5 Adverse Effects Of Rhubarbs On Your Health

Rhubarb is a unique looking plant that belongs to the Polygonaceae family of the plants. Botanically speaking, it is an herbaceous perennial with leaves growing off the top of the thick rhizome. It is a vegetable but is mainly used as a fruit in culinary practices. The leaf stalks of the rhubarb are used as a dessert or as an ingredient in sweet dishes. Rhubarb taste is similar to that of green apple and sometimes more sugar is added to it to make them even sweeter.

Rhubarb is an excellent source of many nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and polyphenols, etc. that provides a number of health and beauty benefits. Although rhubarb is good for us and provides a number of benefits, it is advisable to consume them in moderation. This is because too much of everything is bad and the same goes for rhubarb. In this article, we will know about the major side effects of eating too many rhubarbs.

# Too Much Dietary Fiber Is Bad For Stomach

Consuming rhubarb on a regular and moderate basis has been found to be very beneficial for our stomach and helps in keeping our digestive system healthy. This benefit of rhubarb is mainly due to the presence of dietary fibers in them. The dietary fibers present in the rhubarb acts as a natural laxative, improves bowel movement and ensures smooth elimination of stool from our system. This not only provides relief from constipation but also aids in treating various gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, bloating, flatulence, etc.

Although dietary fibers are great for our digestive health, it is advisable to consume rhubarb in moderate basis. This is because the high level of dietary fibers is bad for our system and can give rise to problems like intestinal gas, intestinal blockage and poor absorption of nutrients, etc.

# Too Many Antioxidants Are Bad

Rhubarb is an excellent source of many antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols, etc. and presence of these compounds make them very beneficial for our health.

The antioxidants present in the rhubarb fruit fights with the free radicals of our body, stabilize them and prevents them from causing oxidative damage to our cells, and thus reduces the risk of various cancers. They are also effective for proper elimination of toxins from our system and thus helps in reducing the burden from our vital organs like liver and kidneys.

# May Develop Allergic Reactions In Some Individuals

Rhubarb is an excellent source of many nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, polyphenols, and dietary fibers, etc. and presence of these compounds make rhubarb very beneficial for us and provides a number of health and beauty benefits.Although rhubarb is an excellent fruit that provides numerous benefits, not everyone can enjoy these benefits.

This is because it has been found that some individuals might be allergic to rhubarb and these individuals should avoid consuming rhubarb at all cost. This will helps in reducing the risk of allergic reaction caused by the rhubarb fruit. Some other allergic reactions that may arise by rhubarb are itching, burning sensation in the mouth, swelling of tongue and lips, etc.

# May Cause Hypotension

Regular and moderate consumption of rhubarb has been found to be very beneficial for providing relief from hypertension or high blood pressure, a common health problem that affects millions of people around the world and is a leading cause of various cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, irregular heartbeat and so on.

# May Increase The Risk of Hypoglycemia

Consuming rhubarb on a regular and moderate basis has been found to be very beneficial for individuals suffering from diabetes and for those who are at the risk of developing diabetes.

This benefit of rhubarb is mainly because of its low glycemic index. Glycemic index of food determines the rate at which a particular food item releases sugar into the bloodstream. It is measured at the scale of 0 to 100. Lower the glycemic index of fruit and lower will the rate at which it releases sugar into the bloodstream.

Glycemic index of rhubarb is low which means it releases sugar into the bloodstream at a slow rate and prevents a sudden spike in the blood sugar level, and thus helps in managing diabetes.