HEALTH BENEFITS OF GREEN VEGETABLES

Diet and nutrition fads seem to change as quickly as trends in fashion, but one bit of advice most of us have heard all our lives holds true: eat your greens! Read on to learn all the reasons why green vegetables are so good for you.




For Optimal Health, Eat Your Greens!
GREEN VEGETABLES ARE LOADED WITH VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Dark leafy green vegetables are one of the best sources of nutrition, and they’re low in calories to boot. Greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and dark-green lettuce contain minerals including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium as well as vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. Vitamin K alone can help regulate blood clotting and may help prevent and reduce inflammation, protecting us from inflammatory diseases including arthritis. A cup of most cooked greens such as chard or kale provides at least nine times the minimum recommended intake of vitamin K, and one or more servings of greens a day has been associated with a lower risk of diabetes.

GREEN VEGETABLES HELP KEEP OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG
Green vegetables also contain many phyto-chemicals and beta-carotene. These nutrients help protect cells from damage, improve immune function and can help protect our eyes from age-related disease, and some studies suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer such as breast and lung. Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli are rich in substances that also help guard against colon and other cancers. And green veggies are loaded with folate, a B vitamin especially important for women of childbearing age. The Centers for Disease Control and the FDA currently recommend that women take in 400 micrograms of folate daily, twice as much as was previously recommended.

GREEN VEGETABLES FOR YOUR DIET
Dieters love greens as they are naturally low in carbohydrates and rich in fiber, making them slow to digest, so you’ll feel full longer. And the good news is that in order to get the most out of your green vegetables you should eat them with a little fat, such as olive or walnut oil, so you can sauté, stir-fry, and make tasty salad dressings for your greens and enjoy!

Tip: When buying green vegetables always look for those with crisp leaves and a vibrant green color as yellowing is a sign of age and may lean an unwelcome off flavor to your healthy veggie dishes.