All vegetables are not created equal.
It is a well accepted fact that vegetables are some of the healthiest types of food you can add to your diet. Vegetables are chock-full of antioxidants, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. While they are an acquired taste for some, nowadays there are a million different ways to make vegetables and vegetable dishes taste delicious.
I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention to the meat-substitute industry, but even KFC has jumped on the bandwagon and created a vegetable-based alternative to chicken.
As meat-substitutes are becoming more popular and tasty, more and more people are ditching meat in favor of vegetable-based substitutes.
If you’re looking to introduce more veggies into your diet, you should know that not all vegetables are as densely packed with nutrients. So if you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, try these six veggie options:
Spinach- There is a reason Popeye ate so much spinach. Just one cup of leafy green spinach provides 15% of your recommended daily value of Vitamin A, and 120% for Vitamin K. It also contains antioxidants, beta carotene, and lutein, which can all help fight health issues like heart disease, and even cancer.
Broccoli- One cup of raw broccoli contains 77% of your daily value of vitamin K, 90% of vitamin C, and folate, manganese, and potassium.
Carrots- Carrots contain 119% of your daily value of Vitamin A, as well as beta carotene, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K. Beta Carotene is especially helpful in terms of reducing your risk of cancer.
Brussels Sprouts- Brussels sprouts contain folate, magnesium, and potassium, as well as vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain kaempferol, an antioxidant that is proven to help repair damage on a cellular level.
Kale- One cup of kale contains calcium, potassium, copper, and vitamins A, B, C, and K. Adding kale to your diet can help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.