I have always been a firm believer in the two-pronged lifestyle modification and supplementation approach. That’s why together with concentrated supplements for supporting healthy bile and digestion, I strongly suggest eating a gallbladder-friendly diet. Following either the moderate 2nd Gallbladder Menu plan or the strict, 30 Day Menu will help you keep on track. What we eat determines the future of every cell in our body, including those of our gallbladders. And to help you choose must-have components for your daily diet, we at GallbladderAttack have already created a comprehensive Gallbladder Food List and highlighted a few superfoods like beets and turmeric in previous blog posts and menus. This time, we are putting the spotlight on Jerusalem Artichokes.
The Jerusalem Artichoke Plant
The Jerusalem Artichoke plant (Helianthus tuberosus), called by many names – sunchoke, earth apple, or topinanbour, is a vegetable with a nutty, sweet taste. It belongs to the Compositae family, together with sunflowers and globe artichokes. It is a native of North America and has grown in Europe since the 17th century but is now widely planted in temperate regions for its high adaptability. Tubers left in the ground can survive the harsh winter. The tuber’s sought-after cluster resembles a knobby ginger root and is colored brown, white, red, or purple.
Aside from the edible tubers, people from long ago benefited from Jerusalem artichoke stalks and leaves. The leaves have been used as a folk medicine for bone fractures, wounds, swelling, and pain because they reduce fever, inflammation, pain, and spasm. Moreover, the stalks and leaves of the Jerusalem artichoke plant are believed to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Jerusalem artichokes are a good source of inulin, a dietary fiber with numerous benefits.
Jerusalem Artichoke Nutrition Value
The essential vitamins and minerals found in Jerusalem artichokes include the following:
- Vitamin B Complex, especially Thiamine. (25% DV)
- Choline (8% DV)
- Vitamin C (10% DV)
- Iron (63% DV)
- Phosphorus (17% DV)
- Potassium (14% DV)
- Magnesium (6% DV)
*Daily Value is based on a 150g serving.
Jerusalem Artichoke Benefits for Gallbladder Patients
- Liver Health and Bile Movement
- Weight Management
- Blood Sugar Regulation
- Gut Health
1. Jerusalem Artichokes promote liver health and support healthy bile.
Inulin does wonders, including taking care of the liver, the bile, and essentially the gallbladder. Its role is to capture excess fats and cholesterol and “brush” the intestines as it passes through the digestive tract. This process helps in detoxifying the liver. Inulin also helps control blood sugar and serves as a liver protectant.
Apart from the benefits derived from the presence of inulin, the Jerusalem artichoke also helps control the NAMPT protein that is often elevated in individuals with high fructose diets. This protein is associated with inflammation, and correct NAMPT levels are crucial for proper liver function.
The combined components of Jerusalem artichokes are also believed to counteract fibrosis, helping those with liver fibrosis and cystic fibrosis, leading to gallbladder diseases.
Lastly, a 2017 study proves the ability of Jerusalem artichoke tubers to improve glucose tolerance and hepatic lipid profiles among rats on a high-fat diet. The experiment has confirmed that the Jerusalem artichoke plant has anti-fatty liver effects. Further tests done with human subjects may confirm if Jerusalem artichokes can benefit people suffering from NAFLD and NASH.
2. Jerusalem artichokes help with weight management.
Jerusalem artichokes are rich in dietary fiber, making them a good ally for those who want to shed extra pounds. Aside from being an excellent alternative to potatoes, rice, sugar, and flour, they are also a good source of resistant starch, which is considered a superfood for the gut. This kind of starch improves metabolism while optimizing the gut flora.
The inulin in Jerusalem artichokes is also proven to help with weight management. Studies have shown that a daily dose of inulin can help decrease hunger hormones and increase satiety hormones without affecting energy intake.
3. Jerusalem artichokes have blood sugar-regulating properties.
An experiment made to observe the physiological effects of sunchoke-fortified diets confirmed that Jerusalem artichoke indeed could reduce serum glucose levels, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol in hyperglycemic rats. This claim is supported by a study published by the British Journal of Nutrition in 2014, concluding that the plant is helpful in the prevention of the onset of Type 2 diabetes and NAFLD in high-fructose diet-fed rats.
A separate research study was also conducted in 2013 regarding hypoglycemia and liver protection among diabetic rats. Results showed that water extract of Jerusalem artichoke reversed the increase in serum glucose levels in the animal subjects. This finding suggests that sunchokes have the potential benefit of giving relief from diabetic symptoms by improving liver health. This study also provides valuable information for understanding the antidiabetic effect of the plant. The other minerals found in Jerusalem artichokes, such as copper, magnesium, manganese, and zinc, also contribute to its overall antidiabetic action.
4. Jerusalem artichoke improves overall digestive health.
We know that a sick gut may cause numerous diseases, affecting various body systems, including the biliary system. Jerusalem artichokes further help the gallbladder and the liver by improving digestive symptoms, improving immunity, and supporting a healthy digestive system.
The Jerusalem artichoke plant contains heliangine and sesquiterpene that ease various GI issues like indigestion, dyspepsia, or slow digestion. These components make Jerusalem artichoke a good anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial agent.
Inulin found in the plant also helps regulate bowel movement and improve the colonic microflora composition. This was proven by a few animal experiments, one of them stating that inulin is an effective antibiotic for livestock to control pathogens that cause diseases. A separate study in 2017 also tested the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and the activity and composition of the large intestines of rats supplemented by Jerusalem artichokes. It concluded that diets supplemented with sunchokes helped improve fiber utilization and enhanced absorption of calcium and phosphorus. It also showed a positive shift in the population of good bacteria within the gut.
Jerusalem artichokes are also a source of resistance starch, which is essentially a prebiotic, that helps feed the good bacteria and promotes overall gut health.
Lastly, Jerusalem artichokes are loaded with B-vitamins, including thiamine, which helps with the hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Other Uses
The Jerusalem artichoke is not just good for gallbladder and liver patients. Aside from the health benefits enumerated above, Jerusalem artichokes are also known for their other properties:
- Aphrodisiac
- Diuretic
- Spermatogenic – increasing sperm count
- Tonic
- Anti-rheumatic
Warning
Despite all the positive and healthy facts about Jerusalem artichokes, caution must still be exercised when taking this as a food source. Sesquiterpene lactone found in the plant is an allergen component. Individuals allergic to plants under the Compositae family (like daisy, sunflower, chrysanthemum, and dandelion) may also be allergic to sunchokes.
Taking too much Jerusalem artichoke may cause abdominal pain, bloating, and flatulence for those with low tolerance for inulin and fructose.
Lastly, the number of sunchokes eaten per day should be limited. Consuming more than 10 grams of inulin found in one-fourth cup of sunchokes may be harmful. So basically, eat one or two medium-sized sunchokes daily or every other day.
1. Roasted Sunchokes – Thinly cut sunchokes can be roasted in olive, coconut, or avocado oil for about 30 to 40 minutes until they are tender.
2. Mashed sunchokes are a good alternative to mashed potatoes or rice. Steamed or boiled sunchokes can be mashed, seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then served with other dishes, or enjoyed by itself.
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References:
Chang, W. C., Jia, H., Aw, W., Saito, K., Hasegawa, S., & Kato, H. (2014). Beneficial effects of soluble dietary Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) in the prevention of the onset of type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in high-fructose diet-fed rats. British Journal of Nutrition, 112(5), 709-717.
Chen, F., Long, X., Liu, Z., Shao, H., & Liu, L. (2014). Analysis of phenolic acids of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) responding to salt-stress by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The Scientific World Journal, 2014.
Gultekin, Y., Sacalki, P., Tulin, G., Uysal, H. (2008) The Effect of Jerusalem Artichoke ( Helianthus tuberosus L.) on Blood Parameters, Liver Enzymes and Intestinal pH in Laying Hens. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances.
Kim, H. S., & Han, G. D. (2013). Hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective effects of Jerusalem artichoke extracts on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Food Science and Biotechnology, 22(4), 1121-1124.
Ma, X. Y., Zhang, L. H., Shao, H. B., Xu, G., Zhang, F., Ni, F. T., & Brestic, M. (2011). Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), a medicinal salt-resistant plant has high adaptability and multiple-use values. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 5(8), 1272-1279.
Rondanelli, M., Giacosa, A., Orsini, F., Opizzi, A., & Villani, S. (2011). Appetite control and glycaemia reduction in overweight subjects treated with a combination of two highly standardized extracts from Phaseolus vulgaris and Cynara scolymus. Phytotherapy research, 25(9), 1275-1282.
Samal, L., Chaturvedi, V.B., Pattanaik, A.K. (2017) Effects of dietary supplementation with Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tubers on growth performance, nutrient digestibility as well as activity and composition of large intestinal microbiota in rats. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences. 2017;26(1):50–58.
Zaky, E. (2009) Physiological Response to Diets Fortified with Jerusalem Artichoke Tubers (Helianthus tuberosus L.) Powder by Diabetic Rats. American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 5 (5): 682-688, 2009.
