Sunday, January 31, 2010

Health Benefits of Vegetables



Eating vegetables regularly can have many health benefits. They are one of the most natural foods and contain different vitamins, minerals and thousands of other plant chemicals known to provide health benefits. Along with all the many disease-reducing benefits (listed below), eating vegetables can also help control weight.


Vegetables are low in fat and calories, a good source of dietary fiber and provide us with extra energy. All these features help control weight effectively. Being low in calories enables us to eat lots of vegetables without consuming excess energy, the high fiber content also helps fill the stomach faster limiting the total amount of food consumed. The presence of many vitamins and other chemicals in vegetables supply the body with nutrients necessary to boost energy production within the muscle cells. This give us a natural feeling of vitality and the energy to become more active helping to burn more energy each day.

Vegetables are also low in sodium so they help reduce water gains. Sodium is present in virtually all processed foods, it causes the body to hold water within the interstitial areas of the body. It has been estimated that many average people may be holding up to 5 pounds of additional water caused from a high intake of sodium. Any reduction in sodium intake will help lose water weight and if we eat more vegetables our sodium intake naturally lowers.

Great reasons for eating vegetables to benefit with losing weight

Low in fat

Low in calories

Less water retention - low in sodium

Fill stomach quickly - high in fiber

Increased vitality due to high nutrient content


Vegetable tip:

Vegetables can offer better heath benefits when they are cooked and mashed. A study has shown that the body can absorb more of an important substance from cooked vegetables than from raw ones.

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