The Body Keeps Count (Part 3): Why You Need Vegetables in Your Diet

You need vegetables in your diet. Vegetables provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals. As such, they are an integral part of every diet. According to large volumes of research, having vegetables in your diet reduce your risk of heart disease. It is recommended that you eat a variety of vegetables everyday, as no single vegetable provides the required nutrients. Here are 5 reasons why you need vegetables in your diet.

1. Vegetables reduce your risk of disease

There is evidence-backed research that a diet rich in vegetables can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

2. Vegetables improve your vision

Eating vegetables can keep your eyes healthy, thereby improving overall vision. To keep your eyes healthy, you need vegetables rich in antioxidants. The most common vegetables eaten to improve eyesight include carrots, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, etc.

Read also: The Body Keeps Count (Part 1): Why You Need to Sleep Early

3. Vegetables help with weight loss

Research shows that people who eat vegetables regularly are more likely to lose weight than people who don’t.

4. Vegetables improve gut health

Vegetables also contain indigestible fiber. This can calm symptoms of an irritable bowel. This improves regular bowel movement and in turn relieves constipation.

5. Vegetables improve your skin

Generally, a daily diet of vegetables is important for the skin’s health. Kale and avocados are known to help with skin elasticity. Cucumbers also have a high water content which is known to help with hydration. This is why it is important to have vegetables in your diet.

In Nigeria today, hemorrhoids(pile) are a concern for most people. A lack of adequate fiber is the common cause of this. Without vegetables, the immune system weakens and becomes susceptible to ailments like hemorrhoids. Your risk for dehydration and chronic diseases also increases.

By tackling all the potential health risks, vegetables improve overall wellbeing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 2-4 cups of veggies a day. However, it’s usually difficult to determine just how much you need for your daily nutritional requirements.