A vegetable is a type of plant that is consumed as food. Vegetables can be eaten raw or cooked, and they are an important part of a healthy diet because they are low in calories and high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Examples of vegetables include leafy greens like spinach and kale, root vegetables like carrots and potatoes, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. Some vegetables are also considered fruits, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, because they grow from a flower and contain seeds.
Vegetables are full of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that provide many important health benefits to your body. For instance, carrots are known for being very high in vitamin A, which plays an important role in eye health, as you grow older.
Vegetables are a good source of dietary fiber, a type of carbohydrate that helps pass food through your digestive system. Studies show that fiber may also improve vitamin and mineral absorption in the body, which could potentially raise your daily energy levels.
Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
Getting more tomatoes into your diet may make you less likely to have a stroke, which is when blood flow gets cut off to a part of your brain. Studies suggest that they may ease inflammation, boost your immune system, lower your cholesterol levels, and keep your blood from clotting. All those things may help prevent strokes.
Tomatoes are high in fibre, potassium, vitamin C, and choline. All these are beneficial to heart health.