Vegetable food refers to any part of a plant that is eaten by people as food. In the old days, vegetable is only meant to mean food made from plants. The modern meaning is more commonly applied to all plants together and is now used to generally refer to any edible plant material, such as the leaves, flowers, fruits, roots, stems, and even seeds. More specifically, vegetables refer to fruits, leafy greens, Swiss chard, barley, legumes, potatoes, carrots, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, green and red peppers, squash, potatoes, onions, garlic, and green peas. In some countries, fruit vegetables include mangoes, papayas, persimmons, guavas, and coconuts. On the other hand, in the United States and other English speaking nations, vegetable refers only to fresh vegetables and does not imply cooked or processed vegetable.
Grains are the major component in vegetable food groups. They include oats, amaranth, bulgur, and millet. Oats, amaranth, bulgur, and millet are members of the grain family. These grains are used as substitutes for meat, fish, poultry, cream, cheese, and milk products.
Fruits are an important part of a varied diet and are the primary source of many of the nutrients our bodies need. The majority of fruits, vegetables, and nuts are rich in antioxidants that are beneficial to our health. Antioxidants protect us against damaging free radicals which can cause illness and damage our cells. Foods that are rich in antioxidants include berries, citrus fruit, guava, raspberries, red bell peppers, spinach, strawberries, and green and yellow vegetables. Antioxidants are also found in teas, honey, and various types of vitamin C supplements. These foods and drinks are excellent for maintaining healthy bones and joints as well as protection against heart disease and other illness.
Vegetable oils are a main source of dietary fat, which is necessary for our health. Vegetable oils are separated into two categories namely, those that are extracted from the vegetable itself and those that are extracted from the seeds or pits of the vegetable. Avocado, olives, mustard, sesame, sunflower oil, and soybean oil are examples of the vegetable oils extracted from the fruits. On the other hand, vegetable fats, which come from the pits are derived from animal products like beef, pork, milk, lamb, or duck. This article will help you decide on what are the best foods for a healthy heart.
Beans: beans are considered by many to be one of the most versatile vegetables in the world as they can be added to a variety of dishes and can even be cooked. The most common bean vegetable subgroups are Lima, fava, garbanzo, pole, pinto, refeta, chickpeas, kidney beans and adzuki bean. Based on where you buy your beans, it may be difficult to find fresh adzuki bean beans but there are dried and freeze dried versions available. For further dietary guidelines on foods rich in protein apart from beans, refer to the separate article on the protein content of different vegetable subgroups.
Nuts: Apart from being a complete source of protein, nuts are also rich in fiber, which is highly beneficial for our health. They are rich in antioxidants and other minerals. Some of the highest sources of nuts are almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans and cashew nuts. Based on the fiber content of the vegetable, different nut vegetable subgroups include walnuts, pecans, cashew, almond, hazelnuts and others.
Recent Comments