Dark leafy green vegetables..

 Dark leafy green vegetables:

·        Greens are naturally low in salt and fat.

·        Greens are good sources of fiber.

·        Are rich in vitamins A, C, K and folate.

·        Greens are high in the minerals calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium.

·        Offer protection against heart disease.

·        Greens Can help slow insulin resistance, which can often be a pre-cursor to diabetes.

·        It May help decrease the risk of developing pancreatic and prostate cancer.

·        Are so low in calories that they are often considered a “freebie” in most diets.

·        These Are rich in protective antioxidants such as beta carotene and lutein,
it help prevent many chronic diseases.

·        It May help improve memory.

People may have gained health benefits from wild greens over 200,000 years ago. Today, greens are known as one of the healthiest vegetables, and also they’re inexpensive. Organic greens may be healthier than conventional non-organic greens due to their defensive response to getting bitten by bugs.

The calcium in green leafy vegetables is more effectively absorbed by the body than that found in cow’s milk. Potassium from dark greens may be anti-inflammatory and may prevent strokes and heart disease.  Greens can also have an antioxidants, iron, zinc, and magnesium, a nutrient that may lesser the risk of a range of health concerns including diabetes, heart disease and sudden cardiac attack.  Fresh organic Dark Greens are the best source of plant-based nitrates. Nitrates from a plant-based diet are very useful for human body. In fact, nitric oxide formed from plant-based nitrate may play a vital role in the prevention of high blood pressure and heart disease. Eating whole plant foods is likely better for your health than taking expensive and (harmful) supplements.  For example, folate, which can lower the risk of depression, in greens appears preferable to folic acid supplements. Many nutrients found in organic greens vegetables are fat soluble, which means including some healthy whole food fats like nuts and seeds, in a meal can help you better absorb the phytonutrients.  Plant-based diets, including greens, tend to be alkaline-forming, which may help protect your muscle mass and reduce the risk of gout and kidney stones. High consumption in particular of dark green leafy and cruciferous vegetables may be linked to lower rates of cognitive decline. Greens can be an important part of a plant-based diet that could reduce risk for cardiac disease and heart attack. Some valuable nutrients are destroyed by cooking, but some nutrients become more absorbable. So, a mix of cooked and raw vegetables, including greens, may be the best. Smoothies may also be a great source to get all of the nutrients greens have to offer. Although make sure to drink whole food smoothies (not made from juice), and it may be better to use a straw to prevent enamel erosion.

Consuming at least one serving a month of greens appears to reduce the risk of glaucoma by 69%. Zeaxanthin and Lutein, nutrients found greens, also appear to be protective against cataracts and macular degeneration. Greens consumption is also linked with increased physical attractiveness, reduced scares, improved dental health, facial wrinkling, better immune system, and may reduce free radical DNA damage.

Two to three daily servings of greens may help clear the human papilloma virus, which can cause cancer. Eating dark green leafy vegetables may also reduce risk for kidney cancer, breast cancer and lymphoma, and overall cancer risk. Adding mustard powder to cooked greens can boost sulforaphane levels to help protect against cancer.

Overall, most people in the U.S. fall short in meeting guidelines set by the USDA. For example, nine out of ten Americans could not meet the recommended minimum for vegetables (nine servings a day), including dark green leafy vegetables.

Source: http://nutritionfacts.org/topics/greens/page/8/

Nutritional benefits of organic carrots

Nutritional benefits of organic carrots

They’re sweet. They’re Big. They’re orange. They’re beautiful. Latin scientist may know the vegetable as daucus carota, but we just call them carrots. They can grow all over the seasons, and there are over one hundred species of carrots of all colors and sizes.

The good thing about organic carrots is that they have wonderful nutritional benefits, like helping to prevent cancer and heart disease, as well as its good for eyesight. Here are few great nutritional benefits of organic carrots.

Strong antioxidants

Powerful Antioxidants, help to fight from cell damage done to the body by toxins that find their way from our environment into our bloodstream. Along with wonderful antioxidants like vitamin C, carrots contain phytonutrient antioxidants like beta-carotene. Beta-carotene has some outstanding benefits, and may protect the body from lung cancers, stomach, cervix, colon, uterus, and the oral cavity.

Nutrients rich

Along with 400% of your daily vitamin A, a serving of carrots will provide nutritional vitamins like B1, B2, B3, B6, C, E and K, and also plenty of fiber, potassium and manganese. Organic carrots have a little bit of everything. This vitamin rich vegetable has the highest amount of carotene when compared to other fruits and vegetables. In addition it is an excellent source for vitamin B, C, D, E and K. You can eat them raw or cook them as you wish.

Eye Care

The retina of the eye needs vitamin A to function. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a carotenoid pigment which is an essential antecedent for vitamin A. Deficiencies in vitamin A are the leading causes of blindness in the developing world. Lack of vitamin A can also lead to Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness. Extra vitamin A can prevent night blindness as well as fighting macular degeneration and the formation of cataracts to keep your eyes healthy.

 

Protect from cardiovascular disease

There is a direct connection between eating more carrots and lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease. Carrots contain a variety of antioxidants and polyacetylenes which, together, provide a protective shield to the heart, Making carrots part of your everyday diet is an excellent way to prevent heart related disease, and to maintain your cholesterol level (a major factor for heart disease). Eating root vegetables like organic carrots also lower the chances of having a heart attack.

Good for your teeth

Carrots act as natural coarse, stimulate your gums and cleaning sticky plaque from your teeth. They help keep your teeth clean after meals by stimulating saliva to help scrub stains on your teeth. The minerals found in carrots will also help killing germs in your mouth and prevent tooth damage.

Reduce the risk of heart problem

A study from Harvard University indicates that eating more carrots can reduce the risk of suffering a stroke. The study suggests that eating more than five carrots a week can greatly reduce this risk of heart stroke.

Hair Benefits Of Carrots

Since years, carrots have been known to promote hair growth and add thickness to the hair. Being loaded with vitamin A, carrots offer the following benefits for your hair.

 Help to control Hair loss:

Carrots are great for combating hair loss as they provide your hair with vital vitamins, making them stronger, thicker and shinier. Drinking carrot juice makes your hair healthy. This is the best benefit of carrots for the hair.

 Hair Growth:

 Consuming 2 to 3 glasses of carrot juice daily stimulates the hair growth and thickens your hair. Vitamin C and Vitamin E in carrots improve the circulation in the scalp, thus helping hair growth and prevent premature graying of hair.

Source: http://www.fullcircle.com/goodfoodlife/2012/05/29/organic-carrots-nutritional-benefits/