Some easy vegetable snacks and their health benefits

Biology student Garry Y. Itkin is always trying to find simple and creative ways to survive college and maintain his health. In this blog post, he shares some easy vegetable snacks and their health benefits.

1. Carrots

Carrots come with many health benefits, such as improving your vision and preventing several diseases. The root vegetable is rich in beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the liver. This is important for vision and acts as an antioxidant, and helps fight off free radicals. Carrots also contain fiber, which helps prevent constipation and lower cholesterol levels.

2. Cucumbers

Cucumbers are a unique source of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, shares Garry Y. Itkin. Their health benefits include antioxidant protection against environmental pollutants, cardiovascular benefits, relief from digestive disorders, and anti-cancer effects. In addition, cucumbers come from a vine plant that can climb up to 3 meters. This means that if you have enough vertical space, you can even grow them outside your dorm.

3. Broccoli

Broccoli is quite underrated in terms of its health benefits. Eating broccoli helps protect against flu and colds. Recent research has also found that a compound in broccoli can even improve lung health. It turns out that broccoli contains a phytonutrient called sulforaphane, known for fighting lung and intestinal diseases.

The good thing about these vegetables is that they are easy to prepare and widely available at the grocery. Most of all, they are cheap enough for students to afford, shares Garry Y. Itkin. They also happen to be great for eating raw, or lightly cooked, which shouldn't be too demanding for students who are busy doing other things.