3 Health Benefits of Eating Your Leafy Greens
Are you ready to start eating healthy? Do you want to harness the nutritional plant power of leafy greens? We want to help you on your journey to achieve optimum health, and we believe that the best way to do that is through plants. Whether you are using food as your medicine or supplementing a healthy diet with our natural holistic herbs, we are here to help you.
3 Health Benefits of Eating Your Leafy Greens
1. Mineral-Rich for Optimum Everyday Health
Leafy greens, especially those with a dark green color, are packed full of nutrients. They are particularly high in minerals, because they draw them up from the ground through their long roots before storing them in their leaves. There are two main plant powerhouse families that always top the lists of high mineral veggies.
There is the Brassica family, including kale, collards, bok choy, and mustard greens. There is the Chenopodiaceae family, encompassing spinach, beets, beet greens, and chard. Also beneficial for their mineral content are dandelion, alfalfa, and horsetail. These three plants are often found in the dried leaf form and can be taken as a tea or supplement.
Potassium
This mineral is an electrolyte and conducts electricity within your body to manage a variety of healthy processes. Specifically, potassium manages the water content in our body's cells, nerve signals, and muscle contractions. Many people are low in this important mineral. Spinach, kale, and beet greens are all great sources of potassium.
Good potassium levels can reduce your risk of:
• Stroke
• Osteoporosis
• Kidney stones
Magnesium
Every cell in your body needs magnesium to function properly. And yet, only about half of us are getting enough of this important mineral in our diets. Since this mineral has a hand in so many different bodily functions, it is no surprise that having enough of it will have an impact on a variety of areas of health.
Some benefits of magnesium include:
• Lowers blood pressure
• Boosts exercise performance
• Helps alleviate depression
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Reduces PMS symptoms
Iron
Iron is crucial to the process by which our body receives the oxygen it needs to function properly, such as: staying alert, and activating our immune system. Iron plays a crucial role in the production of hemoglobin, which helps to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Iron deficiency, also called anemia, can create fatigue, slow mental and physical responses, and undermines our immune system. Spinach, kale, swiss chard, collards, and beet greens, as well as our herbal supplement “Blood Builder Plus” are all great sources of natural iron.
Calcium
If you think you are already getting enough calcium by drinking cow’s milk, think again. In fact, cow's milk only has a miniscule amount of this mineral and that’s only because it’s coming from the grassy food they eat. Why would anyone want to settle for second-hand calcium? Leafy veggies are so calcium-rich, you can cut out the middleman and get your calcium directly from the source. Spinach, kale, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens, beet greens, bok choy, and Swiss chard are all great natural sources of calcium. Another great option is our “Ultra Relief” herbal formula. It contains calcium-rich herbs to help nourish your skeletal system to optimal health.
2. Brain Health and Preventing Dementia
As we age, one of the most frightening things that we face is the prospect of declining mental faculties. For many, this is more worrying than the inevitability of dying. We all hope that we will still be ourselves in old age, able to remember our loved ones and to maintain a certain level of independence. A diet high in herbs and leafy greens can be beneficial to making that wish a reality.
Herbs such as Gotu Kola leaf and Ginkgo Biloba leaf have been used for centuries to improve memory and general brain function. Modern science is currently studying these closely to try to unlock the secret of Alzheimer's prevention. We suggest our herbal combination, “Headstart” (Brain Nourishment). It contains high amounts of Gotu Kola and Ginkgo Biloba for a holistic, natural way to prevent brain decline.
3. Vitamins and Phytonutrients to Guard Against Disease
Leafy greens such as kale and spinach are known to be high in vitamins and antioxidants. These help to keep our bodies strong, reduce oxidative stress, and improve our immune function, thereby helping to prevent illnesses.
Vitamin C
This vitamin is an anti-inflammatory antioxidant that strengthens the immune system so it can have a better chance in protecting itself against cancer. It fights the oxidative stress that can lead to many chronic diseases and lowers your chances of heart disease. Due to the incredible benefits of natural Vitamin C, upping your intake of this vitamin is one of the safest and most effective ways that you can improve your overall health.
While a diet rich in leafy greens and fruits will get you far, it couldn’t hurt to include herbal supplements such as our "Liquid Chlorophyll" to increase your vitamin intake.
Vitamin K
The fat-soluble phylloquinone is the form of Vitamin K found in green leafy vegetables like collard greens, kale, and spinach. It helps the body to clot blood, increase bone health, and decrease the likelihood of heart disease. This vitamin is believed to prevent the calcification or hardening of heart arteries, which leads to heart attacks. Because it is fat-soluble, it is a good idea to eat foods high in Vitamin K with a touch of grapeseed or olive oil to improve absorption.
Phytonutrients
Kale and spinach are both good sources of beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids and lutein may help prevent and possibly improve age-related macular disease. Eating leafy greens or taking similar supplements can therefore prevent the most common cause loss of eyesight.
There are so many health benefits to eating healthy green leafy vegetables. They keep your body in optimum health while preventing a range of maladies and diseases. We provide a range of healthy natural supplements that, in addition to a healthy lifestyle, help to nourish your body and may prevent illness. Check out Common Sense™ supplements to harness this amazing plant power!