Eggplant is a very good source of dietary fiber, potassium, manganese, copper and thiamin (vitamin B1). It is also a good source of vitamin B6, folate, magnesium and niacin-B3. CHECK THE RECIPE HERE

Eggplant also contains phytonutrients such as nasunin and chlorogenic acid.

Brain Food Research on eggplant has focused on an anthocyanin phytonutrient found in eggplant skin called nasunin

Nasunin is a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger that has been shown to protect cell membranes from damage in animal studies.

Cell membranes are almost entirely composed of lipids and are responsible for protecting

the cell from free radicals, letting nutrients in and wastes out, and receiving instructions from messenger molecules that tell the cell which activities it should perform.

Nasunin is not only a potent free-radical scavenger, but is also an iron chelator. Although iron is an essential nutrient and is necessary for oxygen transport, normal immune function and collagen synthesis, too much iron is not a good thing.

Excess iron increases free radical production and is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and cancer.

Thiamin-B1

What can foods high in vitamin B1 do for you?

• Maintain your energy supplies
• Coordinate the activity of nerves and muscles
• Support proper heart function

Nervous System Support

Vitamin B1 also plays a key role in support of the nervous system, where it permits healthy development of the fat-like coverings which surround most nerves (called myelin sheaths). In the absence of vitamin B1, these coverings can degenerate or become damaged. Pain, prickly sensations, and nerve deadening are nerve-related symptoms that can result from vitamin B1 deficiency.

A second type of connection between vitamin B1 and the nervous system involves its role in the production of the messaging molecule acetylcholine. This molecule, called a neurotransmitter, is used by the nervous system to relay messages between the nerves and muscles. Acetylcholine cannot be produced without adequate supplies of vitamin B1. Because acetylcholine is used by the nervous system to ensure

proper muscle tone in the heart, deficiency of B1 can also result in compromised heart function.

What events can indicate a need for more foods high in vitamin B1?

• Loss of appetite
• "Pins and needles" sensations
• Feeling of numbness, especially in the legs
• Muscle tenderness, particularly in the calf muscles
  
• Very good sources of vitamin B1 include asparagus , romaine lettuce, mushrooms , spinach, sunflower seeds, tuna, green peas, tomatoes, eggplant and Brussels sprouts.
• Vitamin B1 may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the following health conditions:
• Alcoholism
• Alzheimer's disease
• Crohn's disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Korsakoff's psychosis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Wernicke's encephalopathy

Health Benefits Of winter squash Phytonutrients that Promote Optimal Health

Although not as potent as root vegetables like burdock, garlic or onion, winter squash have been found to have anti-cancer type effects. Phytonutrient research on squash is still limited, but some lab studies have shown vegetable juices obtained from squash to be equal to juices made from leeks, pumpkin, and radish in their ability to prevent cell mutations (cancer-like changes).

Supports Men's Health

In research studies, extracts from squash have also been found to help reduce symptoms of a condition occurring in men called benign prostatic hypertrophy , or BPH. In this condition, the prostate gland becomes problematically enlarged, which can cause difficulty with urinary and sexual function. Particularly in combination with other phytonutrient-containing foods, squash may be helpful in reducing BPH symptoms.

Promote Lung Health

Consuming foods rich in beta-cryptoxanthin, an orange-red carotenoid found in highest amounts in pumpkin, corn, papaya, red bell peppers, tangerines, oranges and peaches, may significantly lower one's risk .