Calories in artichokes
There are 60 calories in one medium artichoke weighing 120 grams according to US CDC FruitsandVeggiesMatter.
There is no measurable fat or cholesterol, but it does have 5% daily value of sodium.
There are 13 grams of carbohydrates, but only one of those grams is sugar.
This vegetable is high in fiber with 21% of daily value, and contains 4 grams of protein.
The vitamin and mineral levels are low to moderate, but it does have 20% of Vitamin C daily value.
Calories in artichokes hearts
You can buy the prepared hearts frozen, canned, and bottled.
Since they may be preserved in olive oil, pickled, or simply packed in water, the calorie count will vary according to the manufacturing process.
You'll need to read the nutrition label carefully for each product.
Be careful with the oil packed products as the calorie count may be calculated after completely draining off the oil.
Artichoke extract supplements
These are now available as this vegetable contains silymarin, inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and other phytonutrients that may support the liver.
This extract has also been associated with lowering cholesterol, improving vasomotor endothelial function, improving arterial stiffness, and controlling the appetite.
Choosing your artichoke
This vegetable may be either green or purple-tinged.
A fresh one will be heavy, without shriveled leaves.
You should serve them within a week, as the flavor diminishes rapidly.
How to eat an artichoke
Wash them thoroughly, spreading the leaves. Remove some of the tough bottom leaves and cut the stalk to 2 inches.
Many people snip off the thorny end of each leaf, but some simply leave it on, and trust the diner to avoid the sharp end.
Boil in lightly salted water, or steam until the center is soft and a fork can easily penetrate it.
This may take up to an hour with a large one.
When you eat them, pull off one leaf at a time and use your teeth to scrape the fleshy end of the leaf into your mouth.
Then discard the leaf.
When you reach the fuzzy center called a choke (remember this plant is actually an overgrown thistle), scrape the choke away with a knife, leaving the base of the globe.
Strip away or cut off the outer portion of the stem, and eat the delicious, delicate, gray-green area in the center of the globe called the heart.
Sauces
The whole vegetable is usually served with a side dish of oil-based sauce to dip the leaves and heart, such as melted butter with salt and pepper, or mayonnaise when cold.
New low calorie sauces are always being created.
The heart can be used as a base for appetizers, and the packaged baby hearts are served in salads and on pizzas.
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If you liked calories in artichokes, here is more vegetable nutrition information
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