, there is a natural compound called inositol. These inositol ingredients are known to have a similar action to insulin that controls blood sugar during the process of absorption into the body, so it is good for improving insulin resistance and lowering blood sugar. It is said to be effective. In addition, it is known to have a beneficial effect in lowering the risk of various diabetic complications caused by diabetes. The reason Ice Plant is widely recognized as a natural hypoglycemic agent is due to the excellent blood sugar control action of these various active ingredients.
2. Antioxidant action
Ice plant is a substance with strong antioxidant power and is rich in beta-carotene, one of the carotenoid components. This rich beta-carotene component accelerates the aging process and has a beneficial effect on antioxidant activity that removes free radicals, the main cause of confusion in the body’s immune system. Due to the complex action of various inorganic components, including beta-carotene, it also has a beneficial effect in reducing the risk of cancer by removing various harmful substances and toxins that cause cancer. has been known.
3. Vascular health
It is said that the myo-inositol component, which is abundantly contained in the ice plant, has the effect of inhibiting the accumulation of triglycerides, which is a risk factor for various vascular diseases, in the blood vessels. In addition, beta-carotene, a rich antioxidant in the aforementioned ice plant, helps to inhibit the oxidation of waste products in blood vessels generated by free radicals, and has a good effect in helping the discharge of harmful cholesterol that increases the level of inflammation in the blood vessels. is said to be there. In addition, the large amount of potassium in the ice plant helps to maintain and manage normal blood pressure through the discharge of sodium, which is beneficial in preventing various vascular diseases such as hyperlipidemia and high blood pressure.
4. Weight Control
The myo-inositol component in the ice plant is known to have a good effect on dieting through weight control by preventing the accumulation of fat in the body due to the inhibitory effect of triglyceride cell proliferation. In addition, the excellent blood sugar control action of inositols in ice plants improves insulin resistance, helping to improve metabolic syndrome symptoms caused by increased body fat and blood sugar. In addition, it is known to have a good effect in relieving constipation symptoms that occur frequently during dieting by activating intestinal movement with abundant moisture and dietary fiber in the ice plant.
Other benefits and how to eat
In addition to the various effects introduced above, the ice plant’s excellent anti-oxidative action removes free radicals that accelerate skin aging, promotes collagen formation and discharges wastes and toxins from the skin to prevent skin aging and improve overall health of the skin. It is also said to help promote growth. In addition, ice plant is known to have a beneficial effect on preventing hair loss, and its abundant inositol component helps the synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy, thereby relieving depression and preventing various mental disorders. is said to give
Since ice plant has a weak characteristic to heat, it is said that the best way to consume it is to consume it raw. It is said that you can eat healthy and delicious if you eat it with salads and other vegetables. In addition, when washing the ice plant, if it is left in water for a long time, the active ingredients may come out. Ice plant is known to have no side effects to be aware of when consumed, but it is recommended that people with kidney-related diseases do not consume too much due to its high potassium content.
