Did you know?
We all know that we should eat our veggies and yet so many of us don’t. It is recommended that we consume three or more servings of vegetables every day and yet only about one quarter of adults in America do this. Why? Some people consider vegetables, especially greens as “rabbit food” or “It tastes too healthy”. Whatever the reason those people who choose not to eat them are not reaping the multiple benefits from eating raw leafy greens.
Let’s look at the first benefit of weight control. Leafy greens are extremely low in calories, yet super high in nutrients. Being low in calories you can make them a major portion of any meal and leaving you feeling full without the cost to your waist line. Three cups of most kinds of greens equals to less than 100 calories. Greens also boosts the body’s ability to burn fat cells.
Reason number two would be that greens are full of minerals that your body needs every day to perform at its best. Here are just a few of the minerals contained in greens- selenium, iodine, and copper. Then there are macro minerals (including calcium, magnesium, and potassium), which are needed in much larger quantities. Being deficient of these minerals can leave you feeling sick and tired. Leafy greens are an excellent source of several macro minerals.
Last but not least is the anti-aging benefits we get from greens. Greens also contain folate, a vital nutrient for DNA repair and lutein, which balances the lipids in the skin, increasing hydration and elasticity. Lutein also protects against sun damage that ages the skin. Folate in leafy greens helps reduce levels of homocysteine, which can contribute to cardiovascular disease and also cause strokes.
It is always good to eat a variety of raw, uncooked greens preferably. Cooking them is an option but keep in mind that when you cook greens and any vegetable they will lose some of their nutrients. Using seasoning such as sea salt, pepper, garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil can add to the flavor and enjoyment. Some examples of greens that you can enjoy from your local grocery store or farmer’s market are as follows: arugula, beet leaves (yes, you can eat the tops!), collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens (spicy!), parsley, green and red lettuce varieties, romaine lettuce, spinach, and swiss chard just to name a few. Each has its own flavor and texture to be enjoyed!!!
