While a few cold days have snuck themselves in, summer is just around the corner! Sure, I could do without the thick, heavy humidity, but I can’t help but grow giddy as summer draws near. You see, to me, summertime means farmers markets, and farmers markets mean real, fresh, clean, local, organic produce on my plate every week.
Sure, we all could motivate ourselves to plant gardens, but a farmers’ market is the next best thing. Personally, I love going back every year to smile, talk to, and shake hands with the person who grows my food. The produce you see here is more colorful and vibrant then anything you will find in a store, and offers greater variety, too.
One of my favorite things to stock up on is nutritious, leafy greens. The options are endless, and these light, seasonal vegetables help our systems to clean out the thicker, richer foods we have been eating all winter long. Greens are so easy to include as a part of your daily diet, and the benefits to your body are infinite. For starters, consider the following top ten reasons to eat your leafy greens!
1. Boosts immune function
2. High in vitamins known to prevent cancer
3. Improves circulation
4. Purifies the blood
5. Provides steady energy
6. May ease feelings of depression
7. Promotes healthy intestinal flora
8. Improves liver, kidney, gallbladder function
9. Clears congestion, especially in the lungs
10. Helps reduce inflammation (1)
This list doesn’t even include my favorite reason: beautifying the skin.
For me, the easiest way to include leafy greens is to blend them all together with some frozen fruit for a delicious treat—and the bonus is that it helps you cool off. A bed of delicious, farm-fresh greens with some salmon on top is a quick go-to meal, and don’t forget you can always load them up on your sandwich if you’re trying to sneak more greens into your day.
I think we can all agree Popeye knew what he was doing. Try to follow a little more closely in his footsteps this summer, and discover for yourself the amazing health benefits of including leafy greens in your diet.
-Megan
(1) The list of top ten reasons to eat leafy greens comes from Paula Rothstein’s article at http://www.naturalnews.com/033208_leafy_greens_nutrition.html
