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Guess
which color of vegetable is most absent from today’s
diet: Red? Orange? Yellow? Actually, it’s green.
Dark
leafy greens are absolutely vital to optimum health.
When you add ample amounts of greens to your diet,
they simply crowd out all the overprocessed,
nutrient-devoid foods that make you sick. Nutrition is
the number one foundation for vibrant health.
Dark
leafy greens are much more delicious and nutritious
than iceberg lettuce, which contains very few
nutrients. Rather, dark leafy greens include succulent
specimens such as broccoli, broccoli rabe, bok choy,
collards, green cabbage, kale, nappa cabbage, mustard
greens and watercress. Greens that are commonly
enjoyed raw in salads include arugula, chicory,
endive, varieties of dark lettuce, mesculun and
various wild greens.
Greens
are brimming with vitamins A, C, E and K. They are
also chocked full of calcium, magnesium, iron,
potassium, phosphorous and zinc. As a matter of fact,
your body absorbs more calcium from dark leafy greens
than it does from drinking a glass of milk! Drinking
milk actually creates a calcium deficit, as the body
flushes out the excess protein. Dark leafy greens are
also high in fiber, folic acid and beneficial
phytochemicals.
It’s
important to note that you should enjoy beet greens,
spinach and Swiss chard in moderation because
they’re high in oxalic acid. Oxalic acid depletes
calcium from the body, increasing the risk of
osteoporosis. To lessen the effect of oxalic acid,
cook these greens with protein-rich foods such as
beans, tofu, nuts or seeds. Additional
health benefits of eating dark leafy greens include:
* Reducing mucous and clearing congestion
*
Encouraging
healthy intestinal flora
*
Improving
circulation
*
Strengthening
the respiratory system
*
Purifying
the blood
*
Preventing
cancer
*
Boosting
the immune system
*
Increasing
liver, kidney and gall bladder functioning
There are so many ways to
enjoy dark leafy greens! Cooking and preparation
methods include:
* Raw in salads or with dips—this imparts the most nutrients
and live enzymes, plus
it
reduces the amount of time spent in the kitchen!
*
Boiling—this methods plumps and relaxes greens.
Boiling for less than one minute will retain the most
nutrients. Use the cooking water as a nutrient-rich
broth for soup stock or even to drink as tea!
*
Steaming—this renders greens more tight and fibrous. An
excellent method if you’re following a weight-loss
diet.
*
Sautéing—in
oil or water.
* Sweating—cooked over very low heat with no water or oil, with the lid on to bring out natural juices.
Not
only do dark leafy greens nourish our bodies, but they
nourish our souls as well. Consider these intriguing
points: Green is likened to spring, renewal,
rejuvenation and vital life force energy
Greens boost the spirit and help prevent depression In
traditional Chinese medicine, green is associated with
the liver, creativity and emotional stability. Broccoli
resembles a tree, imparting strength and grounded
energy. Greens are your internal rain forest, strengthening the
respiratory system and blood Greens are particularly
uplifting for urban dwellers who rarely see
countryside scenes of pastoral green
fields.
Indulge your body and soul by regularly enjoying dark
leafy greens!
©Intelligent
Health Group, LLC, 2007
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