In every corner, over the length and breadth of wherever you look, you will find the food we consume is getting farther away from being fresh. The shelves of grocery stores are packed with prepackaged and processed foods that contain chemical additives we cannot even pronounce.
That is ruining our health.
There are several reasons nutrition experts always emphasize that we should eat more fresh produced vegetables.
To begin, they’re high in nutritional content but low in calories, and a diet that rotates different varieties of fresh veggies is one of the best ways of staying healthy and increasing your longevity. Here are the top reasons you should choose fresh produced vegetables:
1. Fresh Vegetables Are an Excellent Source of Vitamins and Minerals
Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as minerals like zinc, magnesium, folic acid, and phosphorous, fresh vegetables deliver supreme health benefits.
They bolster our immune system, ensure the proper functioning of metabolic activities, and play a role in countless biological processes. Without the vitamins and minerals supplied by fresh vegetables, we couldn't repair damaged tissue, make new cells, or efficiently convert food to energy.
Thus, cutting back on processed and precooked food and introducing fresh vegetables to your diet is vital for your wellbeing.
2. You Get to Relish a Range of Flavors
Not only do fresh produced vegetables offer numerous health merits, but they also allow you to indulge in a wide variety of unique flavors and textures!
Moreover, they give you a chance to get creative in the kitchen, and light up your healthy lifestyle journey by never locking you in mundane routines. If you like strong flavors, you can try peppers, olives, and onions, whereas if milder options suit you better, you can go for mushrooms and leafy greens. For sweet flavors, fresh vegetables like corn, sweet potatoes, or peas will do the trick, while broccoli and okra are more herbaceous in taste.
3. They Aid in Weight Management
Fresh vegetables are low in calories, fats, and carbs. Moreover, they take up a lot of room in your stomach, which keeps you satiated for longer without having to eat more.
Additionally, since fresh produced vegetables are high in fiber, they help the good bacteria in your gut thrive, which enhances your metabolism and further assists you in managing your weight.
To compare, a cup of rice contains 210 calories and 45 grams of carbs, while a cup of cauliflower contains just 25 calories and 5 grams of carbs.
4. Fresh Produced Vegetables Improve Bone, Eye, and Brain Health
Fresh vegetables play an important role in maintaining and improving the health of your bones, eyes, and brain. Here’s how:
Not only can they be a great source of calcium, but fresh produced spinach, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, red peppers, green peppers, and artichokes are an excellent source of vitamins K, vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium — all of which are important for bone health.
Aside from vitamin A, zeaxanthin and lutein are potent antioxidants that defend your eyes against free radicals. Eating fresh lutein and zeaxanthin-rich vegetables like carrots, kale, parsley, broccoli, peas, and spinach reduces the progression of age-related optical degeneration and certain eye conditions like cataracts.
Lastly, vitamins A, C, and a multitude of other macronutrients present in fresh vegetables like collards, broccoli, kale, spinach, and other greens improve brain function. Introducing them to your diet can prevent neural deterioration that causes conditions such as Alzheimer's and Dementia.
5. They Protect Against Cancer and Other Diseases
No diet choice ensures that you will live cancer-free, but fresh produced vegetables are loaded with cancer-combating nutrients and antioxidants, which significantly reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancers.
In particular, fresh cruciferous vegetables such as collards, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and watercress have been demonstrated to reduce cancer risks. They deliver nutrients like folate, potassium, ascorbic acid, and phytochemicals that shield your cells from the damaging effects of carcinogens.
Furthermore, allicin, beta carotene, flavonoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E found in many fresh vegetables like spinach, sweet potatoes, ginger, broccoli, and red bell pepper boost your immunity to fight off pathogens, which are foreign substances that take residence in your body, causing infection or disease.
"Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food." These famous words by Hippocrates have stood the test of time, and he certainly didn't have processed foods in mind when saying them.
Fresh produced vegetables are, undoubtedly, the healthiest foods you can eat. They’re full of nutrition and wholesomeness while being low in fats and calories, and introducing them to your everyday diet can change your life for the better.