Our bodies thrive on the phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids found in veggies. Their nutrients are so vital to our health, and many of us aren’t getting enough. If we did – we’d probably all be a lot better off!
Veggie power is truly amazing – and there’s plenty of research to back up the countless health benefits of these plant-based foods. I guess that’s why we call them superfoods. The best part of all is that you can eat as many of them as you want – the more the better.
Even though each plant family provides a unique purpose, you’ll find that many vegetables reduce inflammation, fight all sorts of cancer, prevent a plethora of diseases, promote heart health, boost our immune systems and so much more.
The science behind veggies is really interesting too. For instance, according to the experts behind The World’s Healthiest Foods, if you let most vegetables sit out for about five minutes after cutting them, it actually enhances their health promoting qualities!
But that’s not all…
there are many more amazing facts about veggies that I wish they would have taught us in school. Nutrition is so underrated.
Did you know the nutrients in some vegetables, like bell peppers, can be almost completely destroyed when you cook them?
Other veggies, like carrots and celery, actually increase in nutrient value if you cook them right. Nutrients can also be lost or more potent depending on how ripe the vegetable is or simply by they way it’s stored.
Sometimes the flesh of the vegetable is where most of the nutrients are – sometimes it’s the skin, rind, stem or root. Each and every vegetable that grows on this Earth has a role in our bodies.
What’s even more intriguing, is the relationship that certain veggies have in combination with each other. For instance – when you add a cup of avocado to a salad, it increases the absorption of carotenoids by 200-400%.
Take a look at this Veggies for Vitality infographic to discover some health benefits and other cool things about 27 different vegetables.
And don’t forget to check out the one on Fruit for Health, too!
If you aren’t a huge fan of eating your vegetables, or you think you don’t get enough – natural whole-food supplements can help fill your nutrient gap. Especially because the amount of veggies we need these days is far beyond what it was 50 years ago, as seen in this image from The Cornucopia Institute.
Your best bet is to eat as many vegetables as possible everyday, to get your nutrients right from the source. But, supplementing with a whole-food, organic, non-GMO supplements, is a good plan B. Â Some people even prefer to play it safe and eat as many fruits and veggies as possible, but still supplement their diets with things like greens, omega-3’s, probiotics and vitamins & minerals.
Thankfully, you can find trusted vitamins, minerals and specific phytonutrients that are found in vegetables from places like Natural Healthy Concepts.
Image Source : Sinéad McKeown – fresh veggies via Flickr.com
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I am a mom of two young boys and passionate about natural health and nutrition. I love spreading the word about good food and the importance it has on our bodies. Functional medicine is key.
