Vegetables are important protective food and highly beneficial for the maintenance of health and prevention of disease. They contain valuable food ingredients which can be successfully utilized to build up and repair the body.


Vegetables are valuable in maintaining alkaline reserve in the body. They are valued mainly for their high vitamin and mineral contents. There are different kinds of vegetables. They may be edible roots, stems, leaves, fruits and seeds. Each group contributes to diet in its own way.

To derive maximum benefits of their nutrients, vegetables should be consumed fresh as far as possible. Most Vegetables are best consumed in their natural raw state in the form of Salads. To prevent loss of nutrients in Vegetables, it would be advisable to steam or boil vegetables in their own juices on a slow fire and the water or cooking liquid should not be drained off.

An intake of about 280 grams of vegetable per day per person is considered ideal for maintenance of good health. The juices extracted from vegetables furnish all the cells and tissues of the body with the element and the nutritional enzymes which they need. Certain vegetables are highly beneficial in the treatment of various diseases.

(Compiled by Seema Ghildiyal)