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Anti-Aging Properties of Vegetables

Eat Your Leafy Greens

By Mark Stibich, Ph.D., About.com

Updated: April 09, 2008

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Vegetables

Vegetables

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Sure, vegetables are not very exciting. You know you should eat more of them - but do you know why? The best explanation I've heard is this: Vegetables spend their days out in the sun. They are constantly bombarded by UV radiation in sunlight. This radiation causes free radicals to appear in the plants. To fight the damage caused by the sun, vegetables have developed substances (called antioxidants) that repair the damage. That's why leafy green vegetables are some of the best things you can eat -- the leaves are in the sun all day long and have high concentrations of antioxidants.

So, not only do vegetables contain essential vitamins and minerals for your body, they also contain substances that help fight off damage caused by free radicals. Focus on leafy green vegetables and try to eat all sorts of colors and types of vegetables each week. For best results, have at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday (9 servings is ideal).

If those reasons aren't enough to get you eating your vegetables - try this reasons instead: If you fill up on vegetables, you simply won't have room to eat junk foods and high calorie meals. You'll lose weight without even trying.

Next Anti-Aging Food: Water

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