Glorious Greens

Toss your salad with a variety of greens to elevate your fiber intake and antioxidant levels.  Arugula, chicory, dandelion greens, escarole, radicchio, and watercress offer numerous nutrients and health benefits.

• Beta-carotene – watercress, escarole, and especially chicory and dandelion greens, are excellent sources of this healing pigment, which may help to prevent acne, cancer, and vision loss.
• Folate – one cup of raw chicory provides half of the daily requirement for folate, which helps to protect against cardiovascular disease and birth defects. Arugula also supplies ample folate.
• Potassium – salad greens, particularly chicory, provide appreciable amounts of this cardioprotective mineral. One cup of chopped chicory provides 756mg of potassium.
• Vitamin C – chicory, dandelion greens, and watercress are very good sources of this antioxidant, which may benefit immunity and cardiovascular health.
• Vitamin E – chicory and dandelion greens contain appreciable amounts of vitamin E compounds, which may protect against cancer and vision loss.