Ways to Prevent Leg Swelling This Summer

Vegetables That Benefit Your Body In Incredible Ways
While some people are wary of eating their veggies, they shouldn’t be—vegetables can benefit your body in incredible ways. In fact, the Nutritional Health Foundation estimates that if you ate just seven servings of fruits and vegetables each day, you could increase your lifespan by almost two years! If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to incorporating more veggies into your diet, these seven delicious options are the perfect places to begin!
1) Kale
Along with being a great source of calcium, kale is also a good source of vitamins A and C. It’s also high in iron, which helps create new red blood cells, as well as in anti-oxidants that help remove toxins from your body. Kale is best served raw or lightly steamed with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. Avoid boiling kale to retain its beneficial properties; instead sauté it for about five minutes to bring out its full flavor and texture. Kale is also delicious in soups and stews.
The leaves can be chopped up and added to any soup you like—just be sure not to boil them! And if you’re not feeling quite so adventurous, kale chips are a tasty alternative to potato chips. Simply bake some kale leaves at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they become crispy (about 10 minutes). You can season them however you like —try some chili powder or garlic powder! They make an excellent snack when paired with hummus.
2) Collard Greens
Just 100 grams of collard greens provides close to 200% of your daily value for vitamin K1, a nutrient associated with bone health. Collard greens are also a source of vitamins A and C, folate, calcium, iron and potassium. You can use them in place of kale for added flavor and variety or add them to smoothies for a boost of nutrients. And, since they’re very low in calories and carbs, you can eat as much as you want without worrying about going overboard on your diet. One caveat: cooking will reduce some of their nutritional benefits so be sure to steam or sauté rather than boil them.
In addition to lowering cholesterol levels by 10%, cilantro is an excellent source of antioxidants such as quercetin that help prevent cancer.
3) Green Peas
These sweet and nutritious legumes can help reduce risk of stroke, protect against heart disease, keep cancer at bay, and lower cholesterol. Green peas are an excellent source of vitamin K and C, protein, and dietary fiber. They also contain small amounts of iron, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. Try making them a regular part of your diet—tossing them in salads or soups or adding them to sandwiches and burgers. You’ll get more than just a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals; you’ll also be able to enjoy their mild flavor and satisfying texture. One cup contains approximately 40 calories.
In addition to being a good source of folate, spinach is also rich in vitamin A, potassium, magnesium and calcium. It is low in calories (one cup has only 7), so it’s ideal for those looking to lose weight or watch their waistline. Spinach is most commonly eaten raw but can also be steamed, sautéed or added to soup or casseroles for extra nutrients and taste.
4) Spinach
Popeye was right, spinach really is a super food. It contains nitrates that help convert food into energy and boost metabolism. Spinach is also rich in folate, an essential vitamin that promotes healthy heart function and contributes to overall good health. A cup of raw spinach contains more than 100 percent of your daily recommended intake of folate, while a 3-ounce serving boasts more than 200 percent. Cooked spinach offers still provides some folate—but it’s best to eat it fresh! Spinach is also high in lutein, which has been shown to prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness among older adults.
I recommend getting your greens from organic sources as much as possible. It’s not only better for you but its better for our environment too since organic farms don’t use harmful pesticides or chemicals.
5) Broccoli
It’s called Broccoli, but that doesn’t mean it only has health benefits for your head. This vegetable is also good for other body parts—namely, your tummy and thighs. In fact, research suggests that eating broccoli reduces inflammation, which may help prevent obesity and colon cancer. Broccoli is also a good source of fiber and vitamin C, plus antioxidants like carotenoids; these are all helpful in staving off certain chronic diseases like heart disease or diabetes. But here’s what makes broccoli truly special: It contains compounds called glucosinolates, which can break down into powerful chemicals to fight cancer. You can read more about how broccoli helps fight various types of cancers here. So get cooking!
6) Cabbage
One cup of cabbage contains just 16 calories, but packs 4.6 grams of dietary fiber and nearly 1,000 percent of your daily value for vitamin C. Cabbage is a good source of potassium, too: One cup provides nearly 10 percent of your daily needs. It’s also rich in folate and vitamin K, nutrients that help maintain bone health. Did you know? Adding red cabbage to salads can help make them look more vibrant—and enticing! The anthocyanin pigment found in red cabbage gives it its characteristic hue. Anthocyanins are antioxidants that may be beneficial for cardiovascular health as well as helping protect against certain types of cancer.
7) Carrots
Rich in beta-carotene, carrots help boost your immune system and improve your eyesight. And according to a Japanese study published in Preventive Medicine, consuming carrots may also help prevent lung cancer. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that protects against free radicals—which can damage cells and cause disease—by converting them into other chemicals. The more beta-carotene you consume, the less likely you are to develop lung cancer. Carrots are also rich in fiber, which helps keep cholesterol levels low and reduces risk of heart disease. If you’re trying to lose weight, opt for raw carrots instead of cooked ones; cooked carrots have about half as much nutritional value as their raw counterparts.
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