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Everyone’s been told this at some point in their childhood:

“Eat your veggies, fat ass!”

– seriously, if I ever find the guy who yelled this at my sister I’m going to drown him

But are they actually beneficial to your health? And even if they are–is it an acceptable suggestion to offer everyone?

The Pros

Vegetables are known to contain many nutrients that our bodies cannot create such as vitamins, proteins, and carbohydrates. Here’s a list of common veggies and their greatest benefits while raw:

• Asparagus
  • Vitamin K1
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Folic acid
  • Iron
  • Vitamin B1
• Broccoli
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin K1
  • Folic acid
  • Vitamin A
  • Manganese
  • Vitamin B6
• Carrot
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin K1
  • Vitamin C
  • Potassium
  • Vitamin B6
• Cauliflower
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin K1
  • Folic acid
  • Vitamin B6, B2 & B1
  • Potassium
• Cucumber
  • Vitamin C
• Eggplant
  • Manganese
  • Potassium
  • Folic acid
• Garlic
  • Manganese
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin C
  • Carbohydrates
  • Selenium
  • Calcium
• Kale
  • Vitamin K1
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Manganese
  • Calcium
• Lettuce
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin K1
  • Manganese
  • Vitamin C
  • Folic acid
• Mushroom
  • Selenium
  • Vitamin C
  • Copper
  • Vitamin B1-B3, B5 & B6
• Onion (yellow)
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B6
  • Manganese
  • Folic acid
• Pea
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B1, B2 & B6
• Potato
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B6 & B1
  • Potassium
  • Manganese
  • Phosphorous
• Radish
  • Vitamin C
  • Potassium
  • Folic acid
• Spinach
  • Vitamin K
  • Vitamin A
  • Folic acid
  • Vitamin C
  • Manganese
  • Vitamin B6 & B1
• Zucchini
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B6, B2 & B1
  • Manganese
  • Potassium
  • Folic acid
  • Vitamin A

Vegetables are a great source of folic acid and the above listed vitamins. They’re a great replacement for starchy sides, and taste great no matter how you decide to cook them.

The Cons

For starters, the availability of certain vegetables will depend on the season, so buying fresh veggies can actually be expensive–especially if you take the all-organic route. Then after you bring the vegetables home, you need to be wary of how you store them. Fresh vegetables spoil quicker than those you buy in a can or find in the frozen aisle, and throwing out old, unused veggies is the same as tossing out money. Make sure you store your vegetables appropriately!

Not to mention that after you buy the veggies and store them appropriately, you’ll need to wash them before use. All you need is running water to help remove the pesticides from your food and you’re good to go. Please, do not use soap to clean your food. Ever.

And before I read any flack in the comments–yes, there are some organic farmers who do in fact use pesticides on their crops, so you still should wash your vegetables just in case. Don’t even @ me.

The bottom line:

Yes, eating vegetables is a great way to maintain good health. They can contribute to weight loss, affect your mood, and give your body the nutrients it needs. However, the best results are when you wash and store your vegetables appropriately–and even better results are achieved by those with the capital to afford fresh, organic food all the time, which isn’t a plausible reality for most people today. So the next time you feel the need to tell someone who isn’t ten years old or younger that they should eat their vegetables… Maybe don’t.

Stay healthy, Citizens!

Melusine Jordan

managing editor/sports desk
& Health Enthusiast

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Source #1 | Source #2

The information contained in this article is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a healer or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.