About Vegetable Nutrition
Vegetables comprise all of the important nutrients that are required for a healthy diet. Some essential components of vegetable nutrition are discussed below.
Phytonutrients in vegetables
Phytonutrients are chemicals or substances that are naturally found in the vegetable plants.
Some of the most known phytonutrients, also known as phytochemicals, found in vegetables are cruciferous, flavinoids and carotenoids. They are most commonly seen in green leafy vegetables.
Vitamins in vegetables
Vitamins are substances that promote growth of the body by regulating the process that creates energy.
Vegetables provide vitamins A, C, E, K, as well as folate, which is a type of vitamin B required for growth of cells in the body.
Fibre in vegetables
Vegetables are the main source for fibre.
Fibre comes in two forms, one is a soluble fibre while the other is an insoluble one.
A high fibre diet helps in cleansing the digestive tract and preventing constipation.
People who are advised to take fibre supplements should increase their intake of fibrous vegetables.
Minerals in vegetables
Minerals are substances present in the soil.
Vegetables acquire these minerals from the soil in which they are grown.
Minerals that are mainly found in vegetables include iron, potassium, calcium, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, etc., which are essential for the overall functioning of the body.
Balancing nutritional intake
Though the nutritional value of vegetables are numerous, not every vegetable contains all of the nutrients. Due to this, it becomes important to include a wide range of vegetables into one's diet.
People who have adopted vegetarianism as a part of their lifestyle enjoy the benefits of vegetables with the help of delicious vegetarian recipes.
