"You have to eat your veggies. They're good for you!" says every mom ever.
When I was growing up, I had a 3-bite rule - I had to take at least 3 bites of my vegetables before I finished dinner. Eating my veggies has always been a requirement.
It's true! Vegetables are extremely good for you...but for more serious reasons than you think.
Did you know vegetables actually PROTECT your DNA?
Yep. Here's how:
Dark green vegetables can protect us from DNA methylation - a process which modifies the function of genes and can lead to cancer.
Essentially, the more spinach, kale, and other leafy greens consumed --> the lower cancer risk.
Cruciferous vegetables (think broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, brussels sprouts, etc.) have their own fighting powers against cancer and other diseases by producing ICTs, a compound with proven anti-cancer activities.
Green veggies also help fight against:
Cervical dysplasia • Laryngeal papillomas • Ordinary warts • HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) • HPV (human papilloma virus) • Hepatitis
So, yeah, I guess you could say that vegetables are good for you.
Here's how to add more vegetables into your diet:
make an omelet or egg scramble with vegetables for breakfast
add veggies on your sandwich at lunch
go meatless at least one day per week
create veggie-heavy meals like stir fry, salads, pasta with veggies, loaded veggie pizza, etc.
give yourself a goal or make it a competition with your family to see who can eat the most in a day
check out some of the recipes on my site!