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Why they're important

If you've ever delved into a conversation about fruits and vegetables, the topic most certainly arose to the differences between the two. You already know what a fruit is. Here is the definition of a vegetable: a plant or part of a plant used as food, typically as accompaniment to meat or fish, such as a cabbage, potato, carrot, or bean. A vegetable is similar to a fruit in their origin, but there is a key difference to each. Vegetables are seedless but still originate from the ground. Since vegetables typically encompass the whole plant, they are also full of nutrients, similar to fruits. Vegetables are also low in calories per serving, so you can eat a large amount of vegetables without feeling full. So, just as in fruits, you should eat a wide variety of vegetables per meal and day. 

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Studies have shown that vegetables (and fruits) have a very beneficial benefit to cardiovascular disease. Vegetables, since they are plant-based, often are high in vital nutrients, such as antioxidants, that help treat cardiovascular disease. These nutrients also help treat other metabolic issues. They assist by their physiological function. Without going into details, theses nutrients treat the diseases but acting on the body processes to improve their functioning: in other words, they "tell" the body to start working in the way that they were supposed to. 

Types of Vegetables to Eat

Unlike fruits, Metz has more variety in vegetable options. Outside of the salad bar, you can grab vegetables from the Grill, Main Line, or Deli. All have their benefits. I like to grab from the Grill or Main Line if I'm already grabbing other food from there. The downside of grabbing vegetables in these options is that they often are doused with salt, so you would be ingesting more sugar with your vegetables. For pure vegetables, go to the Deli or Salad Bar.

 

I like the Deli for many reasons. In terms of vegetables, you can eat your vegetables along with your meat or other food when you make your sandwich or wrap. This can get rid of the taste of vegetables to a degree if you really don't like how many vegetables taste. Also, the meat at the Deli is often unprocessed and more natural, so you would get additional benefits with your meats.

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The salad bar, as you would expect, is the most versatile in vegetable options. There are a large variety of vegetables to choose from. You can either eat the vegetables alone or combine them into a salad. Salads are very beneficial because you can eat a large amount of vegetables together. One specific benefit of salads is that they are often higher in potassium than bananas. You can also grab one kind of vegetable and eat it alone, or with some other non-vegetable food. I like to combine spinach with my cantaloupe. Whatever works with you, just make sure to eat a large variety of vegetables wherever you go. 

Vegetables

Different Types of Vegetables

Vegetables, just like fruits, can have different makeups. This is why it is important to eat a variety of vegetables. Eat different colored vegetables each day: don't constantly eat lettuce. You'll get all the benefits from lettuce, but you won't get any benefits from other vegetables. As mentioned before, you should find vegetables that vary in makeup that you enjoy: eat these consistently and you'll get adequate amounts.

Ingesting Vegetables

Just like fruits, I wouldn't be concerned with how much vegetable consumption should be done in a day. Vegetables are very low in calorie intake, so you would need to eat a large amount to consume a high amount of calories. If you would like a set number, follow this link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/getting-your-five-a-day. You'll notice that this site also has information about how many fruits to consume. The number that is prescribed here differs from the other site. This shows that a set number of consumption per fruits and vegetables isn't very rigid. Don't be concerned with how much vegetables to consume. 

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