Why You Need To Get Your Greens In Every Day

This is a paid partnership with BodyScience. 

We’re always hearing about the importance of eating your greens. Yet so many of us still aren’t eating the recommended five servings of veg per day. While it might seem like an impossible target, particularly if you’re not too fond of the taste of green veg, it’s so critical you make this a priority each and every day. Here’s why you need to get your greens in every day.

1. Greens support immune health.

Green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, broccoli, bok choy and zucchini, are packed with vitamins and minerals which support your immune system function and keep you healthy. They’re rich in beta carotene, and vitamins C, E and K, all of which play a key role in immune function. Here are just a few of the beneficial vitamins and minerals found in your greens which support immunity:

• Vitamin C, which protects against free radical damage and prevents disease and infection.
• Vitamin E, which also protects against oxidative damage to your cells and is critical for the health of your brain, skin, blood, eyes and reproductive organs.
• Vitamin K, required for blood clotting and healthy bone tissue formation.
• Magnesium, which plays a role in over 300 metabolic reactions in your body including nerve and muscle health and function.
• Folate, essential for healthy cell growth and function.
• Fibre, required for digestive health, gut health and disease prevention.

Green veggies are so rich in antioxidants and health-promoting vitamins, and if you’re not getting enough into your daily diet, then you’re letting your body down. By making your greens a non-negotiable part of your health routine each day, you’re giving your body the best chance at staying healthy, and preventing infections, diseases and illnesses before they occur. The truth is, while there are so many “flu- or illness-fighting” vitamins and solutions marketed to us, the best strategy for optimal health is always prevention. Getting your nutrients in consistently gives you a far better chance of staying healthy and well, than if you’re only including enough greens in your diet when you’re sick in the hope of getting well again! So stop illness in its tracks, and make sure you’re getting in your greens daily. Five serves or more is where it’s at!

2. Greens are rich in fibre.

As we mentioned, green veggies are a rich source of fibre, which plays an important role in your general health and wellbeing. Fibre is essential for gut health, which as you likely know is important for both physical and mental health. A healthy gut gives you the best chance of feeling your best, inside and out. Fibre acts as food for the beneficial bacteria that live in your gut, providing the sustenance and fuel they need to keep you healthy.

Fibre also promotes digestion and regularity, actively reducing bloating, indigestion and discomfort and helping maintain bowel health. It helps you feel fuller for longer following a meal, meaning it can support healthy weight balance and prevent unwanted blood sugar spikes and crashes post-meal, allowing your blood glucose to stabilise and provide you with a steady, stable source of energy.

Soluble fibre, found in plant foods, can also help lower your “bad” cholesterol levels by binding to LDL (or “bad” cholesterol) in your intestines to prevent it being absorbed by the body, and instead facilitating its excretion.

Adults require around 25-30 g of fibre per day, yet few of us are meeting this benchmark. However, getting in your greens will do wonders for helping you achieve this daily goal, given the high fibre content of greens like collard greens and Brussels sprouts.

3. Greens are a great source of energy.

Another group of vitamins contained in abundance in greens is the B vitamins. Responsible for energy production and metabolism, B vitamins are a key player in ensuring you have steady, stable energy levels throughout the day. B vitamins prevent feelings of fatigue and lethargy, and allow different enzymes in the body to function, supporting the release of energy from the carbohydrates, fat and protein you consume in your diet. They also help break down your food so you can get maximum benefit and nutrition from anything you eat, and transport oxygen and energy-containing nutrients around your body to help you feel your best, always.

If you’re not getting in your greens each day, you’ll find your energy levels and general function suffer as a result. B vitamins can’t be stored by the body (in fact, you’ll find any excess you consume is excreted in your urine each day – these vitamins are what turns your wee yellow!), so you really do need to ensure you’re consuming enough of them in food or supplement form each day to optimise your general health and wellbeing.

4. They support brain health and function.

Lastly, but certainly not least, greens support cognitive health and slow down brain decline. They’re rich sources of nutrients like vitamin K, folate, alpha-tocopherol, beta carotene and lutein, all of which have been linked to slowed cognitive decline, and improved memory and thinking skills. In particular, spinach, kale, collard greens and lettuce have strong links to slowed cognitive decline.

Leafy greens have neuroprotective effects, meaning they actively protect your brain from harm and natural ageing processes. Even as little as one serving of leafy greens per day has been shown to slow cognitive decline over time.

Struggling to get in your daily greens?

Luckily for you, we’ve got the solution to your problems! We understand that some people just don’t enjoy the taste of greens, plain and simple. While others will struggle to get in the recommended five daily servings, due to being time-poor, constantly on-the-go, or unable to prep and plan food far enough in advance to meet this (seemingly somewhat) difficult target. If this is you, don’t panic, Body Science Clean Greens powder has been formulated specifically for this purpose. Including 78 different superfoods, from vegetables, fruits, vitamins and minerals, this daily powder provides all the nutrients you need to feel your best each day. Plus, Body Science have even added probiotics to the blend, for some extra gut love and nourishment. Formulated without any gluten, dairy or GMOs, and entirely vegan-friendly, it’s a catch-all solution to your nutrient needs, allowing you to get all the benefits of your daily greens in a convenient, delicious tropical-tasting powder. Add it to a smoothie or a glass of water, and rest assured that you’ve given your body the dose of nutrients it needs every day. Don’t compromise your health because you’re struggling to get your greens in each day – be smart and prepared, and make the most of Body Science’s superpowder.