Eat Your Greens

You’ve heard a million times that you should “eat healthier.” But it’s hard to know where to start. A great place to start is by eating more leafy greens!

Eating your greens will leave a positive impact on your gut and overall health. Leafy greens are packed with nutrients your body depends on to function properly and eating them regularly may lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. These greens below will improve your health in a lot of ways:

Cabbage - Cabbage is excellent for gut health because of its fiber content, which helps your digestive system run smoothly and increases beneficial bacteria in your gut. It’s also a major source of other nutrients, especially vitamin K, which has multiple functions in your body. One of its functions is helping your blood clot properly to begin the process of wound healing.

Bok choy - Do you like Chinese food? Bok choy is a type of cabbage from China, and it makes a tasty stir-fry ingredient. One of its health benefits is that it provides your body with selenium, a mineral that boosts immunity and works to keep your thyroid functioning properly. It also has beta carotene, vitamin C, and other vitamins and minerals.

Broccoli - There’s a reason parents love to tell their kids to eat this. The best thing about broccoli is its wide variety of nutrients, from potassium to protein to vitamin A and so much more. One nutrient found in broccoli is sulforaphane, which may give you some protection against cancer and brain damage. So even if you didn’t like broccoli as a kid, eat it now and your body will surely appreciate it.

Spinach - Spinach, especially cooked spinach, is amazingly healthy. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, and folate. Folate is a key nutrient for promoting healthy pregnancies, but even if you’re not pregnant, you’ll still benefit from folate. It plays a role in DNA duplication and repair, which may help protect against cancer.

Turnip greens - Turnips are great, but their leaves are even better. If you’re looking for a low-calorie, mineral-rich food, you’ll want to give turnip greens a try. Turnip greens contain vitamin A, which nourishes your skin and hair. People with diabetes can benefit from eating turnip greens because of its fiber and antioxidant content.

Collards - Collards are a good source of choline, which helps you sleep well and have a better mood when you’re awake. In addition, collards have vitamin K, calcium, and a variety of other health-boosting nutrients. To preserve these nutrients for maximum health benefits, it’s best to steam collards for only ten minutes.

Kale - Did you know that kale can possibly reduce your cancer risk and protect your heart health? That’s one reason why it’s so popular. If you eat kale, you’ll also get a nice amount of potassium, fiber, and other nutrients. These nutrients can work together to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, making kale a very appealing option for those who need a way to eat healthier. 

Nature has given us an abundance of nutrient-packed leafy greens to choose from, and there are many ways to enjoy them. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, they’re likely a big part of your diet. But even if you eat meat, you may want to consider eating greens more often, not just occasionally.

If you have a habit of eating foods high in salt, sugar, and calories, try and see what happens when you switch out some of those foods for leafy greens for a few weeks. You can have fun experimenting with different greens and different ways to cook them. You may be surprised by how much better you’ll feel when you eat these healthy plants regularly. Take good care of your body by giving it plenty of nutritious leafy greens!