As a kid I can always remember my Granny preaching ‘eat all your veg, it’s good for you’ But how many of us take this for granted? With so many refined, processed foods on the shelves these days many people have simply neglected our vegetable intake. We have all heard by now that the NHS guidelines are 5 a day, but does any one really get that? Some people seriously kid themselves, just because you eat them on your Sunday lunch once per week just aint quite enough!!
On a serious note, Granny was right! Green vegetables are nutritional powerhouses. They are very high in nutrients and very low in calories. (They are very nutrient dense.) They help fill you up with minimal calories. (They have a low calorie density.) In fact, greens have less than 100 calories per pound. Most people do not realize the nutrient power of greens. Some of the biggest animals such as elephants, gorillas, hippopotamuses, and giraffes all eat predominantly greens. How do they grow so large only on greens? Greens pack a powerful protein punch. Approximately 25% of calories from greens are from protein. For example, broccoli has 11gm protein per 100 calories. Romaine lettuce has 7gm protein/100 calories. In contrast, steak has only 6gm protein per 100 calories! Furthermore, greens are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and phytochemicals. Examples of green powerhouses include kale, spinach, arugula, romaine, bok choy, brussels sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, and peas. Eating more greens improves your health and prevents cancer. Eating more greens is critical to losing weight and improving your health. There is no such thing as too much greens in your diet. Having difficulty losing weight? Increasing the amount of greens in your diet will surely help the extra pounds to come off. So remember bootcampers, you cannot out train a bad diet! If you want super results, you need to eat your super foods!
By North East Personal Trainer Darren Bootcamp Tyrie 😉