5 DAYS OF 5 "FAVES" DAY 5: DARK LEAFY GREENS

Dark Leafy Green Vegetables

THE GOODNESS FACTS AND WHY I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

Dark leafy green vegetables are “jam packed” with valuable nutrients our body needs to stay healthy; they are very high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and plant based substances that can help to protect us from many health problems including diabetes and heart disease.

How Dark Leafy Greens Help With Weight Loss Leafy green vegetables are one of the healthiest and most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. Eating foods with high nutrient levels will keep you feeling full longer thereby reducing cravings.

Leafy greens are low in calories and they’re a great source of fiber, which digests slowly and therefore keeps your stomach feeling full for a longer period of time.

The fiber in leafy green vegetables also helps regulate your blood sugar levels. Keeping your blood sugar in check will make it easier for you to lose fat and prevent weight gain.

Choosing Dark Leafy Greens

The best way to choose your leafy greens is by looking at the color of the vegetable: the darker, the better. Darker vegetables have higher levels of antioxidants and more nutrients, so they’ll keep you feeling full for a longer period of time.

Whenever possible choose locally grown, fresh and organic leafy green vegetables. Choose vegetables that are rich in color and do not have visible signs of browning or wilting. Always wash them before using whether they are organic or not.

How to Prepare Dark Leafy Green Vegetables

One of the easiest ways to get greens in your diet on a daily basis is to add them to a juice or smoothie. When you add raw greens into a favourite juice recipe or smoothie you can experiment with different combinations and amounts of each until you find the taste that you prefer.

Cooking greens is quick and easy. Simply sauté some garlic and onion with coconut oil, add your washed greens to the pan and stir fry until they’re tender. Add your favourite herbs and enjoy!

If you find the collard greens or kale to taste bitter, like I do, you can blanche them in boiling water for a couple of minutes before sautéing them. To do this, bring a pot of water to a boil, add your greens to the pot, let them cook for two minutes, drain in a colander, and then sauté in a pan with coconut oil.

5 DAYS OF 5 "FAVES" PART 1: GREEN TEA

5 DAYS OF 5 "FAVES" PART 2: COCONUT OIL

5 DAYS OF 5 "FAVES" PART 3: FLAX SEEDS

5 DAYS OF 5 "FAVES" PART 4: WATER