Isn’t it interesting that just a few short years ago, the phrase “vegging out” was synonymous with doing nothing and being totally unproductive? Today, many of us are eating healthier with vegetables front and center on our minds and on our plates. We think it’s time for a new definition of “vegging out.”
Healthy eating isn’t really that complicated - especially when it comes to vegetables. According to YOU: Staying Young by Drs. Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz, knowing which vegetables provide the most benefit to your body can help you make better choices. For example:
For Heart Health
• Vegetables and fruits such as red grapes, cranberries, tomatoes, onions, and tomato juice all contain powerful antioxidants which decrease inflammation and stimulate your body to remove oxygen free radicals through your urine.
• Vegetables with magnesium such as lima beans, spinach, avocado, or beets can help lower blood pressure.
For Better Digestion
• Vegetables that stimulate the growth and activity of prebiotics (healthy bacteria in the intestines) include bananas, berries, asparagus, garlic, tomatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, onions, and greens.
For Healthy Eyes
• Lutein found in spinach, leafy green vegetables and corn has been shown to improve the health of your eyes by preventing oxidative damage to your retinas.
For Prostate Health
• The healthy fat in avocados and the saw palmetto berry have been shown to decrease prostate growth (for those with benign prostatic hypertrophy, BPH). Lycopene in tomatoes (preferably cooked tomatoes) also has prostate health benefits.
Source: YOU: Staying Young by Drs. Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz, 2007.
