Eat More Greens This St. Patrick’s Day
When you are celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green outside your body, don’t forget about the green that also goes inside your body. According to the CDC, only about 9% of adults reach their recommended intake of vegetables. And we’re sure already heard that eating your greens are great for you, but maybe not specifically why. So in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s just sprint down a quick list of why we love green plant foods here at Meals of Steel:
Your Greens Are Nutrient Dense
Green leafy vegetables are the most nutrient dense foods available! In other words, they contain a ton of vitamins and minerals, but with very little Calories. For example, just a half cup collard greens have 442% Daily Value of Vitamin K. And just a half cup of spinach will provide 64% Daily Value for Vitamin A. And let’s not forget plant foods in general contain the all important nutrient of fiber! A key nutrient whose intake among Americans we sadly know is far too low.
Your Greens Will Help Keep You Healthy
We know what people say about making assumptions, but if you’re reading this blog, we can safely assume that you’re interested in living a long, active and healthy life. And although it would be quite impossible to list all the health and disease preventing benefits of green plant foods in one blog, a few of our favorites are:
- Plant foods generally have a low glycemic index. Helping to keep your blood sugar level from becoming excessively high. As such, green leafy vegetables can be a part of a diabetes prevention diet.
- Nutrients from greens such as fiber and antioxidants are helpful in preventing heart disease.
- It’s no coincidence that a low intake of vegetables in the Standard American Diet (SAD) has helped lead to a high rate of obesity. A diet filled with leafy greens along with other whole plant foods such as fruits, legumes, and whole grains can help to reverse the trend. Speaking of obesity …
Greens Are Great For Weight Loss
With so many individuals over the years coming to us for weight loss, one of our recommendations has always been to consume more greens. There are two main reasons we generally recommend a higher intake of greens and other whole plant foods when it comes to weight loss:
- As mentioned above, greens are generally low in Calories. Meaning dieters can fill up on a large volume of food while still consuming less Calories compared to their prior diet.
- Greens contain fiber. Which helps to keep individuals feeling fuller longer while dieting.
And remember, the healthier your body, the better it can withstand the effects of alcohol poisoning this St. Patrick’s Day. And if you want to keep your body healthy all the time, check out our shop each week and select from a wide array of healthy, green-filled and delicious meals.
Written by: Vinh Pham
Vinh holds a degree in Nutritional Science. Having learned the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, Vinh’s goal is to educate others on proper health and nutrition. When he’s not working for MOS, Vinh likes trying new foods, hitting the gym, and eating his vegetables like a good boy.