What Are Vegetables?

 

Whether we are talking about the number of vegetables you should eat or the type of veggies that are best for your health, it's important to add variety and color. Vegetables are low in calories, provide a significant amount of dietary fiber and contain a high-quality source of a number of vitamins and minerals.

The term "vegetable" refers to any part of an herbaceous plant that's used for food, including the roots, tubers, stems and leaves. Several botanical fruits, however, are also known as vegetables and are frequently used in dishes such as ratatouille. The tomato, cucumber and eggplant are technically fruits but are referred to as vegetables because of their savory flavor profiles. Botanists use a number of factors to classify plants, including how they grow and whether they have seeds. Chefs, on the other hand, rely primarily on flavor and texture to distinguish between fruit and vegetable.

Aside from their nutritional benefits, many people eat vegetables for the sheer taste they offer. Vegetables are often lower in calories than their starchy counterparts and can be a great source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Some veggies are also rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which have been shown to reduce cancer risk, improve cardiovascular health and promote overall wellness.

Because of their low glycemic index, most veggies are able to help keep blood sugar levels stable after a meal and should be eaten as part of a balanced diet. The American Diabetes Association recommends 3 to 5 servings of non-starchy ผัก กินดอก per day. To meet these recommendations, try adding more dark green leafy vegetables to your diet, such as kale and spinach, or introducing new veggie favorites like carrots, zucchini and squash.

Interestingly, the difference between botanically defined fruit and vegetable may also depend on where you are from and what language you speak. In a recent study in Public Health Nutrition, researchers found that 20% of US adult respondents considered rice to be a vegetable, whereas Spanish speakers were less likely to do so. The same phenomenon was observed in the categorization of beans and soybeans, with English speakers more likely to call them vegetables while Spanish speakers tended to place them in the fruit category.

Although the distinction between fruit and vegetable is sometimes a matter of definition, most of us don't have that much trouble differentiating the two when it comes to our grocery shopping. You should be able to get the hang of it after your first trip to the produce aisle, where you will find plenty of options that fit into one or both categories.

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