HFR’s Favorite 5 Leafy Vegetables

As a general rule, you should aim to eat at least five servings of vegetables daily.  Leafy greens are full of vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting phytochemicals. They are rich in fiber, an important nutrient for weight loss and maintenance because it keeps you feeling full and helps control your hunger. Fiber can also lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and help to temper blood-sugar swings by slowing the absorption of carbohydrates into your bloodstream after meals. This lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Leafy greens also contain a lot of water, which helps keep you hydrated and contributes to beautiful skin and hair.

Here are Health Fitness Revolution’s Favorite 5 Leafy Vegetables:

• Broccoli:
  • Broccoli is a great source of fiber, both soluble and insoluble. It not only meets both types of fiber needs, but it’s also a rich source to add to your diet.
  • 1 floret of broccoli has as much Vitamin C as an orange.
  • Research has shown indole-3-carbinol – found in the phytonutrients of broccoli – actually deactivates a metabolite which can become cancerous.
  • Broccoli also helps restore sun-damaged skin, reduces the risk of heart disease, and boosts the immune system. At the same time, it also promotes healthy bone growth due to its massive amounts of calcium.

• Swiss chard:
  • Rich in Vitamins C and K, as well as calcium, it’s a great addition to salads.
  • Vitamin K helps promote healthy eye and brain function.

• Kale:
  • Has a huge amount of folic acid and potassium.
  • The folic acid found in kale is a great addition to your diet if you suffer from poor hair, skin and nails.
  • Potassium helps to promote the breakdown of lactic acid in muscles after a workout, and is a great food to help prevent muscle soreness in the recovery process.

• Spinach:
  • Rich in Vitamins A and C, and iron.
  • Helps to promote healthy brain function as well as strong bones and muscles.
  • Vitamin A is great for vision.
  • Iron is important for people suffering from anemia.

• Romaine Lettuce:
  • Great for diets since it’s very low in calories.
  • Magnesium, found in romaine lettuce, does wonders in revitalizing muscular tissues, the brain and the nerves.
  • The chlorophyll-packed juice in lettuce is very helpful in maintaining normal hair color.
  • Lettuce is high in iron, which helps the formation of red blood cells.
  • Lettuce may help in treating insomnia, acid indigestion, colitis, constipation, gout, stress and many other diseases as well.