Eggplant, with its rich purple color, is part of the nightshade family -- the same family as the pepper, potato and tomato. Eggplant comes in several shapes and colors. The deep purple variety is called Italian or baby eggplant. Eggplant is a good source of dietary fiber, along with B vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and manganese, which your bones store.
Dietary Fiber
Eggplant is a good source of dietary fiber. One cup of cubed eggplant has 2.8 g of dietary fiber, or 8 percent of the recommended daily intake, according to the Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes table. Dietary fiber soaks up water in the digestive track, helping slow the intestines from absorbing starch and sugar. The delayed absorption helps lower cholesterol and sugar levels, ultimately preventing heart disease and stroke, states the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Vitamins
Eggplant contains several B vitamins, including B-1, B-3 and B-6, which help your body convert carbohydrates into usable energy by helping to break down fats and proteins. One cup of eggplant gives a 30-year-old male 0.32 mg of vitamin B-1, or 2 percent recommended daily value, 0.53 mg of B-3, or almost 3 percent of the daily value, and 0.07 mg of B-6, nearly 5 percent of recommended daily value, according to the Institute of Medicine.
Minerals
Eggplant contains magnesium, manganese and potassium. One cup of raw eggplant provides 11 mg of magnesium, or 3 percent of the recommended daily intake, according to the Institute of Medicine. Magnesium, the fourth most abundant mineral in your body, primarily resides in your bones. Magnesium helps nerves function normal and your heart beat regular. Also, magnesium maintains a strong immune system which fights against bacteria and viruses that enter your body, according to the National Institutes of Health. Manganese, also found in your bones, helps your body form blood-clotting and sex hormones on top of helping fat and carbohydrate metabolism, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. One cup of eggplant contains 0.20 mg of manganese, almost 9 percent of the recommended daily intake for a 30-year-old-male. One cup of raw, cubed eggplant provides 189 mg of potassium, or 4 percent of the recommended daily intake, Potassium helps conduct electricity within your body, and is vital to healthy heart function, according to University of Maryland Medical Center.
Cholesterol and Fat
Eggplant is cholesterol-free and essentially fat-free. Your body needs some fats in your diet, but not too much. Some fats are healthier than others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults age 19 and over should limit fat intake between 20 and 30 percent of total daily calories. In meals, eggplant will help limit the overall fat and cholesterol content, keeping blood sugar and cholesterol levels within an acceptable range.
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