Abstract
Impressive nutritional and phytochemical profiles have helped dark leafy greens earn their super food status. Leafy vegetables improve dietary quality by providing several essential vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber, while only adding minor amounts of sodium, cholesterol, and carbohydrates. Evidence from a wide variety of research studies indicates that antioxidants found in leafy green vegetables may help protect heart health, vision, memory, and reduce the risk of cancer by protecting cells from free radical damage (AICR, 2020; Roberts & Moreau, 2016; Yan, 2016). The ability of these low-calorie standouts to bring so many benefits to our plates is proof that leafy greens are truly nutritionally-gifted vegetables.
Keywords
- Leafy greens
- Spinach
- Kale
- Chard
- Collards
- Beet greens
- Lutein
- Zeaxanthin
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Bunning, M., Shackleton, E. (2022). Dark Leafy Greens. In: Miller, J.P., Van Buiten, C. (eds) Superfoods. Food and Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93240-4_6
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