Why You Need More Green Food in Your Diet
By Genevieve Cunningham
Eating a well-balanced diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. We’ve been told this before. In fact, we've been told time and time again. But most of us still have a hard time following this advice. Healthy food is just so … boring. If you feel this way, it's time to change the way you think. Healthy food can be delicious and juicy and even bright in color! Need an easy way to get started? Go green! Take a look at these three reasons to get more green in your diet for long-term better health.
Greens Are Nutritionally Dense
Most green foods are packed full of nutrients. It's rare to find a green veggie that isn't full of multiple nutrients that are good and necessary for the body. Kale? Plenty of Vitamins C, K, and A. Spinach? Plenty of iron and protein. Celery? Plenty of good old H2O. Eating an ample amount of green foods every day will help you get the nutrients that your body needs to thrive.
Greens Are Super Low Calorie
Another great thing about green foods -- things such as kale and lettuce and celery and such -- is that they are very often extremely low in calories. You can eat a ton of these foods, and still barely make a dent in your total caloric value for the day. You can quite literally fill up. This helps you avoid overeating in overall number of calories, and yet still allows you to feel full and satisfied at the day's end.
Greens Are Good for the Gut
If you choose greens that are dark and leafy -- think lettuce, kale, spinach, collards -- you may be doing your digestive tract a huge favor. Leafy greens help to move your digestion along, thus keeping your body clean and mostly empty. This can serve you well in the long run, possibly helping you to lose weight and boost health.
If you're not eating greens on a regular basis, it's definitely time to start! Greens of all kinds bring massive benefits to the body and can help you get your diet turned around. Add a few green foods to every meal, or at least to every day, and you’ll be moving toward a more balanced diet and better basic health before you know it.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Chesterfield, Mo.