Everyone is looking for the map to health these days. Sometimes it's easy to get distracted by what's trending and forget the simple things that are the MOST important. Here's the most basic advice EVER, and it's so redundant your eyes will probably glaze over. Eat. Your. Vegetables! Has there ever been a mom who hasn't urged her kids to do this? If we took a poll and asked the question: What's a strategy you already know about that can set yourself up for better overall health? I bet "eat more/ enough vegetables" would be the most common. It's basic advice, and since it's so familiar, we forget it's importance.
Hypocrates said Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. It has also been said Pay the doctor or pay the farmer. They can keep our bodies away from inflammation which is the root cause of pretty much all illnesses and even small simple aches and pains.
So why are vegetables so important to our health?
They can provide:
phytonutrients reduce risk of disease
vital nutrients and minerals
fiber for digestion
complex carbs that keep blood sugars steady
strength for the immune system
Just think about all the diseases you are probably keeping at bay when you bite into a nutrient- dense piece of food! You are literally arming your immune system with fuel to fight. We may never see what these small daily choices do for our health as far as prevention goes, but we know each choice can contribute in a big way in our upwards trajectory to vitality.
Here's a Roasted Brussels Sprout recipe my family loves. (Did you know brussels are highest in Vitamin C, which is skins BEST friend because it helps with collagen production? We need collagen for tissue repair. Collagen production equals elasticity, which in turn encourages a more youthful appearance.)
ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS
Ingredients:
3 cups of brussels cut in half or fourths if larger ones
2 cups cubed butternut squash (sweet potato works too)
6 garlic cloves cut in half
salt and pepper
cooking spray or cooking oil to your liking
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Prepare vegetables
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Coat veggies with oil and salt and pepper
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Bake 400 degrees until brussels look crispy around edges