• Lower cholesterol
• Help in cancer prevention
• Support natural detoxification
• Provide you with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds
• Help treat and prevent inflammatory diseases
• Prevent premature ageing
• Support skin health
• Alkalize the body
• Support cardiovascular system
• Support your bone health and prevent osteoporosis
• Regulate blood sugar and help in type 2 diabetes
• Help fight against obesity
• Support our digestive system

Like many other less commonly used vegetables, it can be challenging to find new ways to eat some everyday.

7 delicious ways to boost your green vegetables intake.

Green smoothies and green juices: This is my favorite way of consuming dark leafy greens.  Adding kale or spinach to fruit smoothies and fresh juices is a good way to make them even healthier. My favorite combos are banana-kale with natural peanut butter, pineapple-chard with coconut milk, or apple juice-spinach and strawberries.  Just let your own creativity be your guide!

Collard wraps: Using collard greens instead of flour tortilla in wrap-style sandwiches is really a win-win situation; you boost your green intake while ditching processed flour for a low carbs meal.  Collard greens can be stuffed with almost any sandwich filling. Try some veggie pâté, hummus or guacamole with your favorite julienned vegetables for a quick and healthy portable lunch.

Kale chips: Imagine improving your health by eating chips!  Kale chips are a delicious and crunchy way to add more greens to your diet.  Simply brush large pieces of kale leaves with a bit of olive oil and salt (or any of your favorite seasoning), and bake in the oven at the lowest temperature possible, or in a food dehydrator, until crispy.

Nutritious sides: Instead of rice or potatoes, dark leafy greens makes a healthy and refreshing change. Sauté them a few minutes with a bit of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic to get all the flavors and make a quick and delicious side dish.

Green soups: Another staple in my house is hearty green soup.  Having soup, like my Grenadian inspired green soup, is a good way to add more veggies to your diet.  It also has been proven that people who start their meal with soup eat less calories overall than those who eat only their main meal.

Superfood salads: The ultimate easiest way to eat your greens.  Now, with pre-washed and ready to use packaged mixed greens, you can quickly create a delicious and vitamin-packed salad on the go. [Update note: A fellow reader brought to my attention that pre-packaged mixed greens can contain an incredibly high amount of bacteria (thanks to David Suzuki for having it tested), so make sure to wash it, even if it says it has been pre-washed, or even better, grow your own mix.] Add some fruits, nuts or bean sprouts and a good homemade dressing for a instant “supermeal”.

Green toppers: Don’t feel like having a salad?  Why not simply add greens to any other dish?  Use baby spinach on your pizza, toss some aragula in your risotto, add chard to your savory pies, use chopped turnip tops as a soup topper, or sprinkle dried green bits to any dish you can think of.

Brew yourself a cup of green tea: Green tea can do many wonders for your health. Rich in antioxidants, green tea supports natural detoxification and can help you to burn fat, to strengthen your bones, help to prevent cancer and even fight flu.

Don’t eat so fast: When you eat too fast, chances are that you don’t have the time to recognize the body signals telling you when you’re full. This can lead to overeating. Be sure to chew each bite for about 20 seconds. This will allow the time for the fullness signal to reach you before you eat too much.  Chewing well is also helping with digestion.

Put lemon to good use: Lemon can help you get healthier from inside out.  Adding lemon to your glass of water will supply your body with over 30 detox compounds.  Lemon peel is rich in soluble fiber that contributes to lower LDL cholesterol levels.  And on top of that, lemon is also beneficial when used externally. The vitamin C in lemons lightens up skin, which can help fading age spots.  Lemon also contains gentle AHA, to help your skin look younger.

Eat whole grains for healthier lungs: Eating fiber-rich foods helps preventing bowel problems and lowers bad cholesterol. But what you might not know is that specific antioxidants found in grain fiber can also help to fend off lung diseases.

Add some broccoli sprouts: Adding broccoli sprouts to your salads, wraps and sandwiches can help to prevent stomach ulcers. The active substance in broccoli sprouts kills the bacteria causing stomach ulcers.  Broccoli sprouts also boost your skin natural defense against dangerous UV rays.

Use herbs and spices: Herbs and spices are very high in health promoting substances.  From the anti-inflammatory benefits from turmeric to diabetes fighting effects of cinnamon, using a variety of herbs and spices is a quick way to boost the health factor of any dish.

Have green smoothies: Green smoothies are a quick way to add more green vegetables in your diet.  Leafy green vegetables help your body to keep its vital pH balance as well as supporting your body to detox naturally.  Greens are also very important for bone health.