История артишока: от мифа о Зевсе до борьбы с мафией в Нью-Йорке

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... There is an interesting story associated with the botanical name of globe artichoke. According to Greek mythology, Zeus fell in love with a beautiful woman named Cynara and turned her into a goddess. When he found out she had snuck back to earth to visit her mother, Zeus became angry and hurled her at the earth transforming her from goddess to artichoke. For clarification, we are focusing on the globe artichoke this week. The globe artichoke is an unopened flower bud in the Cynara genus, but is considered a vegetable when used in culinary applications. On the other hand, there is a Jerusalem artichoke, which is a completely different plant that is a root vegetable. Globe artichokes were grown by Greeks and Romans and eventually by royalty in France and England. In the 1500s, men regularly consumed artichokes, but not women. It was considered scandalous for women to eat them, because folks believed they enhanced sexual vitality and libido. Artichokes were not introduced to the United States until the 1800s. Today, the majority of U.S. grown artichokes are cultivated in the “artichoke capital of the world,” Castroville, California, where they hold an annual festival and crown a queen. Marilyn Monroe was the first person to receive that honor. Artichokes contain fiber, folate, magnesium and iron, as well as high levels of antioxidants. They are a low-calorie, low-fat and cholesterol-free food that can be enjoyed year-round. ( bit.ly/3UwQn0Q ) In herbalism, artichoke leaf is used as a bitter tonic. Traditionally, it has been used to stimulate digestion and used as an aid for bloating, flatulence and constipation. This plant is also recommended for general liver health. It is believed to assist in detoxifying the liver and decreasing stagnation. Artichoke leaf has been used long-term for conditions such as hepatitis and jaundice. Artichoke leaf is also used to lower cholesterol and improve the condition of the lining of the arteries. Due to this, it is sometimes recommended as an anti-atherosclerotic. Artichoke leaf is also utilized to enhance fat digestion, prevent gallstone formation and support weight loss. Here is one more fun fact about artichokes. There was a mafia leader in the 1920s on the East Coast who monopolized all of the artichokes shipped there from California. He then resold them at a profitable rate. After many years of this systemic abuse, a New York City mayor announced a ban on all artichokes to coerce the importers to sell them to the retailers instead of the mafia. (foodprint.org/real-food/artichokes ) Please consult your healthcare provider before using plants as medicine. This column is for informational and educational purposes only. Arianna Kelley Rawlsky has an M.S. in horticulture and is a certified herbalist. She lives in Colorado with her husband and many furry friends, and created Bringing People & Plants Together. For more information: [email protected] or follow us on Facebook. This column is based on the author’s own research. Statements are not endorsed by Broomfield Enterprise staff.