We all know vegetables are essential for good health—but even if you’re eating some, you might not be eating enough. A lack of vegetables in your diet can show up in surprising (and not-so-subtle) ways. Here are some signs your body may be telling you it’s time to pile more greens on your plate.
Low Mood
Vegetables are an important source of numerous vitamins and minerals needed for the body’s critical functions. She added that not eating enough vegetables and focusing mainly on high-fat, high-carb or highly processed foods will result in getting a burst of energy followed by a crash, resulting in fatigue, memory loss and mood swings. Swapping these high-fat foods for more nutrient-dense foods like vegetables will prevent you from feeling that crash. It will also give you sustained energy for a longer period of time. Similarly, the vitamins and minerals found in vegetables can play an important role in your mood regulation. Some studies suggest that there is a relationship between diet and mood and diets low in fruits and vegetables are associated with higher risk for depression.
Easily Feeling Hungry
Adequate fiber from veggies helps increase satiety, keeping you fuller for longer while helping sustain energy. She also added that by not eating enough vegetables, you may be craving another meal or snack shortly after the food that you just consumed.
Dull Skin
Vsegetables are loaded with antioxidants that can help protect your body from free radicals, which may damage skin texture. The author of “The Small Change Diet” added that many veggies like tomatoes are packed with water, which can be hydrating for the skin.
Muscle Cramps
Muscles need enough potassium for smooth muscle contraction and that muscle cramps and twitches can happen due to extremely low blood levels of the mineral. Fsruits and vegetables are the best sources of potassium. The best vegetable sources of potassium include spinach, swiss chard and other dark leafy greens, in addition to sweet potatoes.
Constipation
Enough dietary fiber from vegetables helps in adding more bulk to waste and helps move waste more quickly through the intestines.
High Stress
Magnesium helps promote relaxation by maintaining healthy levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that calms both the body and mind. This mineral also plays a role in the body’s stress response system and that deficiency of it is linked to higher stress and anxiety. Veggies, especially dark leafy greens like spinach, are one of the best sources of magnesium. So, not getting enough veggies in your diet could certainly cause low blood levels of this mineral.