The foods that we consume can be roughly divided into two groups. First are the fuel foods such as protein, fats, and carbohydrates, which give our bodies the energy they need to perform. Second are the foods that provide us with the building blocks for basic cell maintenance and the nutrients that are essential for all cell functions. This second group is comprised almost entirely of fresh fruits and green vegetables.
The Importance of Vegetable Nutrition
Vegetable nutrition is absolutely essential to our good health. Without the vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients that they provide, our body processes become sluggish and inefficient. In severe cases, they may break down altogether, resulting in illness or chronic disease.
Many people believe that taking a multi-vitamin is the perfect way out of having to consume the recommended three to five daily servings of vegetables. Unfortunately, many vitamin supplements cannot do the job. Some contain up to 30 percent inexpensive filler, such as apple fiber or rice bran, which is of no nutritional value, and may also contain cheap forms of vitamins and minerals that are difficult for the body to absorb.
Fresh fruits (especially those low in sugar such as lemons, limes, sour cherries, unripe bananas, and avocados) and vegetables are easily digested and absorbed and contain a wealth of nutritional complexes that are lacking in most vitamin supplements, because they cannot be created in a lab. Supplements are also devoid of living nutrients such as enzymes, which are essential supports of the bodys processes. For those who are busy and find that the daily preparation of fresh vegetables is not always possible, whole foods vitamins, fresh vegetable and fruit juices, and green foods drinks and supplements are a good alternative.
