Article provided courtesy of The Life Extension Foundation

Seeing green? It’s not pure coincidence. People are finally catching on to the health benefits of leafy greens and many are including them in their everyday diet. And it’s not all that surprising.

Greens are a great source of antioxidants (natural cell protectors), fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Plus, they’re also low in calories and carbs, making them an ideal food for those of us who are watching our waistlines.

Not feeling the green movement yet? Read on. Maybe this will finally sway you!

What Are Leafy Greens?

First, let’s clarify what we mean by leafy greens. They include (but are not limited to) spinach, watercress, bok choy, collard greens, chard, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, arugula, and the very popular kale.

Easy enough? Now let’s move on to their health benefits.

Leafy Greens May Prevent Diabetes

A British study revealed people who ate about one and a half servings of leafy greens a week were 14% less likely to develop diabetes.¹

In this review, scientists investigated the intake of fruit and vegetables on the incidence of type 2 diabetes. In the analysis, leafy greens beat out other fruits and vegetables.

Leafy greens are great sources of magnesium and vitamin K, nutrients with anti-diabetic effects.

Leafy Greens Protect DNA

Exercise is great for your body, but there is a downside: The production of free radicals that can damage your DNA. It turns out leafy greens may help with this too.

In a study, participants given watercress before workouts and for an extended period of time had less evidence of DNA damage compared to a control period.²

Leafy Greens May Prevent Chronic Disease and Heart Disease

The Nurses’ Health Study is one of the most important studies to date. It has examined the health habits of people over the years and has provided us with important health information.

In one analysis that included over 100,000 people, the intake of green leafy vegetables was associated with a lower risk of major chronic disease and cardiovascular disease over a 14-year period.³

The association was stronger for leafy greens than for other groups of fruits or vegetables.

Leafy Greens Protect your Vision

Of the many beneficial compounds in leafy greens, two are of particular importance to your eyes: lutein and zeaxanthin. They play a critical role in preventing macular degeneration, the most common cause of age-related blindness.⁴

Lutein and zeaxanthin are found naturally in your eyes. They act like natural “sunscreen,” filtering out harmful UV light, and act as antioxidants.

Lutein and zeaxanthin can also be found in dietary supplements.

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Article is from LEF.org (The Life Extension Foundation): 5 Big Reasons to Eat Leafy Greens.