One Surprising and Rarely Discussed Reason to Eat Vegetables

We always talk about how important it is to eat veggies because they provide us with so many of the proteins, vitamins and minerals we need to be at our best physically.

But there is another really good reason we should eat plant-based foods. It’s not talked about much, but it is, perhaps, just as important as the nutritional aspect.

It has to do with the plant cell structure itself.

Most non-plant food we eat is made up of cells which the human body can digest. Those cells are broken down by enzymes, the nutrients are drawn from them and the leftovers exit the body.

But plant cells, especially the cell walls, are primarily made up of cellulose – which humans can’t digest.

Some of us may worry that all the plant-based food we eat may sit in our bodies and eventually turn into stored fat.

Nope. Just the opposite. A lot of the less healthy food we eat, such as chips and fast food, is made of cells which the human body can digest (but would rather not) and that foodstuff is turned into fat.

Since the plant cells we consume can’t be broken down, they can’t be stored. So what happens to them?  Our digestive tracts push the unusable plant refuse, or fiber, right on through our bodies. But that’s not all. As that fiber is moving through our digestive tract, it also pulls any other unnecessary food left over with it.

To put it bluntly, with enough plant-based fiber moving through our bodies on a daily basis, we can greatly improve our regularity. 

Now isn’t that worth the price of a few daily servings of farm produce?

The truth is, our bodies work much more efficiently when vegetables are on the daily menu. They provide protein, vitamins and minerals in abundance. But add fiber to that list, and life will just keep on getting better.

To purchase a Seeds of Hope farm box, click here!

If you have any questions about the program or need more information, contact Jennifer Loui,  Farm Apprentice Outreach Assistant, via jloui@caastlc.org.

This program is funded 77% at $128,051 by federal funds and 23% at $38,249 by nongovernmental sources for a total amount of $166,300. The federal funds are received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division.