It turns out your mum was right all along – eating your greens really can boost your wellbeing. Recent studies show that eating just one and a half extra servings of dark green vegetables can dramatically reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, often by as much as 14 percent. Of course, we all know that adding fruit and vegetables to your diet can help improve your health, but research has pinpointed just how great these ingredients are to your diet – in particular, your greens.
The study discovered that a diet that is rich in produce such as spinach, Chinese greens and kale offers fantastic health benefits – one portion weighs in at around 120g. Each of your greens boasts a wealth of health benefits and nutrients, such as high levels of vitamin C, beta carotene, antioxidants, magnesium and polyphenols, which are renowned for their antioxidant properties. Only one third of adults actually get their five a day of fruit and veg, which means that the majority of us can do with some improvement in the diet department. Likewise, we could all do with the nutrients found in greens that can help stave off illness.
It is thought that over two million people in the UK have diabetes, which can be controlled with a balanced diet and often with medication as well. But the study suggests that simply from eating better foods and increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, you can help control these symptoms and cut your risk by up to 60 percent. Various factors can help to reduce this risk, including lifestyle changes, a balanced diet, upping your physical activity and reducing your intake of total and saturated fats. Simply by adding extra portions of rich, leafy green vegetables to your meals several times a week, you can prevent your risk of illness and bolster your immune system and wellbeing in the process.
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