Foods of the month: The often forgotten - Leafy greens

Often neglected, green leafy vegetables often do not get chosen when a meal is ordered or cooked. According to the national nutrition survey, it was estimated that 9 out of 10 Singaporeans do not consume enough vegetables as a whole. It is recommended that at least 2 servings of vegetables be consumed daily. A serving of vegetables weigh 100g (cooked and 150g (raw leafy).

They may look green and not as appetizing as the meats you take, but these greens are loaded with an abundance of nutrients that you will be thankful for if you have chronic diseases like Heart diseases.

What is so good about the greens?

It is always a better choice to choose vegetables in their most basic form, rather than relying on supplement capsules.

Tips to increase your greens:

• Go for dishes that allow you to choose greens

• Order a separate dish of greens if your meal does not have any

• Have a salad 2-3 times a week

• Ask for more greens when ordering out

• Use vegetables in all the soups you cook.

• Incorporate some greens into the foods you like (this works well especially for children)

• Add greens into your freshly squeezed fruit juice

Remember, taking your greens gives you a whole array of nutrients, with many benefits for disease prevention and overall health.

Now that you have understood about various diseases, understanding activity intensities and its benefits to certain conditions is equally important. Read on our next post about Activities to ramp up fitness!