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Beth Aldrich, mother
of three, is a Healthy Lifestyle-Green Living Expert, media
personality, writer and public speaker. She is the publisher
and founder of,forherinformation.com, the online magazine for
women and former host of the PBS TV series, For Her Information.
To find out more about Beth, log on to bethaldrich.com.
 Most
Americans’ diets are sorely lacking vegetables. So it’s
no secret that many of us could stand to up our intake of
leafy green vegetables. Learning how to cook and eat greens
every day is essential for creating long-term health and vitality.
Greens bring our bodies back in balance and strengthen our
circulatory and respiratory systems. Raw foodists include
green smoothies in their daily meals and nutritionally, greens
are high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous,
zinc, and vitamins A, C, E and K. They are an excellent source
of fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients
and phytochemicals.
Here are some wonderful reasons to include eating dark leafy
greens into your diet every day:
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Greens fight disease, bring balance to your
entire body, purify your blood, offer cancer prevention,
increase your circulation, strengthen your immune system,
balance your intestinal flora, improve liver, gall bladder
and kidney function and reduce mucus and congestion in
your body. They can also bring you subtle, light and flexible
energy and even help pull you out of depression. |
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When going to the farmer’s market or
grocery store there are plenty of greens to choose from.
Children love broccoli and peas, but try to be creative
and eat greens you’ve never seen before like kale,
romaine, bok choy, napa cabbage, kale, collards, watercress,
mustard greens, broccoli rabe, dandelion and other leafy
greens. |
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Greens such as arugula, endive, chicory,
lettuce, mesclun greens and wild greens are usually eaten
raw; however, spinach, Swiss chard and beet greens are
best eaten in moderation because they are high in oxalic
acid, which depletes calcium from your bones and teeth. |
Toss a salad, throw a few leaves of kale in your next smoothie,
or saute some spinach. No matter how you slice and dice it,
eating your greens every day is the way to go-your body, mind
and spirit will thank you for it.
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