Top 10 Most Nutritious Vegetables (by Moss Greene who is BellaOnline's Nutrition Editor)

Info Source: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art19519.asp

by Moss Greene
BellaOnline's Nutrition Editor

Could Mom have been right? Are vegetables really that important? And if so, what are the 10 most nutritious vegetables with the most vegetable nutrients from the entire list of vegetables?

After all, if you decide to go to the trouble of eating more veggies, you might as well choose the healthiest vegetables, right?Right! But the most popular veggies, iceberg lettuce, white potatoes and corn (usually eaten as chips, sweeteners and fries) aren't on this most nutritious vegetables list.

Why are Vegetables So Important?Some veggies are loaded with nutrients and even have anti aging properties.

According to the latest scientific studies, five servings a day of the most nutritious vegetables can not only help you to stay young, healthy and trim, they can also give you spectacular protection against cancer and heart disease.

So scientists keep telling us to eat more fruits and vegetables – five to nine a day.

But the vast majority of the population aren't even getting three, much less nine.

And, whereas most vegetables are low in calories and good for you, some are definitely a whole lot better than others and offer many more vegetable nutrients.

The Most Nutritious VegetablesUsually the best way to get your vegetable nutrients is to buy organically grown veggies and eat them raw, lightly steamed or in nutritious soups or stir-fries.

Here's my top ten list.

(1) Green leafy vegetables, such as kale, chard, collard greens, spinach, parsley and dark green and red leaf lettuce are high in carotenoids and best eaten raw in salads, on healthy sandwiches, lightly steamed or in nutritious soups.

(2) Broccoli is good steamed, raw (as a snack or in salads) and cooked in soups, stir-fries and other dishes. Both the green flower heads and stalks are nutritious.

(3) Brussels sprouts are best quickly steamed to preserve nutritional values and avoid releasing sulfur smells caused by excess cooking.

(4) Cauliflower, because of its bland flavor, can be eaten as a raw snack or added inconspicuously to dishes like soups and chili to boost nutritional values.

(5) Red and Green Peppers are great in salads and healthy stir-fries.

(6) Garlic and Onions are most nutritious eaten raw in salads or healthy dips. But they also make great flavorings for just about any cooked dish.

(7) Sweet Potatoes are delicious when baked and eaten plain (without butter). They can also be used in soups and stir-fries.

(8) Tomatoes (actually fruit) are good in salads and on sandwiches. Cherry tomatoes make great raw snacks. And pasta sauce is a good source of tomato nutrients.

(9) Green Peas are best eaten raw (especially snow peas) or lightly steamed. Add fresh peas to salads (including chicken and pasta salad), soups and stir-fries.

(10) Carrots are sweet, high in carotenoids and super when grated into any kind of salad. Baby carrots also make good raw snacks.

Most people find it hard to get their essential daily servings of anti aging vegetables.

If this is true for you and you want to fill in the gap or get even more protective benefits at a lower cost, without adding extra calories, check out Carotenoid Complex.

Carotenoid Complex is the only supplement proven by the USDA to give you all the powerful prevention, anti aging and disease fighting vegetable benefits.

You can check out my recommendation at the Carotenoid website.

Be sure to check out my Natural Health Newsletter .