Should you eat or drink your veggies?

VEGETABLES are essential for keeping us healthy and we’re often told not to omit them from our daily diet. But compared to fruits, the greens seem to be a little less exciting to eat.

Unfortunately, nutritionist Donovan Grant said, many people do not satisfy their daily requirement for vegetable intake and it is a cause for concern. As a result, he believes it is better to drink your vegetables.

“Over the years I have realised that it is easier to drink instead of eating vegetables. In fact, I normally suggest to people to eat your fruits and drink vegetables,” he said.

The reasons include:

1. You consume more

Grant said drinking vegetables would enable one to consume a larger serving of vegetables. “For example, during a normal meal you may be served three to five slices of cucumber. However, it is possible to drink a large cucumber in a green juice,” he said.

2. You get more nutrients

The nutritionist said vegetables are packed with many of the following — minerals, vitamins, water, antioxidants, roughage, iron, and even protein. He said by juicing your veggies you get more of the nutrients.

3. It helps with bowel and mind action

“In addition, juicing allows for the intake of more raw vegetables which add more fibre and chlorophyll to our diets. This will definitely help to keep the bowels clean and our minds sharp,” he said.

Moreover, Grant said eating vegetables in some cases requires the use of dressings, which are unhealthy.

“Doing this in most cases will increase the calories, which can contribute to weight gain,” he explained.

But he said when eating meat and carbohydrates, people should try their best to eat their vegetables.

“Meat does not have fibre. Therefore, it process very slowly in the intestines. Eating meat with vegetables can help to form bulk to push food along,” he said.