Dr. Mercola's Nutrition Plan   Select Plan:    Beginner    Intermediate    Advanced   Resources:    Exercise    Food Alerts    Recommended       Vegetables   Return to:    Introduction    Getting Started

Eating more vegetables is as central to a healthy nutrition plan as lowering/eliminating grains and sugars, drinking more water, or consuming omega-3. But while almost all vegetables are good, some are clearly far better from a nutritional standpoint than others. The general rule is, the greener the better (though a few vegetables make that are not green make the best-of list below).

At least one-third of all the food you eat should be raw, as cooking and processing can destroy essential micronutrients. Vegetables are an easy and obvious choice to enjoy raw. While vegetable juicing is an essential part of my nutrition plan at the advanced level, even beginners will find that it is a highly enjoyable and easy way to consume your raw vegetables on a daily basis. If you are searching for a juicer, read about the juicer I use and highly recommend, which includes a link to my juicer comparison table.

Finally, if at all possible, always try to buy organic vegetables. If no organic vegetables are available, carefully wash your foods and remove peels and cores to minimize your exposure to pesticides and other chemicals.