Greens are good for us. Wait, why is that again?
Trying to figure out what’s healthy these days is tough. It’s like no one can agree what’s good for you anymore. And doesn’t it seem to vary on an almost monthly basis?
Take eggs. One day, they’re the best things since sliced bread (which, incidentally, happens to be bad for you that month). But the next, they’re blacklisted (hey, at least bread is good for you again.) And then, just kidding, eggs are perfectly fine. Just DON’T TOUCH THOSE YOLKS.
Don’t even get us started on dairy. Or wine. (Though we’re obviously partial to the glass-a-day studies.)
Nothing is certain but death, taxes, and dark leafy greens…
But there does seem to be one exception to the rule.
What’s that exception?
You guessed it. Greens!
Greens are one of the only foods considered healthy unilaterally by the entire professional health community. There is no wavering on whether or not kale, spinach, and broccoli are good for you. The USDA says so. The FDA says so. Even NPR says so.
It’s one of our favorite things about greens. They’ve always got our backs. We know when we eat them we’re doing something good for our bodies.
But wait a minute, what is it they actually do for us again?
Why greens are good for you.
We know that greens are good for us, but we don’t often think about exactly why that is. So we’re here to break it down. Because they really are a remarkable health food:
Greens can help you lose weight.
Dark leafy greens such as spinach and kale are the best way to add fiber to your diet without adding extra sodium, fat, or calories. Of course, it’s important to maintain a balanced diet. Living off greens alone would be – well– no way to live at all. But adding tons of fresh vegetables into your snack rotation is one simple way to start a sustainable, healthy habit that can kick-start or maintain weight loss.
Greens help you look better.
They’re not just great for losing and maintaining weight. Greens can help you achieve healthier looking skin too. Not only are they packed with water, which helps replenish the skin to give it a healthy glow - but many greens also have an abundance of carotenoids, which have recently been linked to healthier, rosier-looking skin. And that’s not all. The calcium, vitamin C, folic acid, and vitamin A in many greens also help promote healthy nails and hair while producing extra collagen in the skin. All great reasons to keep snacking on those veggies!
Greens fight off diseases including Cancer.
Due to their high content of antioxidants and folate, the USDA says dark leafy greens “may be one of the best cancer-preventing foods”.
Specifically, the USDA cites some studies that conclude adding just 2 to 3 servings of green leafy vegetables per week “may lower the risk of stomach, breast, and skin cancer…and heart disease.”
These are just a few reasons why adding extra greens to our diet can help us in both the short and long term. Stay tuned for when we delve deeper into the benefits of specific greens, such as spinach. (We promise to keep the Popeye references to a minimum.)
Until then, stay healthy friends!