Additional Health Benefits of Vitamins, Minerals and Fibre from Vegetables
People who eat fruit and vegetables as part of their daily diet have a reduced risk of many chronic diseases. We encourage you to include a variety of vegetables for healthy eating.
Vegetables are important part of healthy eating and provide a source of many nutrients, including potassium, fibre, folate (folic acid) and vitamins A, E and C. Options like broccoli, spinach, tomatoes and garlic provide additional benefits, making them a superfood!
Potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure. Dietary fibre from vegetables helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease.
Folate (folic acid) helps the body form healthy red blood cells. Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant and those in the first trimester of pregnancy need adequate folate to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and spina bifida during foetal development.
Eating Vegetables Provides Health Benefits
The nutrients in vegetables are vital for health and maintenance of your body. Eating a diet rich in vegetables may reduce risk for stroke, cancer, heart diseases and type-2 diabetes.
Two to four cups of vegetables are recommended each day, depending on how many calories you need.
Fibre in Vegetables
Vegetables are arguably the healthiest of all the food groups, and are a great source of fiber. Artichokes provide the most fiber with 10.3 grams (41% DV) in a single artichoke. Peas, lima beans, root vegetables, and green leaf veggies are also great sources of fiber. The current daily value (%DV) for fiber is 25 grams. Vegetables ranked in order of highest to lowest fibre content.