Dark leafy green vegetables are among the healthiest foods ever. Rich in essential vitamins and minerals, they provide your body with all it needs to detox naturally. There are so many health benefits associated with them, that adding some to your daily diet is probably one of the best thing you can do for your body. Here are just a few good things green vegetables can do for you:
- Lower cholesterol
- Help in cancer prevention
- Support natural detoxification
- Provide you with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds
- Help treat and prevent inflammatory diseases
- Prevent premature ageing
- Support skin health
- Alkalize the body
- Support cardiovascular system
- Support your bone health and prevent osteoporosis
- Regulate blood sugar and help in type 2 diabetes
- Help fight against obesity
- Support our digestive system
Like many other less commonly used vegetables, it can be challenging to find new ways to eat some everyday.
7 delicious ways to boost your green vegetables intake.
Green smoothies and green juices: This is my favorite way of consuming dark leafy greens. Adding kale or spinach to fruit smoothies and fresh juices is a good way to make them even healthier. My favorite combos are banana-kale with natural peanut butter, pineapple-chard with coconut milk, or apple juice-spinach and strawberries. Just let your own creativity be your guide!
Collard wraps: Using collard greens instead of flour tortilla in wrap-style sandwiches is really a win-win situation; you boost your green intake while ditching processed flour for a low carbs meal. Collard greens can be stuffed with almost any sandwich filling. Try some veggie pâté, hummus or guacamole with your favorite julienned vegetables for a quick and healthy portable lunch.
Kale chips: Imagine improving your health by eating chips! Kale chips are a delicious and crunchy way to add more greens to your diet. Simply brush large pieces of kale leaves with a bit of olive oil and salt (or any of your favorite seasoning), and bake in the oven at the lowest temperature possible, or in a food dehydrator, until crispy.
Nutritious sides: Instead of rice or potatoes, dark leafy greens makes a healthy and refreshing change. Sauté them a few minutes with a bit of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic to get all the flavors and make a quick and delicious side dish.
Green soups: Another staple in my house is hearty green soup. Having soup, like my Grenadian inspired green soup, is a good way to add more veggies to your diet. It also has been proven that people who start their meal with soup eat less calories overall than those who eat only their main meal.
Superfood salads: The ultimate easiest way to eat your greens. Now, with pre-washed and ready to use packaged mixed greens, you can quickly create a delicious and vitamin-packed salad on the go. [Update note: A fellow reader brought to my attention that pre-packaged mixed greens can contain an incredibly high amount of bacteria (thanks to David Suzuki for having it tested), so make sure to wash it, even if it says it has been pre-washed, or even better, grow your own mix.] Add some fruits, nuts or bean sprouts and a good homemade dressing for a instant “supermeal”.
Green toppers: Don’t feel like having a salad? Why not simply add greens to any other dish? Use baby spinach on your pizza, toss some aragula in your risotto, add chard to your savory pies, use chopped turnip tops as a soup topper, or sprinkle dried green bits to any dish you can think of.
Do you think you could benefit from adding more greens to your diet? What is your favorite way eat your greens? Wha are the specific health benefits you are looking for in eating more greens?