Eat Your Greens — With Veronika

I know, you hear it everywhere you go and you’ve also heard that greens are so good for you. But do we really know why they play such an important role in our healthy lifestyle? Here are my top reasons why to love your green veggies and inspire you to add more of them into your daily diet.

1. Heart and brain protection - leafy greens are high in lutein which helps to reduce inflammation and prevent heart disease while the mineral potassium regulates your heartbeat and nerve signals. Greens eaters also show slower rates of cognitive decline meaning healthy aging with sharp focus and memory.

2. Bone health - did you know that leafy greens are a rich source of bone building nutrients such as calcium and magnesium? I know we are more used to seeing dairy products being labeled as high in calcium but how about you swap a glass of milk for more wholesome kale or swiss chard (kale actually has a higher absorption rate of calcium, meaning our bodies are able to use more of it per mg, than milk).

3. Inflammation at bay - leafy greens are packed with antioxidants and polyphenols that protect cells, support healthy inflammatory response and therefore fight chronic illnesses. Green leafy vegetables may be one of the best cancer-preventing foods.

4. Detox function - leafy greens are full of minerals, such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamins, including some B vitamins as well as vitamins K, C, E. Many of these nutrients are involved in the detoxification process. Greens are also full of fiber, which makes them slow to digest and good for detoxifying your bowels. Chlorophyll, which makes greens green, binds to heavy metals and toxins in your blood and helps to move them out of the body. Chlorophyll rich foods are chlorella, spirulina, parsley and alfalfa.

5. Immune support - did you know that your immunity starts in your gut? By eating green leafy and cruciferous vegetables your body stimulates the immune system of the intestines and ensures that the immune cells in the gut and the skin function properly. Plus they’re full of fiber, folate, calcium, iron, vitamin C and K to further support your immunity.

6. Gut health and digestion boost - leafy greens will help you keep an optimal fluid balance in the body thanks to potassium, support your body’s natural ability to produce digestive enzymes as well as protect your body from bad bacteria while the fiber in greens feeds your good bacteria. Healthy gut is also directly connected to your good mood and lower stress.

7. Glowing skin - vitamin C and beta-carotene keep your skin healthy and protect it against sun damage. Kale is one of the top sources of beta-carotene and cooking, juicing, or dehydrating greens helps your body better absorb this carotenoid.

As you can see, the reasons to eat your greens are more than enough. I know often when we think of greens, the first thing that comes to mind is salad. And while salads are an amazing way to incorporate leafy veggies into your diet, don’t just stop there. Get creative and experiment with smoothies and juices, add them to your pesto, spread and dressing recipes, sneak them into your sauces and soups, use them as a garnish on every meal, make wraps or even kale chips.

Extra tip: Add healthy fats to your greens (like olive oil to a salad) as vitamins A and K present in your greens need fat to be absorbed properly in your body. By adding lemon juice you will also increase the absorption of iron.