Can eating raw eggplant really help with weight loss?
Whether eating raw eggplant is truly beneficial for health, or if it can aid in weight loss, lower blood pressure, and reduce blood lipids, some health experts have raised questions about the weight loss method of eating raw eggplant.
In fact, the substance in eggplant that absorbs oil is mainly dietary fiber, and whether an eggplant absorbs oil has little to do with whether it is raw or cooked. Because oil absorption is accomplished by dietary fiber, and temperature does not change the physicochemical properties of dietary fiber. If braised or stir-fried eggplant requires a lot of oil, then one can also eat steamed eggplant; there is no need to insist on eating it raw.
Not all vegetables can be eaten raw. Some vegetables, when eaten raw, can easily cause poisoning and even produce carcinogenic substances. Generally speaking, the content of solanine is higher in old, raw eggplants. If you eat younger eggplants and in small quantities, acute poisoning symptoms may not appear. However, this does not mean that eating raw eggplant cannot cause poisoning. When a feeling of numbness around the lips occurs, one should be vigilant. The claim that eating raw eggplant is more effective for weight loss and oil expulsion than cooked eggplant has no scientific basis, and the practice of using raw eggplant as a substitute for breakfast is clearly without any reason or evidence.
Eating large amounts of raw eggplant can easily lead to poisoning
Eggplant contains a substance called solanine, which has antioxidant and anti-cancer effects and is one of the sources of eggplant's health benefits. However, it has a strong irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract and a narcotic effect on the respiratory center. High intake by the human body can lead to poisoning.
Solanine is almost insoluble in water, so methods like blanching or boiling cannot remove it. However, adding a little vinegar during cooking can help destroy and break down solanine.
The best way to prevent solanine poisoning is naturally to control the intake. However, under normal circumstances, eating about 250 grams of eggplant in a meal will not cause any discomfort, so there is no need to panic too much.