CINCINNNATI (WKRC) – All the green on display for St. Patrick’s Day can be a timely reminder that green is good for your diet, too.
Nutrition guidance now goes beyond aiming for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, also encouraging people to eat three different colors — and making sure one of those colors is green. (WKRC)
Nutrition guidance now goes beyond aiming for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, also encouraging people to eat three different colors — and making sure one of those colors is green. But many Americans are falling short.
“People do not consume enough fruits or vegetables, only one in ten Americans consume the adequate serving sizes per day,” said Laura Brown, Kroger’s director of nutrition, citing the most recent government nutrition survey.
Brown suggested starting with a simple swap: trade the French fries on your plate for a side salad. Dark leafy greens add fiber, which supports digestion. “It’s going to keep things moving through your system which is super important,” Brown said.
Other green foods that can help round out a diet include avocado, which contains healthy fats that support heart health. Broccoli is also a standout, widely recognized for its cancer-fighting properties. Asparagus, green peas, and soybeans — including edamame — also make the list.
Why so much emphasis on green foods? “Honestly everything comes back to your gut, your immune health, your brain clarity, so on and so forth, everything is connected to the gut, and we are learning more and more about it honestly every day,” Brown said.
Fresh herbs such as basil and mint can also contribute, offering an easy way to add more green to meals while supporting immune health.
