Are you getting enough?

If you're like many of my patients, the answer unfortunately is "no."

When I was a young doctor, this fact frustrated me greatly. I was constantly talking with my patients about the benefits of eating plenty of fresh, organic produce, knowing full well that many of them, however well-intentioned, were not following my advice.

But I refused to give up on them.

As any mother worth her salt will tell you, green vegetables are the backbone to a healthy diet. I'm sure you heard it from your own mother growing up, just as I did mine.

"You're not leaving the dinner table until you eat your vegetables," she'd say. "You need them to stay healthy and strong." And as it turns out, once again, mom was right. To put it simply, we feel better and enjoy more robust health when we eat our green vegetables.

But more than that, dark, leafy greens are packed with a powerhouse of nutrition that can do amazing things for your body, including restoring balance to organ functions, supporting proper immune function, increasing energy levels, and fighting free radicals that can cause premature aging.

The problem is, when it comes to eating adequate amounts of these superfoods, many of us fall short. In fact, according to the USDA's latest nutritional recommendations, men ages 31-50 are supposed to eat 5 whole cups of fruits and vegetables every day. So where do you stack up?

At the risk of sounding like your mother: you need to eat more vegetables!

That age-old advice is something I impress upon both my own children and my patients as often as I can.

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P.S. If you thought the question was about something else …

GOTCHA! :)~