Rhubarb gains attention for its health benefits
Rhubarb is a vegetable with an edge. It has a long history of medical use, but only in the last few hundred years have people begun to enjoy the stalks as a food.
Because rhubarb carries a sharp bite, it is typically coupled with sweet flavors. The familiar rhubarb-strawberry pairing has typecast this vegetable as a dessert. But that same sweet-tart sensation in pies can add zip to main courses in the form of marinades and sauces. It can also add color and unique flavor to rice or pasta dishes.
A source of vitamins A and C, rhubarb also provides dietary fiber, which can help with weight control and general health. Foods containing fiber probably protect against colorectal cancer, according to American Institute for Cancer Research's report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective.
Rhubarb also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals that fall into the carotenoid family and have antioxidant properties. The report concluded that foods containing carotenoids probably protect against cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and lung. (Studies also suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin may protect against an eye disease called macular degeneration.)
Incorporating rhubarb into your meals can help expand your variety of vegetables, a protocol recommended for cancer prevention and general good health.
The edible part of the rhubarb is the stalk. The plant's leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid, a poison. Don't eat those.
In Britain, rhubarb is commonly cooked with ginger. Other sweet spices that may pair well include cloves, cinnamon and allspice. Along with strawberries, other fruits that combine well with rhubarb include apples, raisins, blueberries and raspberries.
Wrap rhubarb in plastic wrap and store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to one week. Deep red stalks are generally sweeter. Cooked and raw rhubarb both freeze well.
For more about all things rhubarb, visit The Rhubarb Compendium at www.rhubarbinfo.com.