We’ve all been told over and over again “eat your veggies!” I’m sure at this point in your life you know how good veggies are for you. You know you should be eating them (and most likely be eating more of them than you already are). But let’s face it… sometimes it can be hard to get those veggies in. So rather than me going on and on about why you should eat more veggies I thought we’d go through which veggies are going to be giving you the most bang for your buck.
So when you go to eat your veggies for the day – try to eat some veggies from this awesome powerhouse list:
20 Veggies You Should Eat Often (+ Yummy Recipes to Try!)
1. Beets
These red beauties are packed with many health benefits. Beets have been shown to help lower blood pressure, fight inflammation, and boost stamina. Along with all that beets are also filled with fiber, immune-boosting vitamin C, potassium, and manganese. All this helps promote a healthy nervous system; increases muscle function; and strengthens bones, livers, kidneys, and the pancreas. (And that’s not all!) Beets also have those powerful phytonutrients (which is what gives it that deep red color) that have been shown to help reduce risk of cancer.
Take a look at these recipes that feature this powerhouse veggie:
2. Collard Greens
Looking for a wide range of health benefits from a single food source? Look no further than collard greens. Not only are they filled with protein and fiber, but collard greens contain a huge amount of vitamin K (like one cup of boiled collard greens gives you well over 100 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin K – win!). Collard greens are a cruciferous vegetable (which are known for anti-cancer properties) so including more of them in your diet will reduce your risk of cancer.
Plus add in the fact that collard greens have such a high amount of vitamin A (which helps bring health to your skin and hair) and that they contain cholines (which helps with sleep and mood) and you really have a winner.
Here are some a couple of our favorite recipes that use collard greens:
3. Pumpkin
Yes to all things pumpkin! Full of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C – pumpkin is a great way to help support you heart and digestive health.
Check these pumpkin recipes out:
4. Watercress
Watercress, like collard greens, is a cruciferous vegetable (so you get all that awesome cancer fighting goodness). It also contains a lot of vitamin K (which makes those bones healthy and strong). Watercress has the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid which actually helps lower glucose levels and helps in treating diabetes.
Here are some great recipes with watercress: