Yep! It's true. June 17th is really Eat Your Vegetables Day! I love me a food holiday with no need to healthify (like we did for National Donut Day). Vegetables are healthy all by themselves. While I think it is universally accepted that vegetables are healthy what most don't know is vegetables are medicinal as well. Yep, food is medicine.
Don't believe me? Check out this TEDx, which has been viewed well over 1 million times, where Dr. Terry Wahls shares how she cured her secondary progressive Multiple Sclerosis with a diet rich in vegetables. She went from wheelchair bound to riding a bicycle, by changing her diet. A diet rich in, you guessed it, VEGETABLES.
The diet Dr. Wahls recommends is a “hunter gatherer” diet, one in which processed foods are ditched in favor of things like fish, grass-fed meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and lots of greens.
For optimal health, Dr. Wahls encourages at least three cups of salad greens a day, “greens are rich in B vitamins, plus A, C, K and minerals. The B Vitamins will protect your brain cells and mitochondria. Vitamin A and C support your immune cells, Vitamin K keeps your blood vessels and bones healthy and minerals are co-factors for hundreds of different enzymes in your body. Plus having a plate full of daily greens will dramatically lower your risk of having cataracts and macular degeneration.”
Greens…they are on the dirty list, go organic, if you can.
In addition to greens, Dr. Wahl recommends sulfur-rich vegetables as well as vegetables of bright color:
Broccoli- Cauliflower
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Turnips
- Rutabaga
- Radish
- Kale
- Onion
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Chives
- Mushrooms
- Asparagus
- Carrtos
- Beets
- Peppers
For more information of healthy vegetables, check out my Guide to Healthy Produce.
If you are looking for some healthy vegetable recipes, here are a few of my favorites:
- Easy Oven Baked Asparagus
- Oven Roasted Cauliflower
- Rustic Oven Roasted Cabbage
- Faux “Oat” Meal
- Zucchini Hash Rounds
- Golden Beets with Herbed Goat Cheese
- Kale Chips
- Mexi “Cauli” Rice
- Salad with SASS
