Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month

Even if you're not a fan of veggies, there's no denying the fact that eating your greens gives your health numerous benefits. Root vegetables, in particular, are one of the most nutritious sources of foods out there. As a staple of most South American and Asian diets, root vegetables have also been utilized in traditional medicine practices, while also helping feed undernourished populations. For Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month, it's time to understand just why your parents were so insistent on making you eat your share.

Getting Down to the Root Benefits

Familiar with important nutrients like vitamin A, potassium, and magnesium? A majority of root vegetables have these nutrients in their makeup, which are vital for helping fight conditions such as cancer, obesity, and certain inflammatory disorders. Along with being rich sources of carbohydrates and antioxidants, vegetables have a lower calorie count, making them a perfect component of your weight management program. One other additional benefit of root vegetables are that they are gluten-free, where gluten can cause digestive issue and even autoimmune reactions in a number of people.

Load Up on Fiber

Speaking of weight management, tailoring your diet to fill you up while keeping your calorie intake well-balanced can be tricky. Root vegetables, however, are the trick you need to keep to that program. While some root vegetables contain natural sugars such as starch, they are very high in fiber. Fiber stays in your digestive tract longer, keeping you full without the need to grab yourself another fatty snack. A high fiber diet that includes root vegetables can help prevent inflammation, while also providing your body both immune-stimulating and antioxidant effects.

Take Your Fill from These Veggies

There's a wide selection of root vegetables that can be added to your diet, but keep an eye out for these particular choices to better boost your health.

Sweet potato is one of those root vegetables that stand out from most, and not only due to their bright orange color. It's packed full with nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin B5, potassium and fiber. Because they have a low glycemic index, they are the perfect veggie to help stabilize blood sugar levels.

Carrots aren't just good for the eyes, but what it does for your health overall is important to keep track of. One of the best-known nutrients in carrots is beta-carotene, an antioxidant that is then converted into vitamin A, helping not only your vision but also bone growth, and regulating the immune system.

It contains other vitamins as well, such as C, D, E and K, which all help promote healthier skin.

Beetroots are probably the vegetable you pushed aside from your plate when you were young. But beets are a fantastic addition to any meal. They are actually the go-to vegetable for athletes. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology detailed how drinking two cups of beet juice daily helped subjects exercise longer, improving their athletic performance and also lowering their blood pressure. They can additionally boost cognitive function and benefit the immune system.

There's more root veggie options to partake in, such as cucumbers (to keep you hydrated), garlic (for boosting heart health) cauliflower (reduces inflammation) and radishes (incredibly rich in vitamin C).