Vegetables, not to be missing in your daily diets

The Director, Dietitian Services Department, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozala, Mrs Justina Olebu has urged Nigerians to always include vegetables in their diets for healthy living.

Olebu who gave the advice in an interview in Enugu, said vegetables were important sources of nutrients including potassium, vitamins, folate and dietary fibre among others.

She noted that consumption of vegetables helped in reducing blood cholesterol level and could lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The director said that including vegetables to every meal was a healthy diet as it helped to improve overall health of individuals.

“Vegetables are important for human health because of their vitamins, minerals, photochemical compounds, and dietary fiber content.

“Especially antioxidant vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E and dietary fiber content have important roles in human health.

“Adequate vegetables consumption helps to protect one from some chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases among others,” she said.

Olebu called on mothers to help to enrich their children’s meals with vegetable so as to protect them from malnutrition and other diseases.

995×250