Benefits of endives, healthy vegetables with interesting nutritional properties in a balanced and healthy diet.
The endive is a vegetable belonging to the family of compounds, namely the Asteraceae family, which we find more than 20,000 species and 1,000 different genres, although originally very few that are grown and thus finally arrive to our table.
Its origin is supposedly Mediterranean, although it is currently cultivated in most temperate countries around the world. And regarding the best time when we can find them in the market, although they are available all year round, we must highlight especially the months from autumn to summer, not including only the months of July and August.
They are easily distinguishable because they have a cylindrical and pointed shape, with whitish tones that tend to be more yellowish at the tip of the leaves.
Thanks to their refreshing taste, their very high water content and low fat and calorie content, they are extremely interesting during the hottest months of the year, especially in salads.
Nutritional properties of endives
As we briefly indicated in the previous section, endives stand out for their low caloric and therefore fat content, so they are ideal in varied and balanced diets and in those that pursue the goal of losing weight.
Regarding the different essential nutrients that we can find in its composition, vitamins such as provitamin A, vitamin C and E, in addition to folates, stand out. It also provides minerals, such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iodine and magnesium.
They also have an interesting amount of soluble fiber, carbohydrates and slightly less protein.
Endives benefits
Endives are low in fat and calories, so their consumption is recommended in weight control diets, and ultimately for any balanced, healthy and healthy diet.
They have a very high content of vitamins and minerals. Among the vitamins we must highlight vitamin E, an essential nutrient in a certain sense very rare in vegetables of this type, which has an antioxidant action and also positively intervenes in fertility. It also provides provitamin A (essential for eyesight), vitamin C (helps to strengthen the immune system and is involved in the formation of bones, teeth, collagen and red blood cells) and folates (helps in the formation of immune system antibodies).
Regarding the minerals it contains, potassium is essential for the transmission and generation of the nerve impulse, phosphorus is important in the formation of bones and teeth (in addition to participating in obtaining energy), and iodine (helps the proper functioning thyroid gland).
