Did you know....
Dark Leafy Greens are pretty much the reigning champions of all things edible. Latest dietary recommendations state that we should be eating at least 3 cups of green goodness each week. Think of that as about 1/2 cup per day. Why, because dark leafy greens are loaded with folate, vitamins A, C, K, iron, calcium and other trace minerals. Romaine lettuce (forget iceberg please!) and darker pigmented leafy vegetables like, collard greens, Swiss chard, kale, beet greens, watercress, mustard greens, broccoli rabe and turnip greens also contain beta-carotene along with lutein and zeaxanthin. Beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin are all powerful antioxidants that seem to provide anti-angiogenic properties. In short this means that they play a role in blocking early stages in the development of tumor and cancer growth. Pretty sweet!
Dark leafy greens are also some of the easiest things to grow at home. Even if you don't have a garden they can be grown in window boxes or pots on a sunny balcony or patio. Even here in Wisconsin, dense dark leafy vegetables like Kale can continue to grow during winter months, thriving despite frosts and freezing temperatures. I have been known to dig through a few inches of snow to harvest my kale. In fact, most dark leafy greens prefer to grow in cooler temperatures so they can be planted in the early spring and fall.
Happy Planting!
Dark Leafy Greens are pretty much the reigning champions of all things edible. Latest dietary recommendations state that we should be eating at least 3 cups of green goodness each week. Think of that as about 1/2 cup per day. Why, because dark leafy greens are loaded with folate, vitamins A, C, K, iron, calcium and other trace minerals. Romaine lettuce (forget iceberg please!) and darker pigmented leafy vegetables like, collard greens, Swiss chard, kale, beet greens, watercress, mustard greens, broccoli rabe and turnip greens also contain beta-carotene along with lutein and zeaxanthin. Beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin are all powerful antioxidants that seem to provide anti-angiogenic properties. In short this means that they play a role in blocking early stages in the development of tumor and cancer growth. Pretty sweet!
Dark leafy greens are also some of the easiest things to grow at home. Even if you don't have a garden they can be grown in window boxes or pots on a sunny balcony or patio. Even here in Wisconsin, dense dark leafy vegetables like Kale can continue to grow during winter months, thriving despite frosts and freezing temperatures. I have been known to dig through a few inches of snow to harvest my kale. In fact, most dark leafy greens prefer to grow in cooler temperatures so they can be planted in the early spring and fall.
Happy Planting!
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