March 10 - Want to Reap the Luck O' The Irish? Eat 'Green,' Dietitians Say

Forget four leaf clovers, lucky charms and finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The best way to get the luck o' the Irish is to eat a well-balanced diet, with plenty of green fruits and vegetables, nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center say.

While Popeye's love of spinach catapulted that vegetable to stardom, there's a veritable cornucopia of green fruits and vegetables that pack many nutrients but hardly fly out of the produce section.

Here's a sampling of some green foods UT Southwestern dietitians recommend:

-- Avocado Also known as an alligator pear, the avocado is a good source of monounsaturated fats, which help lower cholesterol, said Dr. Vickie Vaclavik, clinical assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern. Avocados also are good sources of both vitamin E and lutein, a natural antioxidant that may help maintain eye health.

-- Broccolini A cross between broccoli and Chinese kale, broccolini is sometimes sold under the name asparation. It's packed with the cancer-fighting nutrients isothiocyanates, sulforaphane and indoles all linked with reducing the risk of breast, prostate, cervical, lung and other cancers and offers as much vitamin C as orange juice, said Dr. Jo Ann Carson, professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern.

-- Brussels sprouts Part of the cabbage family, brussels sprouts are another cruciferous vegetable with cancer-fighting phytochemicals. "They're also high in vitamin C and are a good source of folate, vitamin A and potassium," said Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Look for small, compact, bright green sprouts for the best flavor." Ms. Sandon said the vegetable can be boiled, braised, steamed or microwaved. Just avoid overcooking, as they get mushy.

-- Kale A good source of vitamins K, C and beta carotene, kale is a form of cabbage in which the central leaves don't form a head. A half-cup of cooked kale packs 1.3 grams of fiber but just 20 calories, said Cindy Cunningham, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern.

-- Nopales Popular in the Mexican diet, nopales also known as nopalitos or cactus pads offer numerous nutritious advantages and are a great option for those managing diabetes or high blood pressure. "Not only is it low in calories at 22 calories per cup, the vegetable is also low in sodium and high in fiber," Dr. Carson said. "In addition, a cup contains more calcium that an ounce of cheese and about half the potassium of a banana."

-- Okra This staple of Southern cuisine is naturally low in calories and a good source of soluble fiber. It also provides some vitamin A. "It can be cooked whole until tender, then marinate it for about three hours in a small amount of vinegar in the refrigerator," said Joyce Barnett, clinical assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern. "Top the drained okra with chopped onions and tomatoes for an out-of-the-ordinary salad."

-- Tomatillo A common ingredient in Southwestern or Mexican cooking, the tomatillo looks like an unripe tomato covered in a paper-like leaf. The vegetable, which is a good source of vitamin C and potassium, is used in salsa verde and can be eaten raw. "But cooking brings out its flavor," Ms. Sandon said.

Source: UT Southwestern Medical Center

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