Carrying plates to the sink at a recent birthday party, a gorgeous, well-groomed, erudite friend who is also a hardcore vegetarian for religious reasons, made the funniest statement: “While I love veg biryani, I really don’t like vegetables,” she admitted. Another friend, who like me is always on a diet, can’t eat a veggie unless it is covered in a sauce, on a pizza or otherwise disguised in some way. And I think that is true for many adults! While technically a fungi, mushrooms fall under the umbrella of vegetable for most people. I personally love veggies, but feel for friends who find them a chore, so as a tribute to their perseverance, here’s four good reasons why you have to eat your greens courtesy of The Veggie Twins https://bit.ly/1qGlIob:
* They fight bloat – “Vegetables are rich in fibre, which flushes out waste and gastric irritants and prevents constipation by keeping the digestive tract moving,” say the Twins in a recent article for CNN https://cnn.it/1omkks8.
* They create a youthful glow – “Want younger-looking skin? Vegetables prevent unwanted signs of ageing and keep skin young and supple thanks to phytonutrients, vitamin C and high water content.”
* They reduce stress – “Stress can make you tired and moody, hindering your ability to make healthy nutrition choices. The result is emotional overeating and binges. Meanwhile, nutrients like magnesium and vitamin C are quickly depleted during stressful times. Luckily, many vegetables contain these very nutrients, as well as tension-reducing omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins that fight anxiety and depression.”
* They protect your bones – “Tomatoes in particular have recently been connected to bone health. A study found that when you remove lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes from the diet, women are at increased risk of osteoporosis,” says the article. The Twins’ advice: “Eat strong-spined, dark leafy greens like turnip greens, kale, spinach (cooked for more calcium!), broccoli and green peas for calcium and vitamin K. Mushrooms contain vitamin D, while asparagus, chard, kale, artichokes, onions, garlic and leeks are full of prebiotic fibre.”
So there you go gals! Whether you like them or tolerate them, eat up!