A REVIEW ON HEALTH BENEFITS AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF VEGETABLES

Abstract

For a well-balanced diet, vegetables are considered as essential source of minerals, vitamins, dietary fiber and phytochemicals. A unique combination and amount of these vitamins and minerals are present in different vegetables, which make them separate from each other. Vegetables have a strong association in improving the gastrointestinal health, vision, chronic diseases and varioustypes of cancer. Vegetables being rich in antioxidants are involved in our daily diet. A balanced diet contributes to solve many nutrition related problems and different vegetables offer distinct level of protection to humans against diseases. Now-a-days, the focus is not only on the quantity but also on the quality of vegetable products, which further coincides with the consumer demand for healthy produce. An individual must includes a diverse type of vegetable in diet to get a combination of phytonutraceuticals to lead a healthy life. This article goes through a review and discuss about the nutritive value and health benefits with respect to vegetables. Further, in future research work is to be carried out involving food scientists and biomedical researchers to know about the exact constituents of different vegetables related to phytonutraceuticals.