What Are the Benefits to Eating Your Vegetables?
- Most vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories. None have cholesterol. (Sauces or seasonings add fat, sugars, calories, and/or cholesterol.)
- Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, folate, vitamin A, beta carotine and vitamin C.
- Dietary fibre from vegetables, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease.
- Fibre is important for proper bowel function. It helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis.
- Fibre-containing foods such as vegetables help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories.
- As part of an overall healthy diet, eating foods such as vegetables that are lower in calories per cup instead of some other higher-calorie food may be useful in helping to lower calorie intake.
- Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, stomach cancer, colon/rectal, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
