Green foods are all-around amazing additions to your diet. Did you know most of them are associated with lowering your risk of cancer, some help reduce aging, most have low glycemic index values which are associated with better blood sugar control, and they are found to protect your heart? The positive qualities of greens are abundant! Here are some great tips to incorporate more greens in your diet this Spring!
For a fresh crunch!
- Snack on cucumber and celery, both of these have <20 calories per serving (1/2 cucumber or 2 stalks of celery) and are full of fiber and water. Both celery and cucumbers have been found to help lower your blood pressure.
For a sweet treat!
- Try fruit for dessert or snacks! Some delicious green fruits include melons, apples, grapes, and pears. These fruits have ~1/3 the calories of the average dessert!
- Add lime to foods for an extra sweet twist. Limes are a great way to season foods without adding extra calories from fat.
It’s green on the inside!
- Kiwifruits are super sweet treats that are green on the inside! Kiwi provides a great source of Vitamin C (95% of the daily value), the antioxidant that protects our body from cell damage, inflammation and cancer. Kiwi also provides a good source of fiber useful in lowering cholesterol and keeping blood sugars under control. Simply cut the kiwi in half and spoon out the insides. Be sure to eat the seeds for the extra fiber!
- Avocados are another green on the inside food that provides amazing nutrition benefits, including lowering your risk of cancer and promoting a healthy heart. Add a slice of avocado to salads, soups, or sandwiches to enjoy these health benefits.
Super foods are a must!
- Broccoli and Spinach are great sources of iron, which help carry oxygen through your body to give you energy and calcium, essential for strengthening and protecting your bones! Both are great sources of fiber containing ~4-5 grams fiber per cup, which is an excellent way to satisfy your appetite on less than 50 calories! These two foods are super foods because they provide additional amazing health benefits with consumption, for example prevention of cancer, removal of toxins from our body, repair sun damaged skin, protect our heart from inflammation that may cause a heart attack or stroke, and enhance the immune system.
By Emily Barr, MS, RD, CNSC