Having a balanced diet is very important to maintaining overall health. Each nutrient plays a vital role in the smooth functioning of our mind and body. Apart from protein, vitamins, and minerals, fibre is another essential requirement of our body that should be fulfilled by our daily food intake. According to Healthline, fibre is beneficial for our digestive system, managing weight, controlling blood sugar, and keeping the heart healthy.
There are mainly two types of fibre: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibres dissolve in water, which means they are digestible, while insoluble fibres do not dissolve in water, i.e., they are not digestible, and they pass straight through the digestive system. The most popular sources of fibre are lentils, avocado, apples, beans, oats, bananas, barley, and nuts. But did you know certain vegetables are also high in this nutrient?
From carrots to broccoli, here are six fibre-rich vegetables you must include in your diet:
Carrots
This root vegetable is rich in vitamin K, vitamin B6, magnesium, beta-carotene, and fibre. According to Healthline, one cup of raw carrots contains approximately 3.6 grams of fibre. They have a sweet flavour and crunchy texture, which are loved by all. This vegetable is mainly consumed as soup, halwa curries, cakes, smoothies, and juice.
Beets
This is another root vegetable that can give you an ideal amount of fibre. It is bright red in colour and contains many vital nutrients like folate, iron, potassium, manganese, and copper. It is a great addition to the diet of people with blood pressure-related issues. One cup of beets can give you up to 3.8 grams of fibre. Beets are mainly consumed as salad, juice, smoothies, raitas, pancakes, and halwa.
Spinach
This leafy green is called a superfood because of its excellent nutrition profile. According to PharmEasy, spinach is high in vitamins, iron, calcium, and magnesium, along with fibre. Adding this vegetable to your daily diet supports bone health, reduces blood sugar, enhances vision, boosts immunity, and aids weight loss. Spinach is commonly enjoyed as juice, palak paneer, aloo palak, paratha, dosa, and pakora.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a type of cruciferous vegetable that is dense with plenty of nutrients. Loaded with several vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, vitamin B, potassium, iron, and manganese, it also contains antioxidants and fibre. You can get around 2.4 grams of fibre with one cup of broccoli. It is mainly eaten stir-fried, with curries, soup, and salad. Broccoli is also a great addition to pasta, noodles, and chicken dishes.
Green Peas
One cup of this nutritious vegetable contains approximately 8 grams of fibre along with vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, protein, iron, manganese, and antioxidants. According to Healthline, peas are ideal for stabilising blood sugar levels. Besides being a part of your regular stir-fry and curry dishes, this vegetable can be enjoyed as paratha and become a part of snacks such as poha chiwda and namkeen.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is low in carbs and high in fibre, making it a perfect addition to your weight-loss diet. This vegetable is also dense in several other nutrients, like vitamin C, vitamin K, flavonoids, folate, and anti-inflammatory properties. One cup of cooked cauliflower contains 2.86 grams of fibre. Cauliflower can be added to the daily diet in the form of curry, paratha, pakora, BBQ, gobi pepper fry, and Manchurian.
Turnip
This is an underestimated vegetable that has numerous health benefits. Turnips are low in calories and carbs, along with being rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre. One cup of this root vegetable contains approximately 4.6 grams of fibre. Turnips can be enjoyed as hummus, soup, curry, stir-fry, pickles, and shorba.