How many times have we heard that vegetables are important and, how many times have we told our kids “Eat your vegetables”!
So, why is this important? Vegetables are a great source of Micronutrients like vitamins and minerals and Phytonutrients.
Vitamins like Vitamin A are important for immunity and healthy vision while the B complex vitamins help with the elimination of toxins as well as several other cellular functions. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy help keep our liver healthy.
Minerals like zinc, magnesium, selenium are great for thyroid health, hair and nails.
The high fiber content in the vegetables enables the food to keep moving in the gut and avoid constipation. This fiber also feeds the bacteria in our colon, helping them produce more mucin which helps protect the lining in our large intestine, reducing the chances of inflammation and cancer.
Colorful vegetables provide much needed phytonutrients, which are power anti-oxidants. During the process of energy production inside the cells in the body, by products called oxidative end products are formed, which are very toxic to the cells, unless they are neutralized by the anti-oxidants. Deficiency of anti-oxidants can cause cell damage and inflammation.
So, don’t skip your vegetables, eat at least 4 servings a day and eat like a rainbow, include at least 4 to 6 colors of vegetables everyday, white onions, red tomato, green pepper, orange carrots, purple cabbage...
Remember, good nutrition is key to a healthy life!