Despite what you might think, artichokes are actually buds of flowers before they bloom, so they're not vegetables. The artichoke blooms into a single, purple blossom, but most are harvested before then.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause heart disease and stroke. In one study, people with mild high blood pressure found that artichoke leaf juice helped. Researchers believe artichokes' potassium content may contribute to this effect, even though studies are still in the early stages.

Artichoke has been shown to improve liver function in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Despite the lack of data on its effect on alcoholic fatty liver disease, artichoke leaf extract contributes to liver health overall.