Eating vegetables is vital to your nutrition and for years our focus has been on green vegetables, but what about the rest of the colors? White vegetables, for example, have always received a bad reputation, but not so fast. When eating vegetables, don’t focus on just one color because your plate should include a rainbow of veggies, including the white ones.
If you’re lucky to live near a farmer’s market this summer, make sure you take advantage of all of the colors of the rainbow. White vegetables are just are nutritious and delicious as others with a more vibrant color and these 4 should definitely be on your radar:
Garlic: This is something that you should always have handy and you can practically add it to anything. Its flavor can go from pungent, to very sweet when cooked and if you’re not a fan, grate into your food that way you reap the benefits without having to chew on big pieces of it. Garlic can keep you healthy and even protect you from the common cold. It can help reduce your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol and it’s packed with antioxidants that help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Onions: Garlic and onions go hand in hand because they can really help enhance the flavor of almost anything. Onions contain chromium, which helps regulate your blood sugar and has quercetin, which also helps protect you from cancer. Onions help reduce inflammation and heal infections. Raw onions help lower the production of bad cholesterol, keeping your heart healthy. They can even help relieve you from pain and the burning sensation you experience after a cut or when being stung by a bee or insect.
Cauliflower: There’s a new rice in town and it’s called cauliflower rice. If you haven’t tried it, here’s a great recipe. Cauliflower is in the cruciferous family, next to broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts and if you love crunchy veggies, add this one to your list. It contains sulfur compounds that help protect you from cancer, strengthens your bone tissue and helps maintain healthy blood vessels. It also contains 77% of the daily recommended value of vitamin C, it contains protein, fiber, and vitamin B6.
Mushrooms: There are so many types of mushrooms and their color can vary from pale white to dark brown. Mushrooms are super healthy because they are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, and even gluten-free. They are a good source of vitamin D, iron, they help boost your immune system, your metabolism, and are packed with antioxidants that help fight free radicals.
