Where do you find the fountain of youth? Is it in a jar? What supplement or pill can improve cognition or eye sight? If what you ate could help you lose weight and also help to repair and improve your skin, would you eat it?

The best food on the planet might just be at your farmers market. Leafy green vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Not to forget, they are delicious too. You can add them to your smoothie to give your morning an energy boost. Eaten raw, cooked or added to your favorite recipe, they are sure to please. Right now, farmers markets are bursting with locally grown leafy greens. They have a variety that will even impress the most picky eater.

While there are many, the following six really do offer a lot of nutrients to enhance your diet. Swiss chard is chock full of vitamins c, e and a. Also helps to lower inflammation and are loaded with minerals manganese and zinc. Arugula which brings a healthy dose of vitamin a, b complex and zinc. Collard greens, not only fill you up but they embellish you with vitamin a, c, e and manganese and fiber. Bok choy helps build muscle and helps to lower blood pressure with its healthy dose of potassium and strengthens the immune system because its packed with vitamin a. We all know kale is a super food as it helps to lower cholesterol as well as detoxifies the body. Also, kale is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin antioxidants, that help improve age related vision problems. Water cress is a delicate green that has been shown to cleanse the blood. A single cup of water cress gives you the RDA of vitamin k which helps to regulate blood clotting and reduce heart disease causing arterial plaque.

Numerous research studies have shown, consuming leafy greens can decrease cognitive decline. As a bonus, kale even helps to repair and renew our skin. Greens also give our immune system a boost so it can help to protect us from disease. Another benefit to eating greens is they are naturally low in calories. A diet based on leafy greens will help with any weight control issues. So it may be possible to have optimal health just by eating leafy greens. Stock up on fresh locally grown greens from your farmers markets and you just might have found the fountain of youth.

For more information about nutrition and fitness, please contact Kay Colgan at Middleburg Pilates and Personal training, 14 S. Madison street, Middleburg, Virginia or call 540-687-6995.