List of Common Health Benefits from Eating Vegetables

Now everyone knows you’re supposed to eat your veggies. Moms have been pushing them on kids since kids became a thing. And mom’s are never (or at least not often) wrong. Research has come out with the details of just why you need to eat those brussels sprouts. Here are some of the researched benefits to your health of eating your vegetables. It

• Lowers your blood pressure…
  • Veggies tend to be high in potassium, and diets high in potassium are linked to healthy blood pressure levels.
  • Reduces the risk of chronic disease…
  • Reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke…
    • It’s all in the dietary fiber! It’s all about the leafy greens!
  • Prevents some types of cancer…
    • Keep including the non-starchy vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, or cabbage in your meals, especially your children’s. Studies have found they might be related to a reduced risk of developing cancer later on. Brightly colored vegetables seem to be linked to protection from certain types of cancer as well.
  • Lowers the risk of eye problems…
    • Those vitamin A-rich veggies are to blame for keeping your eyes and skin healthy and preventing infection.
  • May also have a positive impact on blood sugar.
    • That’s what keeps your appetite in check, meaning you won’t overeat and it’ll be easier to stay the weight you want and the weight your body needs. If the veggies are non-starchy, they may even help you lose weight.

Most veggies are naturally low in fats and calories so if they’re taking up a big part of your meal plan, the chances are you’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight or lower your caloric intake. Planning in vegetable heavy meals is a great way to healthily diet.

Nature has made it easy for us to keep things healthy by color-coding her nutrients so you can really just shop for your fresh vegetables with your eyes if you want. Make sure you keep a rainbow variety of reds, oranges, and greens (especially dark greens) in your fridge and on your plate, because that’s the surest way to get all the nutrients you need. Also make sure you have a mixture of ways of eating your vegetables (raw, steamed, grilled, roasted) because vegetables and their structures changes when you cook them.

You might not have known this but peas, lentils, and beans are also included in the vegetable category and are super duper important. They’re excellent sources of plant protein if you’re pursuing a meatless diet or going meat-free a couple days a week.

Trying to get more veggies into your diet? Keep them out where you can see them. That’ll entice you to snack on them instead of on other foods. Food Crowd pro-tip: try a new vegetable out, you never know what flavors you’ll discover and fall in love with.