Your mother was right – eating your vegetables is one of the best things you can do for your health. You should definately listen to her. If you're a mother, be sure to pass on this advice.

Do you know that most Americans are overfed yet undernourished? All that cola, fries, and cheeseburgers have caught up with us. Do you or someone you know eat doughnuts, cookies, cupcakes, and/or candy on a daily basis? These are all foods with a lot of calories but lacking in nutrients. The result is the slow destruction of our health that becomes more apparent 5, 10, 20, or 30 years from now. No matter how much you think you love donuts and french fries, they will never love you back.

Why wait until you are faced with a life-threatening health crisis to become serious about healthy eating? Start now by including the most nutrient dense foods you can eat into your daily diet. When you consider the fiber, phytochemicals, and other essential nutrients, dark-green, leafy vegetables win the award for being the most nutrient-dense of all foods.

Eating greens every day is one of the most powerful steps you can take for your health. If there were a pill you could take that could prolong your life, reduce your risk for heart attacks and strokes and other chronic diseases, fight oxidative stress (which can lead to inflammation and cancer) everyone would be taking it. Well, no pill is necessary just eat your greens, everyday!

Important caveat: If you are taking warfarin (or other blood thinner) be sure to check with your doctor before changing your diet Your doctor will have to change your dosage to match your regular greens intake.

Try to incorporate greens into as many meals as possible. Eat them in a big salad every day. Add them to a smoothie bowl in the morning. And they’re great added to soups, stews, and chillis. Or serve your meals, like I do, over a bed of greens.

You should try to eat 5 or more servings of non-starchy vegetables every day but make at least 2 servings leafy, greens. A serving is one cup raw vegetables or 1/2 cup cooked.

What’s your favorite way to eat your daily greens? Let me know in the comments below.

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