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LIVING making carbs count
Eat your greens!
Highly nutritious and
versatile, there are
plenty of reasons why
green leafy veg - from
kale and cavolo nero to
spring greens - should be
piled high on your plate.
All hail kale, Kentish
cabbage (aka cavalo
nero), and what are
'spring greens?'.
It's no secret that green leafy
vegetables are a must for a
healthy, varied diet. Thankfully,
you'll always find a selection in
plentiful supply. Low calorie, jampacked
with important vitamins and
minerals and super versatile, you can
make the most of the green stuff in
a variety of ways. We take a look at
the health benefits of some of the
popular types, along with a little
creative inspiration on how to enjoy
them - from soups, salads, smoothies
and more.
Dark leafy greens are superfood
powerhouses full of vitamins,
minerals, and phytonutrients. They
are rich in antioxidant vitamins C, E
and cell-protecting beta-carotene.
They are also foliate-rich, promoting
heart health, and vitamin K, said to
benefit bone health.
Dark leafy veg is also rich in iron,
magnesium, calcium, and potassium
while low in cholesterol, sodium,
and carbs.
If all that wasn't enough, eating
your greens - 80g counts as one
of your five portions of fruit and
veg a day - is good for your bowels,
being dense in insoluble fibre,
helping regular bowel movements,
and high in water, which helps
avoid constipation.
Because of their high fibre and
water content, you can fill up on your
greens without worrying about the
calories, which can help you lose or
maintain your weight.
Kale
Kale has risen in popularity over
the last decade or so. It's part of the
cabbage family and comes in two
forms: kale with smooth leaves and
the more common curly kale with
crinkly leaves.
Nutrition
Kale is an excellent source of vitamins
K, A and C and a great plant-based
source of calcium (52mg) - perfect
for veggie and vegan diets.
80g of raw kale provides:
• Calories: 39
• Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 1g
• Sugars: 1g
• Fibre: 3g
• Protein: 3g