Green Leafy Vegetables (GLVs) as Nutritional and Preventive Agents Supporting Metabolism
Renata Nurzyńska-Wierdak
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a group of metabolic defects that include hypertension, insulin resistance, visceral obesity, fatty liver disease, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The first step in controlling the progression of MetS is lifestyle changes, including dietary modification. Regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other plant foods negatively correlates with the risk of developing chronic diseases. Green leafy vegetables (GLVs) are a key element of healthy eating habits and an important source of vitamins C and E, carotenoids-mainly β-carotene and lutein-and minerals. This review discusses and summarizes the current knowledge on the health benefits of consuming GLVs in the prevention and treatment of MetS to provide a compendium for other researchers investigating new natural products.