Confused about what vegetables to eat this winter? Then here is the list of the best healthy vegetables to eat this winter. Food Production in India can happen throughout the year, with the exception of a few crops.
Winter Vegetables which can be grown in Home and their Health Benefits
1. Spinach/Swiss Chard
Spinach grows well in winters and is one of the most nutritious crops that is used very commonly. That doesn’t mean you cannot grow spinach in the summer months. Spinach and Swiss chard seeds look very much alike, as they belong to the same family. They can be sown directly in a container or on the ground.
Swiss chard is a leafy green crop that grows well in the cold weather. It is very attractive and comes in many colors like yellow, pink, bright red and white.
Veggies with colors are said to have a pigment called Anthocyanin that is supposed to be healthy.
Benefits:-
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It Helps In Weight Loss
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Maintains healthy bones
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Promotes eye health
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Anticancer qualities
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Lowers hypertension
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Relaxes the body
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Maintains proper brain functioning
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Promotes gastrointestinal health
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Lowers blood pressure
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Anti-inflammatory Properties
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Prevents Atherosclerosis
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Prevents Heart Attack
2. Lettuce
Lettuce comes in many varieties, shapes, textures, and colours. They should be sown just below the surface, barely covered by soil. Lettuce needs the temperature to be between 18° and 24°C.
The regular lettuce we find in burgers is Iceberg lettuce that has the least nutrition content when compared to other varieties.
Lettuce leaves are best harvested when they are tender. More mature leaves tend to be bitter and will be stretchy.
They can be grown in your balcony as well as they can handle moderate light or partial shade.
Benefits:-
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It promotes Weight Loss
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Anti-inflammatory Properties
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Promotes Brain Health
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Promotes Heart Health
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Helps To Fight Cancer
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Maintain Blood Sugar Levels
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Good For Eyes
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Helps In Digestion
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Good Sound Sleep
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Enhances Bone Health
3. Broccoli
Broccoli is a 2.5-3 month crop. It can be grown both on the ground or in a container.
A container of 12″ diameter and 12″ depth is an ideal choice. Use a lightweight potting soil to fill up the container. A Broccoli plant will take 3-4 sq. ft. of space, so plant only one per container.
So if you start sowing now, you should get your harvest by January-February.
Benefits:-
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It is loaded with Vitamins, Mineral, Fiber Vitamin C and other bioactive compounds.
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Contains Antioxidants which support healthy cells and tissues throughout your body.
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Reduce Inflammation
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Anti-cancer Properties
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Maintains Blood Sugar Levels.
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Promotes Healthy Heart
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Good For Digestion
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Reduce Constipation
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Supports Healthy Brain Function
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Anti-aging Properties
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Provides a Healthy Immune System as it is a Rich Source of Vitamin C.
4. Kale
It is a leafy green vegetable that is packed with nutrients. Growing Kale is very easy as it does not require a lot of maintenance. Like broccoli, kale too can be successfully grown in a container.
By just harvesting few leaves at a time, the kale plants can continue to grow and yield for a long time.
Benefits:-
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Good For Digestion
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Rich In Iron- helps in the formation of hemoglobin and enzymes, transports oxygen to various parts of the body, aids in cell growth and proper live function.
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Rich in Vitamin K- it is known as the "coagulation" vitamin because it helps keep the body’s blood-clotting mechanism functioning in a healthy manner.
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Rich In Antioxidants
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Anti-inflammatory Properties
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Provides A Healthy Heart
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High in Vitamin A and C
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Detoxifies Food
5. Strawberries
They are not only easy to grow but also yield very quickly.
Strawberry plants are started from runners. Runners are special stems that come out of an existing plant and produce a new plant at their tip.
The tip, when placed on the ground, will start producing roots and shoots, and later can be separated into an individual plant.
Strawberry plants can be grown very successfully in a container. If the container is big, one can grow many plants in the same container
Benefits:-
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Promotes Healthy Heart
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Anti-inflammatory Power
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Prevents Cancer
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Boosts Brain Function
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Provides Healthy Skin
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Anti-aging Properties
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Promotes Good Vision
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Maintains Blood Sugar Levels
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Reduces High Blood Pressure
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Boosts Immunity
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Treat Arthritis and Gout
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Helps In Digestion