10 Jul 2015 Charmaine West 7 reasons why you need to eat your greens 16319 views 4 min to read You’ve probably heard it a thousand times, but you really do need to eat your greens- here are 7 reasons why! Everyday health Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin 0 comments 1. You’re probably not getting enough Did you know that most Australians are only eating about half the recommended quantity of vegetables per day? How many serves do we need? You’re aiming for around 5-7 serves of vegetables per day, with a serve being around 75 g. READ MORE: The new Australian food pyramid 2. Green vegetables are alkalising Your body needs to maintain the pH level of your blood at a very specific level for optimal wellbeing. All of the different foods that we eat have the potential to either be acid-forming, alkaline-forming or neutral once they are metabolised by the body. Consuming too many acid-forming foods may lead to metabolic acidosis. Happily green veggies like fennel, kale, celery, and Brussels sprouts all have an alkaline effect on the body. 3. Greens are full of fibre If you’re like most Australians - you’re probably not eating enough fibre. Fibre is derived from the indigestible parts or compounds of plants, and is needed to help keep your digestive system healthy. [QUIZ]: How healthy are your bowels? Greens that pack a fibre-filled punch include artichokes, endive, fennel, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and spinach. 4. They give you energy Green veggies like broccoli and kale are a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed for the body to make carnitine – which transports fatty acids into cells to be used as a source of energy in a process is known as ‘fat oxidation’. If you’re not getting enough dietary vitamin C you may start to feel low in energy, so give yourself a boost with plenty of greens. ... Powered by Cincopa Video Hosting for Business solution.7 reasons why you need to eat your greensArtichokeArtichoke is a terrific source of vitamin C and contains vitamins B1 & niacin. Add to salads, sauces and soups. cameramake NIKON CORPORATIONheight 1133camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CS2 originaldate 4/8/2007 7:21:38 AMwidth 1694cameramodel NIKON D80AsparagusAsparagus contains vitamins C & E. Lightly drizzle with olive oil to grill on the BBQ and serve with a squeeze of lemon juice.flash 16cameramake Canonheight 1131orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CS6 originaldate 5/14/2014 10:30:40 PMwidth 1697cameramodel Canon EOS 5D Mark IIBroccoliBroccoli is an excellent source of vitamins A, C & folate, calcium and iron. Don't over boil- it reduces the vitamin C content by two-thirds!flash 16cameramake Canonheight 1131orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CS Moriginaldate 4/1/2008 3:31:00 PMwidth 1698cameramodel Canon EOS 5DKaleKale is a great source of vitamins A & C, calcium and iron. Add to salads, smoothies or eat as a healthier alternative to chips.flash 16cameramake NIKON CORPORATIONheight 1810camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop Lighoriginaldate 11/24/2013 8:35:57 PMwidth 2716cameramodel NIKON D7100Brussels sproutsBrussels sprouts contain vitamin C, iron, phosphorus and vitamin A. Sauté lightly in butter, enjoy steamed or in stir-fries.cameramake NIKON CORPORATIONheight 1135orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CS2 originaldate 11/23/2006 2:40:59 AMwidth 1692cameramodel NIKON D200SpinachSpinach contains iron, vitamins A, C, E, B6 and folate. Add to salads, soups, pasta dishes and quiches. flash 9cameramake Canonheight 1131orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CS6 originaldate 4/5/2015 5:55:37 PMwidth 1697cameramodel Canon EOS 600DFennelFennel has an aniseed flavour and is great to help support digestion. Lightly steam and enjoy with a cheese sauce. flash 16cameramake Canonheight 1135camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CS3 originaldate 4/13/2014 2:17:54 PMwidth 1691cameramodel Canon EOS 5D Mark II 5. Greens contain B group vitamins Green leafy vegetables are good sources of some of the B vitamins: Folate Asparagus, spinach, broccoli and kale, are good sources of folate. Folate is needed by your body for healthy cell division, and DNA synthesis. Riboflavin Vitamin B2 is needed for energy production and skin health can be found in leafy green vegetables like asparagus, dandelion greens and broccoli. Vitamin B6 Is needed for protein and carbohydrate metabolism and can be found in spinach, kale, cabbage and broccoli. INFOGRAPHIC: 3 delicious ways to eat kale 6. Green veggies are good for your eyes Green veggies like spinach and kale are a good source of lutein. Lutein is a powerful antioxidant, which may help to protect the lens of the eye from UV radiation. 7. Nature’s healthy cocktail Green veggies contain a mixture of phytochemicals – including carotenes, chlorophyll, flavonoids, and enzymes. The phytochemicals play roles as antioxidants, support immune functions and aid detoxification in the body. References available on request