In summer we have an abundance of dark green leafy vegetables. Do you know that Romane lettuce, spinach, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, Swiss chard chicory and leaf lettuce are invaluable sources of fiber, folate and carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, along with flavonioids and saponins?  You can do so much with these dark leafy veggies. Salads, garnish, juices and this is only beginning of the list of healthy meals.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective, foods containing carotenoids can protect against cancers of the mouth (smokers be aware!), pharynx and larynx. Scientists also noted that foods containing folate may decrease risk of pancreatic cancer and foods rich in dietary fiber reduce a chance of developing colorectal cancer.  Sounds very complicated, isn’t it? But this information is good to know, if you want to keep yourself healthy.

So, what is the main secret? Researchers believe that carotenoids can help to prevent cancer if they act as antioxidants. What it means? Carotenoids as antioxidants can ‘remove’ potentially dangerous “free radicals” from the body before they can do any harm to You. Some studies have found that the carotenoids in dark green leafy vegetables can inhibit the growth of certain types of breast cancer cells, skin cancer cells, lung cancer and stomach cancer.

The lesson is learned. I prefer to include in my morning vegetable juice spinach, kale, and parsley root which is an excellent blood purifier. If you don’t have  time to cook by sauteeng these dark green leafy vegetables, at least, do yourself a favor and start your healthy day by adding any of them to your freshly squeezed vegetable juice, as the most invaluable ingredients. You’ll be pleased with positive results of doing that.

Source: AICR’s second expert report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective, http://www.aicr.org

Submitted by Svetlana Konnikova.