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Eat Your Way to Better Health: Why Leafy Greens Are Your Magic Weapon

Think of Popeye eating his spinach, but instead of only bulging biceps, he’s got strong bones, a sharp mind, radiant skin and a healthy immune system. That’s the kind of muscle leafy greens can yield when regularly incorporated into your diet. And, it doesn’t have to mean more salads. Leafy greens can be roasted, sauteed and blended into your favorite smoothies or dips to add depth of flavor and a healthy nutrient boost.

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Featured

 Eat your greens!

We know that vegetables are good for us but why? Is there anything more to them than just vitamins? Yes, there is and it might surprise you just how many health-protective nutrients they contain – especially the green kind! And if you’re not a big fan of greens, don’t worry – there are many ways you can trick yourself into getting your daily dose without eating a pile of veggies on their own.

Articles of Interest

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Vegetables give your body the nutrients you need to be healthy and strong. Not only that, but they taste delicious and can be prepared in many different ways. Whether they are raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated; or whole, cut-up, or mashed, it’s incredibly easy to incorporate vegetables into snacks and at mealtime.

Eight super-healthy leafy greens – and why you should eat them

Leafy greens are a great way to improve your health as they possess many vital nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. As a nutritionist, I would highly recommend getting more of the following salad leaves in your diet.

Green leafy vegetable and lutein intake and multiple health outcomes

Green leafy vegetables (GLVs) are a key element of healthy eating patterns and are an important source of lutein. To clarify the evidence for associations between GLVs and lutein intake and multiple health outcomes, we performed a review. A total of 24 meta-analyses with 29 health outcomes were identified by eligibility criteria.

Nutrients and bioactives in green leafy vegetables and cognitive decline

Consumption of approximately 1 serving per day of green leafy vegetables and foods rich in phylloquinone, lutein, nitrate, folate, α-tocopherol, and kaempferol may help to slow cognitive decline with aging.

The Best Healthy Green Foods & Their Benefits

Eating green foods can sometimes feel like a chore, even though scientists continue to list the benefits. Discover the top 16 tastiest green foods and what makes them so healthy!

Vegetable of the month: Leafy greens

Nutritional info: Leafy greens are rich in a combination of vitamins A, C, and K; several B vitamins; and potassium. They also contain fiber and are low in calories. As a general rule, the darker the green, the more nutrients it contains. Easy recipe: Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan. Add one clove of minced garlic and a large bunch of coarsely chopped kale, spinach, chard, or other greens. Stir-fry until tender.

What are the health benefits of leafy greens?

We all know we should ‘eat our greens’, and there’s specific science-backed reasons behind this advice.

Why spring greens are good for you

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Resources

10 Greens That Are Healthier Than Kale

But kale’s actually not the healthiest green on the block. In fact, in a recent report published by the Centers for Disease Control that ranked 47 “powerhouse fruits and vegetables,” kale only placed 15th (with 49.07 points out of 100 for nutrient density)! Here’s a roundup of the 10 leafy green cousins that researchers say pack a greater nutritional wallop, from Eat This, Not That!. Read em, eat em, and reap the benefits.