benefits of capers

If you are on a low sodium diet you should avoid capers since they are a rich source of sodium. A common sign of eating excess capers is extreme thirst. So try to consume it in moderate amounts. Capers retain water naturally since they contain a high amount of sodium. Hence this water retention can make you feel bloated. Be careful about eating excessive amount of capers. If you suffer from high blood pressure you should avoid eating capers. Excess sodium increases blood volume since it retains water. Excess sodium intake could put the body at risk for heart diseases. Another side effect of eating too much capers is the risk of developing osteoporosis. Sodium decreases your bone density which causes them to lose strength. It also prevents your body from absorbing calcium, which is crucial for building and retaining bone health. The weak bone condition often leads to osteoporosis. And if you already have osteoporosis, better stay away from capers.

Capers contain chemicals that might help control blood sugar. Capers might also have antioxidant activity. (NaturalHealth365) The caper is the un opened flower bud used for centuries in Mediterranean cuisine, where it imparts a salty tang and decorative flair to a variety of meats, salads, pastas and other foods. The unique flavor of capers makes them a very desirable ingredient in the Mediterranean basin. But, great taste is just the beginning of the good news about capers.

Capers have a mere 23 calories per 100g. Yet, this spice contains many phytonutrients, antioxidants and vitamins essential for optimum health. High in the flavonoid compounds

In a new study, Maria A. Livrea and colleagues note that other foods in the so called Mediterranean diet have gotten plenty of attention for their health benefits. Capers, however, have been largely overlooked until now.Researchers found that capers help to prevent the oxidation of fat that occurs during cooking and digestion. This was especially noticeable with meats which are where most oxidation occurs. Also, they found that components of capers can help to regenerate the antioxidant vitamin E, making it more available for use. These two things alone can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.The laboratory study involved adding caper extracts to grilled (ground) turkey and analyzing byproducts formed during stimulated digestion. The researchers found that caper extract helped prevent the formation of certain byproducts of digested meat that is known to be linked to the formation of cancer and the risk of heart disease. The benefits are produced with a small amount of capers

The conclusion of the study was that capers may be extremely beneficial to people whose diets are rich in fats and red meats. If you happen to like the sharp, salty notes of capers, you are going to be protecting you health, while enhancing your recipes. Capers are so versatile and easy to use; they can be added straight from the jar to tuna, venison, salmon and tomato sauces. They are the favorite of Italian cooks who use these bulbs in antipasto salads and as a topping on pizzas and pasta. Capers render zing to vegetables, meats, veal and fish. You can find it served with smoked salmon and anchovy sauces. In northern Europe, caper brine is one of the main ingredients in their sauces. (Enjoy!)

Extracts from caper plants have been found to lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels.

Bioflavonoids from capers have been found to inhibit NF kappa B activation.

Capers are a rich source of rutin, a bioflavonoid that is sometimes taken in supplement form to prevent and treat varicose veins. Capers can be grown easily from fresh seeds gathered from ripe fruit and planted into well drained seed raising mix. Seedlings appear in two to four weeks. Old, stored seeds enter a state of dormancy and require cold stratification to germinate. The viable embryos germinate within three to four days after partial removal of the lignified seed coats. The seed coats and the mucilage surrounding the seeds may be ecological adaptations to avoid water loss and conserve seed viability during the dry season.

Capers have been found to have

The caper bush has been introduced as a specialized culture in some European countries in the last four decades. The economic importance of the caper plant led to a significant increase in both the area under cultivation and production levels during the late 1980s. The main production areas are in harsh environments found in Morocco, the southeastern Iberian Peninsula, Turkey, and the Italian islands of Pantelleria and Salina. This species has developed special mechanisms to survive in the Mediterranean conditions, and introduction in semiarid lands may help to prevent the disruption of the equilibrium of those fragile ecosystems.