All vegetables, like fruits, are healthy and considered essential in a healthy diet. In fact, its daily consumption is related to the prevention of metabolic diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, on average, 1.7 million lives could be saved each year if consumption of these foods were increased enough.
Because of this, dietary recommendations around the world emphasize increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables as a strategy for disease prevention and health maintenance. In addition, it is a way to obtain essential micro and macronutrients. What are the healthiest vegetables? We detail them below.
Vegetables and phytochemicals
Vegetables stand out among foods for having a wide range of active compounds that provide health benefits. These substances are known as phytochemicals, but are also called phytonutrients or nutraceuticals.
There are different groups of phytochemicals and, in turn, within each group there is a huge variety of substances that have anti-inflammatory effects. Likewise, these are responsible for providing the characteristic colors to the food.
The families of the main phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties are as follows:
Carotenoids: such as lycopene and beta-carotenes.
Phenolic compounds: such as polyphenols, flavonoids and flavones.
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