Sarah EatonFull of nutrition, mustard greens have a delightful peppery taste and are low in calories. In fact, their nutrition-to-ratio makes them one of the healthiest and beneficial foods available. Mustard greens benefits include fighting disease, lowering cholesterol, and protecting the eyes. They can unclog arteries, as well! And regarding mustard greens nutrition, this food is full of antioxidants and vitamins to help keep you healthy and strong. Learn more about mustard greens below.
Here are 8 mustard greens benefits:
1. High Levels of Antioxidants
Mustard greens nutrition includes a high level of antioxidants, such as vitamins A and C. They can help prevent cell damage as well as DNA mutation. This can help prevent diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Because of the antioxidants found in this food, mustard greens benefits include reducing inflammation a well as protecting healthy cells in the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems. (1)
2. Detoxifies Your Liver and Blood
Mustard greens benefits continue with the ability to cleans the liver. They’re high in chlorophyll, so they can pull environmental toxins from your bloodstream.
Furthermore, they can neutralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides within your body. In fact, one study indicates that food source that contain chlorophyll derivatives may play a role in preventing cancer. (2)
3. Helps Lower Cholesterol
Those with high cholesterol either don’t produce enough bile or have a hard time converting cholesterol into bile acids. This is likely due to eating too many fats and not enough dark leafy greens. Alternatively, it could be a liver or colon dysfunction.
When the liver needs more bile acid, it uses your cholesterol, which lowers your levels. This is called bile binding. And mustard greens benefits include being able to increase this process, especially when cooked. (3)
As such, mustard greens benefits also include the ability to help lower cholesterol.
4. Packed with Phytonutrients
Mustard greens nutrition include being chock-full of phytonutrients, which can help protect your body from disease as well as keep your body working properly. And a diet rich in phytonutrients from plants is linked with lower risk of cancer as well as heart disease. It can also prevent diabetes and obesity and slows the aging process. (4)
5. High in Fiber
Mustard greens benefits continue with aiding in digestive issues, such as constipation and colon diseases like cancer. This is because mustard greens are a fantastic source of dietary fiber. Increasing your fiber intake can also lower the amount of toxins in your digestive tract, lower high blood pressure and normalize serum cholesterol levels. (5)
6. High in Bone-Building Vitamin K
Mustard greens benefits include offering a humongous dose of vitamin K. This helps with bone mineralization, blood clotting as well as helps remove calcium buildup. Furthermore, vitamin K helps support healthy brain function and promotes metabolism, as well as protects against cancer. Some studies indicate high doses of vitamin K may slow down bone loss in those with osteoporosis. (6)
7. Good Source of Immune-Boosting Vitamin C
Due to a good dose of vitamin C, mustard greens benefits continue in several ways. For example, these benefits include maintaining teeth and bones, slowing and preventing cell damage, maintaining healthy body tissues, boosting immunity, helping fight off free radicals, building collagen, and maintaining blood vessels. (7)
8. Provides Skin & Eye Health Protection
Mustard greens benefits also includes the ability to help protect your eyes and skin. This is due to the vitamin A content, which is 177 percent of your daily value—in just one cup of cooked greens. Vitamin A aids in healthy vision, neurological function, as well as skin health.
Eating foods high in vitamin A as well as other antioxidants can help slow aging, too. (8) And the high amount of vitamin C in these greens help with skin elasticity.