Don't Underestimate These Veggies! You'll be surprised how tasty and healthy they can be!

A lot of people aren't aware of how healthy and delicious these common veggies can be when added to their daily diets. Unfortunately, many of these are improperly prepared (fried in butter, deep fried and put on a stick at the county fair, or used too sparingly in other dishes), which diminishes or destroys their excellent nutritional profiles.

ICEBERG LETTUCE: This tasty "sandwich topper" is a great source of Vitamin K, which helps support healthy bone density and joint tissue growth and maintenance. By preventing the calcification (hardening) of soft tissue and cartilage during repair and recovery, Vitamin K also promotes mineral identification of bone tissue to repair it's structure and enhance it's strength. A long-term study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women who high intakes of Vitamin K had 30% lower risk of hip fractures and men recorded an astonishing 65% risk reduction. Vitamin K is also vital for the normal clotting of blood (like after you cut yourself)

RADISHES: These little "burp makers" are excellent sources of vitamin C ( also known as ascorbic acid), one of the most powerful known antioxidants. By stimulating the body's immune system, it can not only protect against bacterial and viral infections, but also help cleanse our systems from the harmful effects of pollution, sunlight, and other environmental hazards. Vitamin C may also enhance the bioavailability of supplemented or dietary iron, which is vital for cellular oxygenation and many metabolic processes. If you don't like the inherent tartness of radishes, try sauteing them in a little olive oil just until they start getting soft. This helps reduce or eliminate their tartness.

CUCUMBERS: Commonly called "cukes", these delicious veggies are primarily composed of water but contain lots of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and caffeic acid, both of which help soothe skin irritations and reduce swelling. Cucumbers are also high in potassium and magnesium which can help regulate your blood pressure so you can stay "cool as a cucumber!"

BUTTON MUSHROOMS: These "pizza toppings" are loaded with essential b-vitamins which help burn food as energy, help protect your immune system, manage good and bad cholesterol levels, and stabilize your entire metabolism. Mushrooms also contain selenium, an essential trace mineral element helps neutralize free radicals and reduce the possibility of damaged cells becoming cancerous.

ONIONS: This "Stink Fruit" known to make you cry is an excellent source of dietary flavonoids, Flavonoids, simply put, are plant nutrients that when added to a healthy diet, help the body fight viral and bacterial invasions. Flavonoids have also been found to help prevent the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Many people don't like raw onions, but will eat them when cooked. Try sauteing them in olive oil instead of butter or boiling them in some beef or chicken stock.

CELERY: These low calorie, low fat "crunch sticks" are a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and folate . Vitamin A is vital for maintaining your visual acuity and can help prevent eye problems as you age. The vitamin C helps support the immune system and may help reduce cold symptoms or severity of cold symptoms at its onset. Celery is also rich in potassium, an important mineral for heart and kidney health. Don't like the "stringiness" of raw celery? Try cutting them in bite size pieces and enjoy with some low fat peanut butter!