Getting our 5 – 9 servings of veggies everyday is essential for our optimum health. Even though there are lots of other healthy foods like fruits, whole grains, fish, nuts and seeds our health wont be complete without the addition of vegetables. So which vegetables are the elite of the elite? Read on!

Tomatoes
Technically speaking tomatoes are classified botanically as fruits because they grow on plants. However, the composition of the tomato itself is like a vegetable and our digestion treats it like a vegetable. We even serve tomatoes like a vegetable! Tomatoes are a source of every vitamin from A through K and are a great source of vitamin C. They also contain one of the most powerful anti-cancer antioxidants presently known to man – lycopene.

Broccoli
Sometimes called the ‘king of vegetables’, broccoli is a member of the most powerful anti-cancer group of vegetables known as cruciferous vegetables. Other crucifers include cabbage, cauliflower, collards and brussel sprouts. Broccoli is an excellent immune boosting vegetable because it is loaded with vitamins C and A and contains the minerals zinc and selenium. All these nutrients are essential components of a well functioning immune system.

Spinach
Spinach is considered the healthiest vegetable there is according to some health experts. Its dark green color is provided by a dense concentration of the antioxidant and plant pigment chlorophyll. Chlorophll helps to build red blood cells and is very alkaline in nature, helping to protect us from acidic based diseases like cancer and arthritis.

Carrots
The good old carrot is the best food source on earth in terms of its beta-carotene levels. A study found that elderly people who ate a daily serving of beta-carotene rich foods like carrots were 50% less likely to die from an heart attack than those who ate less then one serving per day! Beta-carotene is also turned into the eye and skin healthy vitamin A by the liver. Vitamin A protects the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals generated by smoke and pollution, and also protects the eyes from diseases like cataracts.

Cabbage
Cabbage is a great source of phytochemicals that have been shown to greatly increase the production of detoxifying enzymes in the liver. These enzymes are potent anti-carcinogens and is one of the main reasons that eating cabbage can greatly reduce our risk of developing cancer. A study also found that a daily liter of cabbage juice completely healed sufferers of peptic ulcers in a period of 10 days. Another good reason to add cabbage to your daily homemade vegetable juicer recipe. You are drinking healthy juices everyday, right?