3 Reasons to Eat Swiss Chard
Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 10:34AMOne of the dark, leafy greens that nutritionists frequently recommend, Swiss chard is similar to spinach, kale and collard greens. Tall and leafy with a crunchy stalk, chard is slightly salty and a tad bitter, and works well with fish and vegetable dishes. But what makes chard so compelling is its nutritional profile:
- It is an excellent source of vitamins A, K, C, E, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and iron.
- Its combination of nutrients, phytonutrients and fiber help to prevent digestive-tract cancers, including colon cancer
- It is a good source of osteocalin, necessary for bone health
If you are unfamiliar with chard, try substituting it in recipes that call for fresh spinach or other greens. Experiment with seasonings, and you will likely find chard to be a welcome addition to your healthy diet.When choosing Swiss chard look for stalks and leaves that are paler in color, as white chard tends to be the most tender. And if you’re looking for an easy vegetable to grow, chard needs little care and thrives in almost any climate.
More info - How to grow Swiss chard, and a delicious greens recipe: Hot and Sour Greens.
Reader Comments (4)
This post inspires me to get my Swiss chard out of the rerigerator and cook it. I've had a cold and have been uninspired about cooking.
For the last two years, I've been buying a lot more spinach, Swiss chard, collards, and kale. I rotate them. I often put the collards and kale in soup because they can be strong to eat by themselves.
Rita blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide
Greetings!
We too put kale in soup and find it nourishing. Hope your cold is better!
Really good post!!! Most of us have been told to eat our dark leafy greens at some point; not all of us have listened to these sage words. All green leafy vegetables are, ounce for ounce, some of the most concentrated sources of nutrition. Really very informative post.
I enjoyed this write up - short, sweet, and to the point about the benefits of Swiss Chard. It is my favorite leafy green (for now!)