Wednesday 8 September 2010

Nutrition in Vegetables

  • Vegetables comprise all of the important nutrients that are required for a healthy diet. Some essential components of vegetable nutrition are discussed below.
Phytonutrients in vegetables
  • Phytonutrients are chemicals or substances that are naturally found in the vegetable plants.
  • Some of the most known phytonutrients, also known as phytochemicals, found in vegetables are cruciferous, flavinoids and carotenoids. They are most commonly seen in green leafy vegetables.
Vitamins in vegetables
  • Vitamins are substances that promote growth of the body by regulating the process that creates energy. 
  • Vegetables provide vitamins A, C, E, K, as well as folate, which is a type of vitamin B required for growth of cells in the body. 
Fibre in vegetables
  • Vegetables are the main source for fibre. 
  • Fibre comes in two forms, one is a soluble fibre while the other is an insoluble one. 
  • A high fibre diet helps in cleansing the digestive tract and preventing constipation. 
  • People who are advised to take fibre supplements should increase their intake of fibrous vegetables.
Minerals in vegetables
  • Minerals are substances present in the soil. 
  • Vegetables acquire these minerals from the soil in which they are grown. 
  • Minerals that are mainly found in vegetables include iron, potassium, calcium, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, etc., which are essential for the overall functioning of the body.
Balancing nutritional intake
  • Though the nutritional value of vegetables are numerous, not every vegetable contains all of the nutrients. Due to this, it becomes important to include a wide range of vegetables into one's diet. 
  • People who have adopted vegetarianism as a part of their lifestyle enjoy the benefits of vegetables with the help of delicious vegetarian recipes.


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