Green Vegetable Diet

A green vegetable diet is completely vegetarian. There are so many green vegetables to choose from such as kale, cucumbers, long-stem onions, broccoli, peas, cabbage, green peppers, green beans, spinach, peas, asparagus, dark leafy green lettuce and collard greens. All greens contain high levels of iron and vitamin A, in addition to many other nutrients. Green vegetables also have more chlorophyll than other plants. Chlorophyll helps regulate digestion and cleanse out toxins.
  1. Raw Greens

    • Eat green vegetables five to eight times per day. Also drink plenty of water. Water is the transport system for nutrients. Water carries vitamins and minerals to cells where they are needed, while also taking waste away from cells to be flushed out of the body. When you buy raw greens, choose a wide variety such as the ones listed above, as well as swiss chard or sea vegetables such as spirulina. You can purchase spirulina in powder form, but some people love to eat this green sea veggie whole. Spirulina is a sea algae loaded with amino acids, protein, vitamins and minerals. When you eat food raw, you get more value of out of the food because cooking may destroy vital enzymes and vitamins. Not all nutrients are destroyed by cooking, but a lot can be lost depending on how high the heat is.

    Cooking Options

    • You may not want to eat your greens raw all the time, so the next best option is to steam your greens. You can add butter, olive oil, herbs and spices to enhance flavor. Steaming preserves most of the nutrition unlike baking or frying. You can bake or fry your greens but do so in moderation. Steaming food also enhances the flavor because the steam helps to hydrate and infuse vegetables. Cook with real butter rather than margarine. Adding healthier fats to your greens, such as grape seed oil or olive oil, will be more beneficial because they contain omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s reduce inflammation and improve heart, brain and skin health.

    Eating Method

    • On the green vegetable diet, eat slowly, which will help you feel full faster and enjoy your meal more. Take the time to chew your food and taste every bite. Your body will also benefit because you are not rushing your digestion by eating too fast. This will reduce gas and bloating as well. If you are still hungry, eat more greens. Green vegetables are low in calories, so you would need to eat a lot to go over your daily calorie allotment. You will probably notice that you lose weight on a green vegetable diet because greens provide the body with a lean source of protein and high fiber.

Nutrition - Related Articles