Amazing Health Benefits Of Artichokes

Artichokes are part of the thistle family, and they are commonly grown in the Mediterranean, the Americas, and South Africa. Known as French artichokes or green artichokes in the United States, the edible portion of the artichoke consists of the flower buds themselves, and these are harvested just before the flower blooms. Artichokes were mentioned by Homer and Hesiod in the eighth century B.C., and they were eaten throughout ancient Greece and Rome. Popular cooking preparation techniques for artichokes include roasting, steaming, and frying.