These Are 10 Of The Healthiest Vegetables You Can Eat

Jan 18, 2019

It's the time of year when pretty much everyone is trying to tackle their New Year's resolutions. If you ask most people what their resolutions are, you'll find that a ton of people are trying to improve their health.

It makes sense: Improving your health can drastically alter pretty much every part of your life for the better. If you want to take control of your health, improve your mood, and feel better, read on for 10 of the healthiest vegetables you can add to your diet.

Kale has become pretty notorious in the past few years. Some of your friends probably love it (like your friends that own kettlebells and constantly complain about how sore they are) and others think it's disgusting. Regardless, it packs a ton of vitamin C and other minerals. It also has calcium (no need for milk!) lutein (the mineral in carrots known for its benefits to eye health) and vitamin K, which is good for your blood.

Kale isn't exactly exciting to eat raw, so if you do, make sure to massage the greens first. You can do this with your hands. It makes the greens softer and more pleasant to eat. Or, try Tuscan kale. It's naturally softer and is much easier to eat raw!

You might prefer the taste of spinach raw over kale, which is good news. But, since spinach wilts when cooked, you can eat more of it without even noticing. Spinach has a myriad of good-for-you vitamins and minerals, including the omega-3 fatty acids. It also has a good bit of iron, which is crucial for muscular health and development as well as your energy levels.

Collard greens have tons of vitamin K and C. They also taste great sautéed. Unlike kale and spinach, collards are definitely too tough to eat raw! Try braising them with onions and fat. Collard greens can be found in many different tasty southern-inspired recipes.

This one is probably a surprise to most people. While it's usually eaten seasonally (and is technically a fruit) it's extremely nutrient-dense and has plenty of good fiber. Pumpkin is great when used in savory and sweet dishes alike.

Sweet potatoes have also grown in popularity over the last few years and have gained quite a reputation as a health powerhouse. Sweet potatoes can be boiled, baked as healthy fry alternatives, or even used in hash browns or pancakes.

There's a reason why so many of these vegetables are orange -- most nutritionists agree that eating a variety of brightly colored natural foods helps ensure a good variety of micronutrients in your diet. Carrots are no exception, with around 15% of most people's daily requirement of lutein.

One bunch of broccoli rabe has 17 whole grams of protein -- much more than most vegetable sources available. It's great sautéed with garlic and has plenty of good vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K.

This green is probably the most familiar on the list. One of the best things about lettuce is its high fiber content which helps in regulating healthy digestion. Romaine lettuce has plenty of vitamin K, A, and C as well. You've probably heard about the E-Coli outbreaks related to romaine lettuce, so make sure your sources of romaine are safe.

Broccoli is the quintessential "healthy" food. Most of us have memories of parents trying to force-feed broccoli to us at the dinner table. It has stood the test of time as a monument of good health, and for good reason: It has an impressive amount of iron (especially for a vegetable), has tons of fiber, and has great vitamins like A, D, B12, C and B6.

Brussels sprouts are another extremely nutrient-dense vegetable on this list. While they might be a bit of an acquired taste, brussels sprouts are delicious when sautéed or roasted in olive or coconut oil. This gives them a bit of a crunchier (and less slimy) texture.

If you're committed to improving your health, consider adding these vegetables to your diet. It's important to remember to not try and do too much at once; it's okay to slowly work your way up to trying new foods and implementing them in your diet. Feel free to explore and make changes gradually as you find what works best for your lifestyle and preferences -- that goes for food as well as other important health habits.

If you found this article helpful, let us (and your friends) know! What are your favorite ways to prepare your favorite vegetables?

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!