Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by Eating Greens

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday known for leprechauns, shamrocks and all things green. Each year, thousands of Irish Americans gather on St. Patrick’s Day to share a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage. Cabbage doesn’t just go with corn beef; it is an extremely healthy food that is rich in nutrition and fiber.  Cabbage isn’t the only green food that is healthy for you. In fact, most leafy greens are packed with beta carotene, iron, calcium, and vitamin C, A, B6, and E.

A green food that is heart healthy and helps fight high cholesterol is avocado. Avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that may actually help raise HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL.  And, more than any other fruit, this tasty food packs cholesterol-smashing beta-sitosterol, a beneficial plant-based fat that reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed from food.

Other nourishing greens include asparagus, artichokes, basil, broccoli, green apples, green beans, celery, cucumber, dandelion, honeydew melon, green pears, peas, spinach, and zucchini.  Green tea is loaded with antioxidants. It also contains flavonoids, a class of naturally occurring plant compounds that function as antioxidants that are good for the heart.

Why not give greens a try? They are a great spring cleanser and they pack a substantial nutritional punch. So, it’s the perfect time to buy and eat greens!

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