When you were growing up, your parents probably told you to eat your vegetables so you can grow up big and strong, right? Or maybe they told you to eat them so you could have muscles like Popeye? Regardless of what reason they told you to eat them, as an adult, do you see why they put them on your plate as a kid?

According to time.com, nearly 80% of adults and 56% of children don’t get the necessary servings of green vegetables and fruits each day. That’s a major reason why America has an obesity crisis. The convenience of fast-food and junk food makes it easier for busy adults to indulge in the grab-and-go lifestyle versus taking the time out to actually cook healthy and nutritious meals.

Green vegetables might have been “gross” to you as a kid, but as an adult, you can’t deny the wonderful nutrients and benefits it provides for your body as part of a healthy diet. Because vegetables are so good for you, people have different relationships with them. For example:

● Some people love vegetables so much that all they want to eat is vegetables and base their diet around them. This is what you would call being a vegetarian. 

● Some people don’t like vegetables but eat them anyway simply to intake the nutritional value they know their body needs. 

● Some people eat vegetables as part of their weight loss regimen. 

One of the best parts of green vegetables is that they don’t have to be consumed just by eating them. You can actually get your daily intake of vegetables by drinking them in a juice. In fact, getting your daily intake of green veggies does wonders for your body by consuming them as a green juice cleanse. 

Everything from healthy glowing skin to weight loss, your body will benefit in numerous ways. Just make sure that if you go on a juice cleanse, the cleanse uses organic fruits and vegetables; non-organic has the potential to cause diabetes.

Whether you choose to eat or drink your green vegetables, let’s take a look at just how powerful they actually are.

“The darker the green, the healthier it is,” is a good theory to go by when thinking about your vegetables. Green vegetables, especially the ones that are dark and “leafy,” are filled with lots of water, which means that they’re low in calories; this also means you can eat as much of that vegetable as you want without worrying about a spike in your calorie intake.

A lot of the foods we eat today are processed and full of sugar. This is a major contributor as to why so many people have high glucose levels, which, in turn, can lead to diabetes. Green vegetables are extremely low in carbs and full of water and fiber, so by consuming them on a daily basis, you’re able to regulate your blood sugar all throughout the day.

Green vegetables contain phytonutrients which are chemicals that provide support to your immune system, blood flow, and overall heart health. It also aids in cellular damage. The phytonutrients you can find in green vegetables include: 

● Phytosterols

● Isoflavones

● Catechins

● flavonoids

Vegetables like spinach, kale, and broccoli are considered as superfoods because of their high level of antioxidants. Just look at how Popeye’s muscles got so big after eating spinach… granted it was can spinach, so it’s nowhere near as healthy as fresh spinach, nonetheless, the cartoon itself shows us why it’s a superfood!

Most green vegetables are packed with vitamins A, C, and E, along with other beneficial nutrients like zinc and iron. The antioxidants packed in green veggies aid in keeping you healthy and fighting against viruses. If you can consume at least three servings of green vegetables each day, your body will be equipped with the nutrients and antioxidants it needs to be healthy and safeguarded from illness.