It’s no secret that life benefits from healthy choices. Taking the time to work out and get your heart rate up, drinking plenty of water, taking nutritional supplements, and getting enough rest will reward your body.
The same goes for how you eat. You enjoy your macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. But have you considered your micronutrients, such as vegetables? Here are some of the benefits of adding leafy greens and vegetables to your diet.
They’re Excellent Sources of Vitamins and Minerals
The most apparent benefit of leafy greens and vegetables is that they’re packed with vitamins and minerals to promote a healthier body. Specifically, dark, leafy greens such as spinach and kale are rich in A, C, E, and K vitamins. Other vegetables, such as broccoli, mustard greens, and bok choy, come with B vitamins.
Eating greens can feel boring, but you can remedy this by incorporating kale and spinach into smoothies. Otherwise, you can cook vegetables into pasta, roast them in the oven with delicious seasonings, or dip them in your favorite sauce.
They Help With Weight Management and Longevity
A few additional benefits of greens and veggies include the fact that they’re low in calories and carbohydrates and rated low on the glycemic index. They make excellent additions to your diet if you’re focused on losing or maintaining a healthy weight. They also increase fiber intake, which regulates the digestive system and aids in bowel health, and they’re particularly beneficial for people who live with type 2 diabetes.
Furthermore, leafy greens and vegetables contain life-prolonging vitamins such as vitamin K, magnesium, and calcium. These vitamins aid in cellular function and therefore prolong your life.
They Reduce the Risk of Life-Threatening Diseases
Greens and vegetables support soon-to-be mothers and their babies thanks to folate, a B vitamin that promotes heart health while reducing potential congenital disabilities. Additionally, folate assists with DNA duplication and repair, protecting from cancer. Lastly, the vitamin K in dark, leafy greens protects bones from osteoporosis and inflammatory diseases, and their antioxidants fight cancer.
Notable Leafy Greens and Veggies
There are plenty of leafy greens and vegetables that you can add to your diet today to benefit your health in the long run. Some greens to try include:
- Kale: contains vitamins A, C, and K; calcium; potassium; fiber; and folate
- Swiss chard: contains vitamins A and C
- Broccoli: contains vitamins A and C, potassium, protein, iron, fiber, sulforaphane, and folate
- Cabbage: contains vitamin C and cancer-fighting compounds
- Spinach: contains vitamins A and C
Thankfully, vegetables are affordable and easy to find at your local grocery store. However, ensure that you properly wash and store them before consuming them.
No matter how busy you are, snacking on a healthy vegetable can do wonders for your health. So get that green smoothie rolling and enjoy your delicious treat.
