Five A Day

Children are forever being told to eat their greens, but many adults should practice what they preach. Green vegetables, especially dark green ones, are essential for a healthy lifestyle. Women, in particular, are more likely to be deficient in Iron than men due to their periods so eating spinach is fantastic as it also contains vitamin C and calcium.

Green vegetables contain essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, phosphorous and zinc as well as essential vitamins. Just eating one portion a day will make a difference to your health and will boost your immune system to give you better defences against Osteoporosis, anaemia, cancer and heart disease. Pregnant women should eat more green, leafy vegetables as they contain folate which can help fight against diseases such as spina bifida in babies.

If you hated vegetables as a child, try them again now as your palate may have adapted to the taste. Children are more susceptible to glucosinolates which cause some green vegetables to taste bitter, but this should pass as you grow older. If you’re still not convinced then try putting vegetables in stews or casseroles where the taste can be disguised. Look at recipes to find some that would suit you. Adding spinach to lasagne is a great way to start and you can rest assured you won’t notice the spinach in the cheesy sauce.

Unfortunately for you veg haters, it is a well-known fact that eating green veg raw is the best way to preserve their nutrients. However, steamed or stir-fried comes a close second. Another idea for those of you still not convinced is a new hit on the high street which is wheatgrass, served in shots that you down in one. Think of it like you would a tequila slammer. In a few seconds it will all be over and your body will thank you for it (unlike after a tequila!) Juices are a great alternative to eating veg and you might be surprised at how tasty they can be. Experiment.

For your five-a-day fruit and veg quota remember the traffic light rule: one red, one yellow and one green then two of your choice.

Green vegetables can also help people with IBS, as the fibre in them aids digestion and brassica vegetables such as Brussels, broccoli and cabbage contain bioactive substances that may help against cancer.

The three main green vegetables that everyone should buy are:

Broccoli: High in minerals and vitamins B5 and B3. It is also a good source of beta-carotene and folic acid.

Avocado: High in minerals, B-vitamins, beta-carotene and folic acid.

Cabbage: High in antioxidants that help fight against cancer. Get creative with your recipes and live your life to the full.