Staple Green Leaves for a Nourishing Diet...

Green leafy vegetables are at the top of the list when it comes to nutrition for optimal health.

They contain a gigantic load of nutrients that the body needs in order to thrive long-term. Green leaves have everything from complex carbohydrates to protein, along with various of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants to keep you young, strong, and full of energy.

Green leaves are usually used to make a salad and, in most cultures, they are generally considered a side dish, which makes their consumption a small part of our daily diets. In our HLife humble opinion, it should be the other way around. Salads should be the main dish, the “star”, and the rest should all be sides. It is in the salads that we get the main elements our body requires for balance and sustenance. Hearty salads that consist of leafy greens (specially dark leaves) are electron-rich meals that one should have at least once a day. Some of us think of leaves as being animal food, and animals as being human food, but the truth is that in an omnivore diet, the animal is the middleman to the real nourishment: THE PLANTS. It is these very greens that prevent human disease, while eating the animals contributes to them. Maybe it’s in this way of thinking about leaves as animal food and the habit of not seeing it as the main dish, a perspective passed down from generation to generation, where the problem is. Changing our view on green leaves, seeing them for their true value, and making them the main focus of our meals could be the first step into bringing more of them and their nourishment into your life. This can change your long-term health results, as well as your life.

The following are five green leaves to get to know and love for all they offer to us. Sure, you’ve heard of them – you may even eat some or all of them. But why do you eat them? And, most of of all, what do they do for YOU? When it comes to green leaves, there can be nothing but love for them from our cells. Ask not what you can do with your leaves, but what your green leaves can do for you…

Spinach – The favorite HLife salad leaf, loaded with vitamin K (for bone health), vitamin A,

manganese, folate, magnesium, and iron. Its fat-related molecules called Glycoclycerolipids can protect the lining of our digestive tract from damage due to inflammation. Spinach contains anti-cancer properties, and has shown evidence of significant protection against the occurrence of aggressive prostate cancer. Learn all the health benefits of spinach through our HFood feature, where we detail its star-level nutritional content.

Kale - Its ultra high ranking in the antioxidant category offers cancer prevention benefits (breast, bladder, colon, ovary, and prostate cancer) as well as cholesterol lowering benefits.

Dandelion – Let’s begin with its Latin name, which translates to: “disorder remedy”. Dandelion improves your liver and your mood. It’s the main detox leaf star. This bitter-sweet green is a natural diuretic, without the loss of potassium. It is also recommended for hormone-related conditions like PMS and a great aid in lowering blood pressure. Dandelion protects against macular degeneration and it is one of the richest green-veggie source of beta-carotene. One cup of dandelion contains 147 mg of calcium, 244 mg potassium, 203 mg vitamin K, 3 grams of fiber and 10,000 IU of vitamin A.

Arugula - Another anti-cancer leaf, arugula contains a substance called isothiocynates, which studies have shown to help prevent lung and esophageal cancer, as well as offer gastrointestinal protection. This mildly bitter green is considered one of the healthiest superfoods. It is rich in vitamin C, K, A, P (flavonoids, which enhance vitamin C intake), and minerals like iron, and potassium. Arugula enhances our blood quality and liver function. Also known as rocket seed, rukola and rucketta, the ancient Romans and Egyptians considered arugula to be a powerful aphrodisiac.

Romaine Lettuce – Loaded with bone-building vitamin K, this lettuce has a very high water volume. It’s an excellent source of vitamins A and C, manganese, folate and blood-sugar balancing mineral chromium. Its fiber and folate content contributes to its heart-health benefits. Lettuces add a muscle relaxing effect, aiding in insomnia. Romaine lettuce is a good source of potassium, which aids in lowering high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease.