There is a reason you are asked to have a colourful plate of food. It is because it is loaded with essential nutrients and minerals. Be it yellow or red, nature has found a clever way to add nutrition to our daily diet. Now that we know how yellow and red foods can help us, it’s time for nature’s next colour: green. Let’s discover the different ways green foods are helping us.
Green foods are low in fat. Enriched with vitamins, they help in cutting unnecessary fat.
Green foods such as broccoli, cabbage, leafy greens and beans are fiber rich foods. This means good digestion and a healthy digestive tract.
Folic acid helps our body in producing and maintaining new cells. Green foods like peas, beans and asparagus are loaded with folic acid.
Green foods contain phytochemcials like lutein and zeaxanthin which are packed in dark green leafy vegetables. These reduces the risk factor of cataract and macular degeneration, which is the main cause of blindness in elderly. These have also been suggested to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
Quercetin is a bioflavonoid which is found in green foods. This flavonoid contains antioxidants and has unique anti-cancer properties.
Glycemic index or GI is the measurement of carbohydrate-rich foods and their impact on our blood sugar levels. Green foods are low in GI and hence helpful for those suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Green foods are major sources of iron and calcium. They help in getting stronger bones, muscle contraction and blood clotting.
As green foods are full of beta carotene which can be converted into vitamin A, consumption of green foods helps in better immune functioning.
[“source-timesofindia”]
