benefits of eating vegetables

The benefits of eating vegetables can be incredible! They are so rich in nutrients that they provide the human body with vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber to help keep you feeling full. Here are some benefits of vegetable consumption for a healthier life:

1) Helps You Stay Leaner – When you eat vegetables, your body burns through fat and calories more quickly. This means when you don’t get enough protein from foods like meat or dairy, you need more fat-burning foods to get the energy needed. And that fat-burning fuel, like those found in vegetables, is very important for maintaining muscle mass, helping you maintain healthy body weight. Plus, it will help you sleep better too!

2) Can Help Save Your Pet Life – It is estimated that having pets is good for the environment. That’s why veggie restaurants have been growing at an incredible rate around the world. Not only is veg, such as broccoli and kale, good for humans when eaten together, but they also produce huge amounts of good-for-you plant compounds like Luteolin and Beta-carotene. These compounds can help reduce cholesterol levels as well as lower blood pressure in people who suffer from heart disease.

3) May Lower Cholesterol - Although many researchers are not certain on the cause of high cholesterol, one hypothesis is that it may be due to a deficiency in essential fatty acids. But what is most important is veg has plenty of Omega 3 fats which have anti-inflammatory properties, help fight off cancer cells and improve memory.

Furthermore, studies show vegetable sources of dietary fiber and micronutrients, such as vitamin B6, folate, water-soluble fiber, and phytonutrients, promote gut health and may help prevent cancer growth. Plus, veg is considered ‘good’ for the heart, helps control high blood sugar levels, lowers blood pressure, can reduce cholesterol, promotes gut health, reduces risk factors for stroke and cancer, and has antimicrobial properties. So, yes, veg may help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol.

4) May Improve Heart Health – Studies show that when we consume vegetables the heart muscles get stronger. This means, there’s less damage to heart arteries and coronary arteries, reducing heart attacks by up to 60 percent when they become blocked. It’s also proven that veg can decrease blood pressure, heart attacks, and heart failure, and may even reduce the risk of dying from heart disease. In addition, veg is packed with fiber, potassium, calcium, sodium, vitamin C, folate, and iron, all of which support overall good heart health.

5) Can Prevent Brain Aging – Even though veg is low in fat or saturated fat, it contains amino acid and protein-rich phytochemicals called polyphenols, which have anti-oxidant and nerve repair properties. Research shows that several studies found that veg can slow cognitive decline by 20 percent, reduce the risk of dementia, memory loss by 30% and improve brain function at an older age, as well. Additionally, studies show that veg has the anti-cancer compound sulforaphane, but only when consumed in excess. Since sulforaphane is thought to protect against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer, there’s lots of evidence pointing to veg being good for your brain.

6) May Reduce Weight Gain – Studies indicate veg is a much healthier choice than other foods that have low-fat content. Veg doesn’t contain any saturated fat and it’s a complete protein instead as it consists of both carbohydrates and proteins — both of which help you gain weight by satiety. Also, it has fewer calories per serving compared to some other popular foods like potatoes and pasta. In fact, a research team at Harvard University determined that veg is higher in fiber, protein, and monounsaturated fat, which all contribute to satiety. Plus, veg is high in Vitamin A, which supports eye health.

7) May Make You Smarter – In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), participants ate two servings of veggies at least three hours before and after each lunch, every day for 14 days. The reason? The participants had a higher baseline IQ. The results showed participants who were vegan were able to increase their verbal comprehension and their learning ability by 25 percent, while vegetarian participants improved verbally more than the rest of the group and learned over 8,000 more words per week in general.

8) May Boost Immunity – Studies show veg is great for your immune system. Unlike common colds and flu, veg infections are usually easily handled, so it is generally recommended to avoid these colds and flu because they cause respiratory symptoms. Meanwhile, studies also show veg is one of the best natural immunity boosters because it contains high concentrations Read More.