I love fruits, who doesn’t? But I don’t always feel the same way for vegetables. I mean, I like vegetables, but I have the feeling that I could add a bit more to my diet. We often hear that we should eat from 5 to 10 portions of fruits and vegetables a day, but the proportion of fruits vs veggies is unclear. Fruits are much higher in sugar and in calories. Too much sugar, even in it’s natural form, can raise blood sugar levels and increase inflammation. For “normal” people, this shouldn’t be an issue, but for people suffering from diabetes, skin problems, arthritis or candida infection, it can have quite an impact. So keeping the proportion of fruits vs veggies in balance is a great thing to do. Vegetables have many health benefits that are sometimes different from the fruits, like the ones stimulating the liver detoxification, as example. Here are some veggies and their specific health benefits.
Another reason to eat your veggies
Asparagus: Glutathione, vitamins B and C, diuretic, and a good source of dietary fiber.
Artichokes: Folic acid, vitamin C and potassium. Low in calories but rich in fiber. Support the gallbladder.
Avocado: Technically a fruit, but low in sugar and usually used as a veggie. Rich in vitamin E and monounsaturated fat. Antioxidant and help lower cholesterol levels. Part of the best foods to detox the liver
Broccoli: Very rich in vitamin C and vitamin A. A good source of calcium and fiber. High in antioxidants.
Cabbage: All cabbage varieties help to detox naturally. Very rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber.
Carrot: Rich in beta-carotene, dietary fiber and potassium. Regulates bowel movements.
Garlic: Rich in vitamin C, potassium and sulfur. Diuretic, antibacterial, anti-cholesterol, anti-allergen, antioxidant, etc.
Onion: Rich in vitamins, minerals and sulfur. Diuretic, tonic, antibiotic, etc. Help to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Spinach: Very rich in vitamin A. Rich in vitamin C and potassium. Contains iron, but not as much as we usually believe. Contains oxalic acid that can interfere with calcium and iron absorption when eaten raw.
Tomato: Rich in carotenoids, potassium, vitamins C and E, folate and lycopene. Alkalinizing properties.