Hi Friends,
Vegetables are magical. It’s true. They’re sprinkled with fairy dust and if you eat enough of them, this fairy dust will make you strong, lean, & resilient. Except scientist don’t like the term “fairy dust” so they call these sprinkles “bioactive phytochemicals.” Silly scientist. They always get this stuff wrong.
Your mother has been preaching “eat your vegetables” since you were a child. Turns out, she knew what she was talking about.
Yes, vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals. But so do breakfast cereals, fortified breads, and many dairy products. So why are vegetables better than processed, artificial sources of vitamins and minerals?
For one, vegetables are chock full of fiber, which fills you up without an additional calorie load. The vitamins and minerals in vegetables are also more bioavailable. That means our bodies are much better at digesting and utilizing them (“it’s not what you eat, it’s what you absorb.”) Vegetables are also packed with plant compounds called phytochemicals. These little soldiers are powerful anti-oxidants and have a strong influence on our hormones. They seem to suppress cancer development, the protect our cell’s DNA, and the stimulate enzymes that help our body fight disease. For optimal physiological function, we need to consume phytochemicals.
Fight cancer, destroy free radicals, protect cells, get useable vitamins and minerals, maintain bone mass, get stronger, stay healthy. It’s hard to overemphasize the importance of vegetables.
Veggie FAQ
Q: Any suggestions on how to keep vegetables interesting?
100% grass-fed butter is a good start. With a little dash of sea salt. Put butter and sea salt on anything and it tastes good. Also, try not to get into the habit of limiting yourself to the same vegetables all the time. We go through seasonal phases: brussels sprouts + squash in the fall and winter get replaced by cucumber and tomato salads in the spring and summer. Peppers, green beans, zucchini, spinach. There are TONS of vegetables and even more ways to prep them. Get creative.
Eat your vegetables (said in a mom voice.)
Love & muscles,
Rob & Mel