Vegetables For Your Nutrition Garden

AIKGA Members Learn The Nutritive Value Of Their Kitchen Garden Vegetables

By Anindita Roy

On 16th November, the Unit members of AIKGA gathered at the house of Kanta Madan for an enlightening lecture on ‘Nutritive Value Of Vegetables’ by Professors of PUSA Institute.

The AIKGA members were reminded that fruits and vegetables are the important energy giving material to the human body. Importance of the fruits and vegetables in the human diet is universally recognized. They are the major sources of vitamins without which the human body cannot maintain proper health and resistance to diseases. Besides they also contain minerals, salts, protein, cellulose which protects human body against various disorders. Malnutrition majorly occurs in groups of people who consume more amount of  cereals and less amount or negligible amounts of vegetables in their diet.

The lecturer from PUSA stressed on the fact that mothers should encourage their children to have more vegetables of all kinds in their diet. Kitchen gardens are also a source of organic vegetables which are good for ones health. He encouraged AIKGA members to grow as moch vegetables as possible in their available spaces.

Vegetables are low in calories and fats but contain good amounts of vitamins and minerals. All the Green-Yellow-Orange vegetables are rich sources of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, beta-carotene, vitamin B-complex, vitamin-C, vitamin-A, and vitamin K.

As in fruits, vegetables too are home for many antioxidants. These health benefiting phyto-chemical compounds firstly; help protect the human body from oxidant stress, diseases, and cancers, and secondly; help the body develop the capacity to fight against these by boosting immunity.

Additionally, vegetables are packed with soluble as well as insoluble dietary fiber known as non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) such as cellulose, mucilage, hemi-cellulose, gums, pectin...etc. These substances absorb excess water in the colon, retain a good amount of moisture in the fecal matter, and help its smooth passage out of the body. Thus, sufficient fiber offers protection from conditions like chronic constipation, hemorrhoids, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and rectal fissures.

So go for greens today to help you stay fit and healthy!