TRADITIONAL UNDERUTILIZED GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES AND ITS CURATIVE PROPERTIES

Sudha K and S.K. Mathanghi

Any discussion on health and wellness is not complete without a discussion on the uses of greens food in our daily diet plan. Studies have shown that a fiber rich diet ensures our overall health. Nutritional value of greens (Keerai) is twenty times more than in other vegetables. Dark green leafy vegetables are calorie for calorie, probably the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are a rich source of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins, including K, C, E, and many of the B complex vitamins. They also provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage also helps in alleviating the age-related problems. The range of health benefits of the greens is so vast that it is not easy to consolidate them in a single article like the present one. However, we can cite here a few varieties of greens and their respective health benefits.