From leafy greens to vibrant fruits, plants offer a plethora of essential nutrients that contribute to a healthy diet. Let’s explore three ways plants improve your nutrition and why incorporating them into your diet is crucial for optimal health.
1. Plants are Rich in Nutrients: Plants are a legit powerhouse of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are essential for our bodies to function optimally. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens are packed with nutrients like iron, calcium, vitamin K, and folate. These nutrients help us maintain healthy bones, prevent anemia, and support overall cardiovascular health.
Berries, citrus fruits, and kiwis are loaded with vitamin C, which boosts your immune system and helps fight off infections. And plant-based proteins such as beans, lentils, and tofu are excellent in providing ample amounts of protein while being low in saturated fats. Plants for the win!
By incorporating a variety of plants into your diet, you can ensure that you’re consuming a wide range of nutrients, which leads to improved overall health and vitality. That variety also increases the diversity of your microbiome which can improve your gut health too.
2. Plants Provide Fiber for Digestive Health: Speaking of gut health, plants are an abundant source of dietary fiber, which is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, both soluble and insoluble fiber provide a whole host of benefits. When you eat soluble fiber, it dissolves and creates a gel-like substance that helps slow down the time it takes to pass through your gastrointestinal tract, which promotes a feeling of fullness.
Insoluble fiber, the plant parts that are not digested, holds on to water adding bulk and softness to stools. This fiber moves waste through the intestine without breaking down, helping fiber act as “nature’s broom”. This adds bulk to our stool, preventing constipation, and promotes regular bowel movements. With softer, bulkier stools you have less pressure on colon walls and a reduced risk of hemorrhoids. With up to 70% of our immune function in the gut, why not keep it smooth and steady in there, as best as we can?
3. Plants Help Fight Chronic Disease: Eating a diet rich in fiber has also been linked to a reduced risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. The dietary fiber we get when we eat plants helps regulate our blood sugar levels by slowing down the absorption of sugar from carbohydrates into the bloodstream. This is beneficial if you want helpful ways to manage your blood sugar, reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, or those looking to manage their weight.
Plants contain a wide array of phytonutrients and antioxidants, which are compounds that protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals. These harmful molecules can lead to chronic diseases and accelerate the aging process. I don’t know about you but I’m trying to slow this clock down! Luckily, plants provide a defense mechanism in the form of phytonutrients and antioxidants to help you do just that. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, tomatoes, and carrots, are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. These antioxidants neutralize free radicals, reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders.
The phytonutrients found in plants like cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) and leafy greens, possess anti-inflammatory properties and have been linked to a reduced risk of certain cancers. Life throws us enough curveballs, so let’s get proactive and fight fire with fiber! See what I did there?
By including plenty of plant-based foods in your diet, you can ensure a substantial intake of fiber, supporting your digestive health and reducing the risk of various health conditions. So let’s harness the power of phytonutrients and antioxidants, enhance your body’s microbiome, and reap the benefits of these disease-fighting foods that bolster your body’s natural defense system.
Whether you’re enjoying a big, beautiful salad, or savoring a sweet peach, try to start Eating with Love!
