The globe artichoke is one of the oldest known cultivated vegetables, originating from Ethiopia, with Italy currently being the world’s largest producer. It was valued in ancient Greece and Rome as a digestive aid, available only to the wealthy due to its scarcity. It was the French and Spanish explorers who fist brought artichokes to the shores of the United States, and today virtually all of the globe artichokes grown in the US are produced in Castroville, California.

Artichokes are a good source of dietary fiber and nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, niacin, potassium and vitamin C. Dietary fiber is essential for gastrointestinal health, and useful for weight management, maintaining blood sugar levels, and the prevent of coronary heart disease.

The carbohydrate in artichokes is in the form of inulin, which has been shown to stabilize blood sugar levels in diabetics. The artichokes must be fresh, as the inulin will eventually convert to other sugars as the artichoke ages.

Artichoke leaf extract notably improved cholesterol readings in a study of a group of people with high cholesterol. A compound found in artichoke called luteolinis is believed to assist with reducing cholesterol.

In a double-blind trial, 247 patients with dyspepsia (digestive problems) were treated with artichoke leaf extract, and the results demonstrated an improvement in their dyspeptic symptoms. Dyspepsia is often attributed to insufficient flow of bile from the gallbladder, and there is evidence that artichoke leaf has the ability to stimulate this flow. In another trial, results provide support for the notion that artichoke leaf extract has potential value in relieving IBS symptoms.

Contrary to what some would like to believe, a study demonstrated the ineffectiveness of artichoke extract in the cure of alcohol-induced hangovers.