Arugula or Rocket Leaves

Arugula (Rocket Leaves)

Other names:

• Rucola
• Rucoli
• Rugula
• Colewort
• Roquette

While Arugula leaves are often used in salad, it can also be saute or cooked in other ways. But it is best eaten raw.

It has a peppery taste and a bit tangy in flavor.

Arugula's Main Nutrients

• Antioxidant:    Vitamin (C,K), Alpha Lipoic Acid
  
• Other:               Nitrate, Potassium, Vitamin (A,C,K), Folate, Calcium
  

Interesting stuff on Arugula

Arugula Antioxidant Rich

Native of:

• Mediterranean Region
  

Now Found\Grown in:

• Globally
  

Classical writings have references to Arugula being aphrodisiac.

Examples of Health Benefits of Arugula

• control blood pressure 
• osteoporosis prevention
• reduce amount of oxygen required during exercise and improve athletic performance
• decreases risks of obesity, diabetes and heart disease
• lower risks of cancer - lung, colon - the compound sulforaphane found in Arugula, can inhibit progression of cancer cells

Some precautions

• Vitamin K aid in blood clotting, hence, those on anticoagulant drugs needs to be cautious when introducing Arugula in diets, especially in great quantities.
• Nitrate in arugula, if left to go bad, the bacterias may convert the nitrate into nitrite. High levels of nitrite is potentially harmful.